[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR179.18]

[Page 1023]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 179_SPECIFICATIONS FOR TANK CARS--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart B_General Design Requirements
 
Sec. 179.18  Thermal protection systems.

    (a) Performance standard. When the regulations in this subchapter 
require thermal protection on a tank car, the tank car must have 
sufficient thermal resistance so that there will be no release of any 
lading within the tank car, except release through the pressure release 
device, when subjected to:
    (1) A pool fire for 100 minutes; and
    (2) A torch fire for 30 minutes.
    (b) Thermal analysis. (1) Compliance with the requirements of 
paragraph (a) of this section shall be verified by analyzing the fire 
effects on the entire surface of the tank car. The analysis must 
consider the fire effects on and heat flux through tank discontinuities, 
protective housings, underframes, metal jackets, insulation, and thermal 
protection. A complete record of each analysis shall be made, retained, 
and upon request, made available for inspection and copying by an 
authorized representative of the Department. The procedures outlined in 
``Temperatures, Pressures, and Liquid Levels of Tank Cars Engulfed in 
Fires,'' DOT/FRA/OR&D-84/08.11, (1984), Federal Railroad Administration, 
Washington, DC (available from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, VA) shall be deemed acceptable for analyzing the 
fire effects on the entire surface of the tank car.
    (2) When the analysis shows the thermal resistance of the tank car 
does not conform to paragraph (a) of this section, the thermal 
resistance of the tank car must be increased by using a system listed by 
the Department under paragraph (c) of this section or by testing a new 
or untried system and verifying it according to appendix B of this part.
    (c) Systems that no longer require test verification. The Department 
maintains a list of thermal protection systems that comply with the 
requirements of appendix B of this part and that no longer require test 
verification. Information necessary to equip tank cars with one of these 
systems is available in the RSPA Records Center, Research and Special 
Programs Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

[Amdt. 179-50, 60 FR 49077, Sept. 21, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 179-50, 
61 FR 33256, June 26, 1996; 66 FR 45390, Aug. 28, 2001]