[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR173.40]



[Page 462-463]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 173_SHIPPERS_GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS

--Table of Contents

 

     Subpart B_Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation

 

Sec. 173.40  General packaging requirements for toxic materials packaged 

in cylinders.



    When this section is referenced for a Hazard Zone A or B hazardous 

material elsewhere in this subchapter, the requirements in this section 

are applicable to cylinders used for that material.

    (a) Authorized cylinders. (1) A cylinder must conform to one of the 

specifications for cylinders in subpart C of part 178 of this 

subchapter, except that specification 8, 8AL, and 39 cylinders are not 

authorized.

    (2) After September 30, 2002, DOT 3AL cylinders made of aluminum 

alloy 6351-T6 may not be filled and offered for transportation or 

transported with a Division 2.3 Hazard Zone A material, a Division 6.1 

Hazard Zone A material, or any liquid meeting the definition of Division 

6.1 and the criteria for Packing Group I Hazard Zone A, as specified in 

Sec. 173.133. If it is otherwise serviceable and conforms to the 

regulations in effect on September 30, 2002, a DOT 3AL cylinder made of 

aluminum alloy 6351-T6 and filled before October 1, 2002, may be 

transported for reprocessing or disposal of the cylinder's contents 

until April 1, 2003.

    (b) Outage and pressure requirements. The pressure at 55 [deg]C (131 

[deg]F) of Hazard Zone A and, after December 31, 2003, Hazard Zone B 

materials may not exceed the service pressure of the cylinder. 

Sufficient outage must be provided so that the cylinder will not be 

liquid full at 55 [deg]C (131 [deg]F).

    (c) Closures. Each cylinder containing a Hazard Zone A material must 

be closed with a plug or valve conforming to the following:

    (1) Each plug or valve must have a taper-threaded connection 

directly to the cylinder and be capable of withstanding the test 

pressure of the cylinder without damage or leakage.

    (2) Each valve must be of the packless type with non-perforated 

diaphragm, except that, for corrosive materials, a valve may be of the 

packed



[[Page 463]]



type with an assembly made gas-tight by means of a seal cap with 

gasketed joint attached to the valve body or the cylinder to prevent 

loss of material through or past the packing.

    (3) Each valve outlet must be sealed by a threaded cap or threaded 

solid plug and inert gasketing material.

    (4) The materials of construction for the cylinder, valves, plugs, 

outlet caps, luting, and gaskets must be compatible with each other and 

with the lading.

    (d) Additional handling protection. Each cylinder or cylinder 

overpack combination offered for transportation containing a Division 

2.3 or 6.1 Hazard Zone A or B material must conform to the valve damage 

protection performance requirements of this section. In addition to the 

requirements of this section, overpacks must conform to the overpack 

provisions of Sec. 173.25.

    (1) Each cylinder with a wall thickness at any point of less than 

2.03 mm (0.08 inch) and each cylinder that does not have fitted valve 

protection must be overpacked in a box. The box must conform to overpack 

provisions in Sec. 173.25. Box and valve protection must be of 

sufficient strength to protect all parts of the cylinder and valve, if 

any, from deformation and breakage resulting from a drop of 2.0 m (7 ft) 

or more onto a non-yielding surface, such as concrete or steel, 

impacting at an orientation most likely to cause damage. ``Deformation'' 

means a cylinder or valve that is bent, distorted, mangled, misshapen, 

twisted, warped, or in a similar condition.

    (2) Each cylinder with a valve must be equipped with a protective 

metal cap, other valve protection device, or an overpack which is 

sufficient to protect the valve from breakage or leakage resulting from 

a drop of 2.0 m (7 ft) onto a non-yielding surface, such as concrete or 

steel. Impact must be at an orientation most likely to cause damage.

    (e) Interconnection. Cylinders may not be manifolded or 

interconnected.



[67 FR 51642, Aug. 8, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 61289, Sept. 30, 2002; 

68 FR 24660, May 8, 2003]