[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: 49CFR179.18]



[Page 1035-1036]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY 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.



[[Page 1036]]



    (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 PHMSA Records Center, Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety 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; 70 FR 56099, 

Sept. 23, 2005]