[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: 49CFR179.7]



[Page 1032]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 179_SPECIFICATIONS FOR TANK CARS--Table of Contents

 

              Subpart A_Introduction, Approvals and Reports

 

Sec. 179.7  Quality assurance program.



    (a) At a minimum, each tank car facility shall have a quality 

assurance program, approved by AAR, that--

    (1) Ensures the finished product conforms to the requirements of the 

applicable specification and regulations of this subchapter;

    (2) Has the means to detect any nonconformity in the manufacturing, 

repair, inspection, testing, and qualification or maintenance program of 

the tank car; and

    (3) Prevents non-conformities from recurring.

    (b) At a minimum, the quality assurance program must have the 

following elements

    (1) Statement of authority and responsibility for those persons in 

charge of the quality assurance program.

    (2) An organizational chart showing the interrelationship between 

managers, engineers, purchasing, construction, inspection, testing, and 

quality control personnel.

    (3) Procedures to ensure that the latest applicable drawings, design 

calculations, specifications, and instructions are used in manufacture, 

inspection, testing, and repair.

    (4) Procedures to ensure that the fabrication and construction 

materials received are properly identified and documented.

    (5) A description of the manufacturing, repair, inspection, testing, 

and qualification or maintenance program, including the acceptance 

criteria, so that an inspector can identify the characteristics of the 

tank car and the elements to inspect, examine, and test at each point.

    (6) Monitoring and control of processes and product characteristics 

during production.

    (7) Procedures for correction of nonconformities.

    (8) Provisions indicating that the requirements of the AAR 

Specifications for Tank Cars (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this subchapter), 

apply.

    (9) Qualification requirements of personnel performing non-

destructive inspections and tests.

    (10) Procedures for evaluating the inspection and test technique 

employed, including the accessibility of the area and the sensitivity 

and reliability of the inspection and test technique and minimum 

detectable crack length.

    (11) Procedures for the periodic calibration and measurement of 

inspection and test equipment.

    (12) A system for the maintenance of records, inspections, tests, 

and the interpretation of inspection and test results.

    (c) Each tank car facility shall ensure that only personnel 

qualified for each non-destructive inspection and test perform that 

particular operation.

    (d) Each tank car facility shall provide written procedures to its 

employees to ensure that the work on the tank car conforms to the 

specification, AAR approval, and owner's acceptance criteria.

    (e) Each tank car facility shall train its employees in accordance 

with subpart H of part 172 of this subchapter on the program and 

procedures specified in paragraph (b) of this section to ensure quality.

    (f) No tank car facility may manufacture, repair, inspect, test, 

qualify or maintain tank cars subject to requirements of this 

subchapter, unless it is operating in conformance with a quality 

assurance program and written procedures required by paragraphs (a) and 

(b) of this section.



[Amdt. 179-50, 60 FR 49076, Sept. 21, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 179-50, 

61 FR 33255, June 26, 1996; 68 FR 48571, Aug. 14, 2003; 68 FR 75759, 

Dec. 31, 2003]