Section

[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: 49CFR180.519]

[Page 1129-1131]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PART 180_CONTINUING QUALIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PACKAGINGS

--Table of Contents

Subpart F_Qualification and Maintenance of Tank Cars

Sec. 180.519 Periodic retest and inspection of tank cars other than

single-unit tank car tanks.

(a) General. Unless otherwise provided in this subpart, tanks

designed to be removed from cars for filling and

[[Page 1130]]

emptying and tanks built to a Class DOT 107A specification and their

safety relief devices must be retested periodically as specified in

Retest Table 1 of paragraph (b)(5) of this section. Retests may be made

at any time during the calendar year the retest falls due.

(b) Pressure test. (1) Each tank must be subjected to the specified

hydrostatic pressure and its permanent expansion determined. Pressure

must be maintained for 30 seconds and for as long as necessary to secure

complete expansion of the tank. Before testing, the pressure gauge must

be shown to be accurate within 1 percent at test measure. The expansion

gauge must be shown to be accurate, at test pressure, to within 1

percent. Expansion must be recorded in cubic cm. Permanent volumetric

expansion may not exceed 10 percent of total volumetric expansion at

test pressure and the tank must not leak or show evidence of distress.

(2) Each tank, except tanks built to specification DOT 107A, must

also be subjected to interior air pressure test of at least 100 psig

under conditions favorable to detection of any leakage. No leaks may

appear.

(3) Safety relief valves must be retested by air or gas, must start-

to-discharge at or below the prescribed pressure and must be vapor tight

at or above the prescribed pressure.

(4) Rupture discs and fusible plugs must be removed from the tank

and visually inspected.

(5) Tanks must be retested as specified in Retest Table 1 of this

paragraph (b)(5), and before returning to service after repairs

involving welding or heat treatment:

Retest Table 1

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Retest interval--years Minimum Retest pressure-- Pressure relief valve

-------------------------- psig pressure--psig

---------------------------------------------------

Specification Pressure Tank

Tank relief hydrostatic Tank air Start-to- Vapor tight

devices d expansion c test discharge

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOT 27............................ 5 2 500 100 375 300

106A500........................... 5 2 500 100 375 300

106A500X.......................... 5 2 500 100 375 300

106A800........................... 5 2 800 100 600 480

106A800X.......................... 5 2 800 100 600 480

106A800NCI........................ 5 2 800 100 600 480

107A * * * *...................... d5 a2 (b) None None None

110A500-W......................... 5 2 500 100 375 300

110A600-W......................... 5 2 600 100 500 360

110A800-W......................... 5 2 800 100 600 480

110A1000-W........................ 5 2 1,000 100 750 600

BE-27............................. 5 2 500 100 375 300

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

\a\ If DOT 107A * * * * tanks are used for transportation of flammable gases, one rupture disc from each car

must be burst at the interval prescribed. The sample disc must burst at a pressure not exceeding the marked

test pressure of the tank and not less than 70 percent of the marked test pressure. If the sample disc does

not burst within the prescribed limits, all discs on the car must be replaced.

\b\ The hydrostatic expansion test pressure must at least equal the marked test pressure.

\c\ See Sec. 180.519(b)(1).

\d\ Safety relief valves of the spring-loaded type on tanks used exclusively for fluorinated hydrocarbons and

mixtures thereof which are free from corroding components may be retested every 5 years.

(6) The month and year of test, followed by a ``V'' if visually

inspected as described in paragraph (c) of this section, must be plainly

and permanently stamped into the metal of one head or chime of each tank

with successful test results; for example, 01-90 for January 1990. On

DOT 107A**** tanks, the date must be stamped into the metal of the

marked end, except that if all tanks mounted on a car have been tested,

the date may be stamped into the metal of a plate permanently applied to

the bulkhead on the ``A'' end of the car. Dates of previous tests and

all prescribed markings must be kept legible.

specifications (Sec. Sec. 179.300 and 179.301 of this subchapter) used

exclusively for transporting fluorinated hydrocarbons and mixtures

thereof, and that are free from corroding components, may be given a

periodic complete internal and

[[Page 1131]]

external visual inspection in place of the periodic hydrostatic retest.

Visual inspections shall be made only by competent persons. The tank

must be accepted or rejected in accordance with the criteria in CGA C-6

(IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this subchapter).

(d) Written records. The results of the pressure test and visual

inspection must be recorded on a suitable data sheet. Completed copies

of these reports must be retained by the owner and by the person

performing the pressure test and visual inspection as long as the tank

is in service. The information to be recorded and checked on these data

sheets are: Date of test and inspection; DOT specification number; tank

identification (registered symbol and serial number, date of manufacture

and ownership symbol); type of protective coating (painted, etc., and

statement as to need for refinishing or recoating); conditions checked

(leakage, corrosion, gouges, dents or digs, broken or damaged chime or

protective ring, fire, fire damage, internal condition); test pressure;

results of tests; and disposition of tank (returned to service, returned

to manufacturer for repair, or scrapped); and identification of the

person conducting the retest or inspection.

[Amdt. 180-8, 60 FR 49079, Sept. 21, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 179-50,

61 FR 33257, June 26, 1996; 65 FR 58633, Sept. 29, 2000; 66 FR 45187,

45392, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 75765, Dec. 31, 2003]