Ask X3What does 49 CFR 173.301 (General requirements for shipment of compressed gases and other hazardous materials in cylinders, UN pressure receptacles, and spherical pressure vessels) require?
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Based on 49 CFR 173.301, here are the practical requirements for motor-carrier owners shipping compressed gases and hazardous materials in cylinders:
* Authorized Cylinders: Compressed gases must be in UN pressure receptacles built to UN standards, or in metal cylinders/containers built to specified DOT, ICC, CRC, BTC, CTC, or TC specifications in effect at manufacture, and requalified and marked as required by 49 CFR part 180, subpart C.
* Pre-Fill Inspection: Before filling, you must visually inspect the outside of every cylinder. Do not fill or offer for transportation any cylinder that has a crack, leak, bulge, defective valve, leaking or defective pressure relief device, physical abuse, fire/heat damage, or detrimental rusting/corrosion.
* Pressure Relief Devices (PRDs): PRDs must be tested for leaks before a filled cylinder is shipped from the filling plant. Leaking fusible plug devices must never be repaired by fixing the fusible metal; they must be removed and replaced. Cylinders filled with gas must generally be equipped with proper PRDs tested and selected per industry standards to prevent rupture during a fire.
* Requalification and Service Life:
* You cannot fill or offer for transportation any cylinder that is overdue for periodic requalification (unless it was filled before the due date).
* Cylinders past their authorized service life cannot be offered for transportation, except that a cylinder in transportation or filled before its service life expired may be transported for reprocessing or disposal of its contents, after which it must be condemned.
* Cylinders that previously contained a Class 8 material must be requalified per § 180.205(e).
* Filling Limits: The pressure of the hazardous material at 55 °C (131 °F) cannot exceed 5/4 of the cylinder's service pressure, and you must provide enough outage so the cylinder is not liquid full at that temperature.
* Valve and Cap Standards:
* Anyone installing a valve into an aluminum cylinder in oxygen service must verify the valve and cylinder have matching thread types.
* Cylinder valves and valve protection caps manufactured on or after November 7, 2019, must conform to CGA V-9 requirements (with specific exceptions for LPG service).
* Ownership: A filled cylinder cannot be offered for transportation unless it was filled by the owner or with the owner's consent.
* Chemical Compatibility: Filled cylinders cannot contain any gas or material that can chemically combine with the contents or the cylinder's construction material in a way that endangers its serviceability.