What does 49 CFR 178.33a-8 (Tests) require?

Short answer

49 CFR 178.33a-8 requires one out of each lot of 25,000 containers or less to be pressure tested to destruction and not burst below 240 psig gauge pressure.

The rule says

"One out of each lot of 25,000 containers or less, successively produced per day shall be pressure tested to destruction and must not burst below 240 psig gauge pressure." (49 CFR 178.33-8(a))

In plain English

This rule is about ensuring the safety and integrity of containers used for transporting hazardous materials. By testing one container from each lot, manufacturers can confirm that their production process is yielding containers that meet the required safety standards. If the test container fails, the entire lot may be rejected, highlighting the importance of this quality control measure.

What to do

• Ensure that one container from each lot of 25,000 or less is selected for pressure testing.
• Conduct the pressure test to destruction, verifying that the container does not burst below 240 psig gauge pressure.
• If the test container fails, consider rejecting the entire lot or conducting additional tests on a larger sample size from the lot.
• Maintain detailed records of the testing process and results for regulatory compliance and quality control purposes.