What does 49 CFR 178.35 (General requirements for specification cylinders) require?

As a motor-carrier owner, you must ensure full compliance with 49 CFR 178.35 in all details for specification cylinders. Specifically, the regulation requires:

* Inspections and Analyses: All required chemical analyses and tests must be performed within the United States (unless written approval is granted by the Associate Administrator). Inspections and verifications must be carried out by an approved independent inspection agency, or by a competent manufacturer's inspector for specific authorized cylinder types manufactured in the U.S.

* Inspector Duties: Inspectors must ensure each cylinder conforms to its specification by following CGA C-11 guidelines for seamless, welded, or non-refillable cylinders. The inspector must prepare a report, sign it to certify the manufacturing and heat treatment processes were satisfactory, and furnish it to the maker and purchaser.

* Defects and Attachments: Cylinders must be free of seams, cracks, laminations, or other injurious defects. Any metal attachments (such as skids) must have rounded or chamfered corners or be protected to prevent puncturing or damaging other hazardous materials packages.

* Safety Devices: Pressure relief devices and protection for valves, safety devices, and connections must meet the appropriate specification and § 173.301.

* Markings: Cylinders must be plainly and permanently stamped on the shoulder, top head, or neck with required information (such as the DOT specification, service pressure, serial number, manufacturer's symbol, and inspector's mark/test date) at least 0.25 inches in size (or as space permits). Certain cylinders used in liquefied compressed gas service manufactured after December 28, 2022, must also be marked with tare weight or mass weight and water capacity.

* Record Retention: Both the inspector and the cylinder manufacturer must retain their required test and certification reports for 15 years from the cylinder's original test date.