Available Now: 2023 Schedule of Hazmat & RCRA Training
Search

PHMSA Revises DOT-39 Hazmat Cylinder Safety Alert

Posted on 4/24/2017 by Roger Marks

The US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is revising a safety advisory issued in December 2016 for hazmat shippers and users of DOT Specification 39 (DOT-39) cylinders. In the Federal Register today, PHMSA clarified the following:
 
“DOT-39 cylinders exceeding 75 in.3 (1.23 L) should not contain liquefied flammable compressed cycloproprane, ethane, or ethylene, or liquefied petroleum gases. PHMSA advises against filling or transporting of these gases in DOT-39 cylinders when the cylinder’s internal volume exceeds 75 in.3 (1.23 L).”

See the revised
PHMSA Safety Alert in the Federal Register.

The safety notice aims to address the risk posed by larger volumes of liquefied flammable compressed gases in cylinders. DOT-39 cylinders can have a volume of up to 1,526 in.3 (25 L) at a service pressure of 500 psig or less. When offering compressed gases at lower pressures in cylinders, shippers may be authorized to use cylinders with thinner walls—which increases the risk of puncture or corrosion in transit. 

Compressed_Gas_Cylinder_2.jpgThe 75 in.3 volume limit has a history: In 1998, PHMSA—then known as the Research and Special Program Administration (RSPA)—proposed a rulemaking to limit all liquefied flammable compressed gases to 75 in.3 when shipped in DOT-39 cylinders. RSPA decided against this, but then inadvertently omitted the 75 in.3 limit for cyclopropane, ethane, ethylene, and liquefied petroleum gases from the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) when finalizing the rule in 2002.

DOT tried to correct this error in 2016, when—in response to petitions from industry stakeholders—the Agency proposed a new rule to update the hazmat cylinder requirements and revise the cylinder filling requirements for cyclopropane, ethane, and ethylene in 49 CFR 173.304(a)(2). This rule has not yet been finalized.

Until a Final Rule is published, PHMSA is relying on its safety alert to help shippers and carriers avoid what the Agency (and many industry stakeholders) see as an unsafe shipping practice.
 

Meet DOT, IATA, and IMDG Hazmat Training Mandates 


Don’t miss expert-led 49 CFR, IATA DGR, and IMDG Code training when it comes to your area in April. Build a step-by-step process for keeping your hazmat shipments in compliance with the latest requirements. Whether you ship hazmat every day or just once in a while, knowing your responsibilities is crucial to avoid rejection, costly customs delays, and DOT fines now as high as $77,114 per day, per violation.

This month, the Complete Multimodal Hazmat Shipper Certification Workshops will be presented in Chicago on May 2-5, and St. Louis on May 8-11.

Tags: DOT, hazmat shipping, PHMSA

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion's information is very thorough and accurate. Presenter was very good.

Melissa Little

Regulatory Manager

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

I used the IT support number available and my issue was resolved within a few minutes. I don't see anything that could have made it better.

Danny Province

EHS Professional

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

Lion does a great job summarizing and communicating complicated EH&S-related regulations.

Michele Irmen

Sr. Environmental Engineer

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

The training was impressive. I am not a fan of online training but this was put together very well. I would recommend Lion to others.

Donnie James

Quality Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Knowing why TSDFs reject loads of hazardous waste—and the exact steps to follow if it happens—can reduce your anxiety and uncertainty about rejection.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.