Purpose:

This procedure provides guidelines for those facilities outside the United States requesting registration and approval to visually inspect, hydrostatically test and requalify DOT specification and special permit/exemption cylinders in conjunction with a currently valid or newly requested Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) foreign repair station certification.

Procedure:

The applicant must submit a written request for an application, procedures, and a list of minimum requirements, to the company listed below or to the Office of Hazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals (OHMSPA).

The applicant must complete an application in accordance with Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations Section 107.805 and provide quality assurance procedures for retesting DOT cylinders, directly relating those procedures to the specification retest requirements shown in Section 180.209 of 49 CFR and, if applicable, cylinders manufactured under a DOT special permit. All applications, test procedures and future correspondence must be submitted to the following address:

The applicant must complete an application and provide quality assurance procedures for retesting DOT cylinders, directly relating those procedures to the specification retest requirements shown in Section 180.205 through Section 180.215 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) and, if applicable, cylinders manufactured under a DOT special permit/exemption. All applications, test procedures and future correspondence must be submitted to the following address:

Mr. Glen Kinney, President
G & C Kinney, Inc.
151 Sago Palm Drive
Leesburg, Florida 34748
Phone: 001 352 323 8816
Fax: 001 352 323 8814
email: gandckinney@aol.com

Following a review of the submitted application and testing procedures, if the application and testing procedures appear to be in order, G & C Kinney, Inc. will notify the applicant of the scheduling and costs for an audit of the facility. Upon completion of a satisfactory inspection, G & C Kinney, Inc. will evaluate all information related to the retesting operation and, if it is determined to be acceptable, will recommend the applicant to OHMSPA for approval and registration. OHMSPA will provide the applicant with a letter of approval and a unique requalifiers identification number (RIN). The RIN will be valid for the specific period noted in the approval, subject to the recommendation of the above company.

Responsibility:

G & C Kinney, Inc. and OHMSPA will catalog requests for approval and registration, and maintain records of all completed applications. G & C Kinney, Inc. will provide inspections and review services for those facilities which have applied to become or currently are FAA certified foreign repair stations.

The Applicant will submit an application for approval and registration to G & C Kinney, Inc. or OHMSPA. The applicant is responsible for inspection costs as determined by G & C Kinney, Inc.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL

The following list outlines the equipment, documentation, and reference material normally necessary to perform hydrostatic pressure tests of cylinders required by Section 180.205 through Section 180.215 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

Testing personnel must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of Section 180.205 through 180.215, the Compressed Gas Association's Pamphlets C-1, C-6, and where applicable, C-6.1, C-6.2, C-8, and knowledge of testing DOT Special Permit/Exemption cylinders. They must also be able to demonstrate the capacity of the testing equipment to perform the required tests to the degree of accuracy required by the regulations.

If the applicant's equipment or references differ from those listed, they should advise G & C Kinney, Inc. of any such difference and explain the alternate method by which they can demonstrate the competence of testing personnel and/or accuracy of testing equipment prior to the inspection of the facility.

The applicant should have at the time of inspection:

1. A copy of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 100-185, or reprint. Copies of this document may be obtained from the US Department of Transportation Office of Hazardous Materials Safety internet website: "hazmat.dot.gov" or the following:

Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
(202) 783-3238

2. Where applicable, a copy of a current special permit/exemption document authorizing the use of a non-DOT specification cylinder. Current copies of special permit/exemption documents may be obtained from the United States Department of Transportation Office of Hazardous Materials Safety internet website: "hazmat.dot.gov", or the following:

Records Center
Office of Hazardous Materials Exemptions and Approvals
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: (202) 366-5046 FAX: (202) 366-3753

3. Compressed Gas Association Pamphlets C-1, C-6, C-6.1, C-6.2, C-8. These may be obtained from:

Compressed Gas Association
4221 Walney Road, 5th Floor
Chantilly, VA 20151-2923
Phone: (703) 788-2700
FAX: (703) 412-0128
website: www.cganet.com

4. A certification of calibration for the test gauge through its operating range.



5. A calibration cylinder and a chart showing the cylinder's expansions at various test pressures

Note: Due to inconsistencies in the repeatability of calibration, the use of a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) full composite cylinder as a calibration cylinder is discouraged.

6. Hydrostatic test equipment capable of producing an accuracy of 1 percent.



7. Equipment necessary for visual testing.



8. A sample of the facility recordkeeping form.