Purpose:

This procedure provides guidelines for facilities outside the United States that wish to apply for DOT approval in accordance with Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) Section 107.805, to hydrostatic retest and requalify DOT Specification cylinders in accordance with Sections 180.205 through 180.215, and cylinders manufactured under DOT Special Permits.

Method:

Upon receipt of a written request for approval, the Office of Hazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals (OHMSPA) will provide the applicant with a copy of this procedure, a list of minimum requirements, and an application form.

The applicant must submit a completed application and an outline of procedures for retesting DOT specification cylinders directly related to the specification requirements shown in Section 180.209 of 49 CFR and, if applicable, cylinders manufactured under a DOT Special Permit.

Upon completion of a satisfactory inspection, OHMSPA will evaluate all information relating to the retesting operation and, if it is determined to be acceptable, will provide the applicant with a letter of approval bearing a unique requalifiers identification number (RIN).

The approval will be valid for five years subject to requirements for maintenance of equipment and test capability.

Responsibility:

OHMSPA will catalog requests for approval, and maintain records of all completed applications. OHMSPA will provide inspections and review services for the program and submit plans for modification and improvement as required.

The Applicant must request approval from the Office of Hazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals. The applicant is responsible for all direct costs of the inspection visit, including travel expenses. An advanced deposit is required to be made by check in US Dollars made payable to The United States Department of Transportation, indicating on the check that it is for the HM74 account and sent to:

DOT FAA
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
ATT: Shelley M. Willis
Accountant, AMZ-300
P.O. Box 25770
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-4915
Phone: 405-954-5364
Fax: 405-954-1620

If you choose, you may electronically transfer the advanced deposit. If you choose this option, you must use the attached instructions for electronically transferring funds to the Federal Aviation Administration, United States Department of Transportation.

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 Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

Testing personnel must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the relevant provisions of Sections 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 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 OHMSPA 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 100-199 or reprint. Copies of this document may be obtained from:

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

Information about obtaining 49 CFR.

2. Where applicable, a copy of a current special permit document authorizing the use of a non-DOT specification cylinder. Current copies of special permit documents may be obtained by requesting the specific special permit number (ex: DOT SP-1234) from:

U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Hazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals
Records Center PHH-30
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: (202) 366-5046    FAX: (202) 366-3753

Access electronic copies of special permits.

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 20151-2933
Phone: 703-788-2700

Access the Compress Gas Association website  .

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


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

Note: Due to inconsistancies 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.