Criticality: High Progress: Not Addressed Score: 40 DOT Relevance: §192.613
Description of Key Area
Continuing surveillance
falls under the heading of Operations in Subpart L of 49 CFR 192. Per the code,
“each operator shall have a procedure for continuing surveillance of its
facilities to determine and take appropriate action concerning changes in class
location, failures, leakage history, corrosion, substantial changes in cathodic
protection requirements, and other unusual operating and maintenance
conditions.”
Discussion of Criticality
A determination of
action needed must be defined for changes in operating and maintenance
conditions for hydrogen pipe.
Discussion of Progress
ASME B31.12 will
incorporate the requirements of ASME B31.8S as mandatory and modify selected
sections to adapt this standard to hydrogen use.
Recommendations
Because of the unique
characteristics of hydrogen, this section of 49 CFR 192 may need to be changed.
Standards for continuing surveillance of hydrogen pipe should be established
and incorporated by reference into the federal code. The standard should
include guidelines to determine the proper time for pipe replacement, and when
reduction in the maximum allowable operating pressure should occur.
