1926.153(a) Approval of equipment and systems.
1926.153(a)(1) Each system shall have containers, valves, connectors, manifold valve assemblies, and regulators of
an approved type.
1926.153(a)(2) All cylinders shall meet the Department of Transportation specification identification requirements
published in 49 CFR Part 178, Shipping Container Specifications.
1926.153(a)(3) "Definition." As used in this section, "Containers" - All vessels, such as tanks, cylinders, or
drums, used for transportation or storing liquefied petroleum gases.
1926.153(b) Welding on LP-Gas containers. Welding is prohibited on containers.
1926.153(c) Container valves and container accessories.
1926.153(c)(1) Valves, fittings, and accessories connected directly to the container, including primary shut off
valves, shall have a rated working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. and shall be of material and design suitable for LP-Gas service.
..1926.153(c)(2)
1926.153(c)(2) Connections to containers, except safety relief connections, liquid level gauging devices, and
plugged openings, shall have shutoff valves located as close to the container as practicable.
1926.153(d) Safety devices.
1926.153(d)(1) Every container and every vaporizer shall be provided with one or more approved safety relief valves
or devices. These valves shall be arranged to afford free vent to the outer air with discharge not less than 5 feet horizontally away from any opening
into a building which is below such discharge.
1926.153(d)(2) Shutoff valves shall not be installed between the safety relief device and the container, or the
equipment or piping to which the safety relief device is connected, except that a shutoff valve may be used where the arrangement of this valve is
such that full required capacity flow through the safety relief device is always afforded.
1926.153(d)(3) Container safety relief devices and regulator relief vents shall be located not less than 5 feet in
any direction from air openings into sealed combustion system appliances or mechanical ventilation air intakes.
1926.153(e) Dispensing.
1926.153(e)(1) Filling of fuel containers for trucks or motor vehicles from bulk storage containers shall be
performed not less than 10 feet from the nearest masonry-walled building, or not less than 25 feet from the nearest building or other construction
and, in any event, not less than 25 feet from any building opening.
..1926.153(e)(2)
1926.153(e)(2) Filling of portable containers or containers mounted on skids from storage containers shall be
performed not less than 50 feet from the nearest building.
1926.153(f) Requirements for appliances.
1926.153(f)(1) LP-Gas consuming appliances shall be approved types.
1926.153(f)(2) Any appliance that was originally manufactured for operation with a gaseous fuel other than LP-Gas,
and is in good condition, may be used with LP-Gas only after it is properly converted, adapted, and tested for performance with LP-Gas before the
appliance is placed in use.
1926.153(g) Containers and regulating equipment installed outside of buildings or structures. Containers shall be
upright upon firm foundations or otherwise firmly secured. The possible effect on the outlet piping of settling shall be guarded against by a flexible
connection or special fitting.
1926.153(h) Containers and equipment used inside of buildings or structures.
1926.153(h)(1) When operational requirements make portable use of containers necessary, and their location outside
of buildings or structures is impracticable, containers and equipment shall be permitted to be used inside of buildings or structures in accordance
with paragraphs (h)(2) through (11) of this section.
1926.153(h)(2) "Containers in use" means connected for use.
..1926.153(h)(3)
1926.153(h)(3) Systems utilizing containers having a water capacity greater than 2 1/2 pounds (nominal 1 pound
LP-Gas capacity) shall be equipped with excess flow valves. Such excess flow valves shall be either integral with the container valves or in the
connections to the container valve outlets.
1926.153(h)(4) Regulators shall be either directly connected to the container valves or to manifolds connected to
the container valves. The regulator shall be suitable for use with LP-Gas. Manifolds and fittings connecting containers to pressure regulator inlets
shall be designed for at least 250 p.s.i.g. service pressure.
1926.153(h)(5) Valves on containers having water capacity greater than 50 pounds (nominal 20 pounds LP-Gas
capacity) shall be protected from damage while in use or storage.
1926.153(h)(6) Aluminum piping or tubing shall not be used.
1926.153(h)(7) Hose shall be designed for a working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. Design, construction, and
performance of hose, and hose connections shall have their suitability determined by listing by a nationally recognized testing agency. The hose
length shall be as short as practicable. Hoses shall be long enough to permit compliance with spacing provisions of paragraphs (h)(1) through (13) of
this section, without kinking or straining, or causing hose to be so close to a burner as to be damaged by heat.
..1926.153(h)(8)
1926.153(h)(8) Portable heaters, including salamanders, shall be equipped with an approved automatic device to shut
off the flow of gas to the main burner, and pilot if used, in the event of flame failure. Such heaters, having inputs above 50,000 B.t.u. per hour,
shall be equipped with either a pilot, which must be lighted and proved before the main burner can be turned on, or an electrical ignition
system.
NOTE: The provisions of this subparagraph do not apply to portable heaters under 7,500 B.t.u. per hour input when used with containers
having a maximum water capacity of 2 1/2 pounds.
1926.153(h)(9) Container valves, connectors, regulators, manifolds, piping, and tubing shall not be used as
structural supports for heaters.
1926.153(h)(10) Containers, regulating equipment, manifolds, pipe, tubing, and hose shall be located to minimize
exposure to high temperatures or physical damage.
1926.153(h)(11) Containers having a water capacity greater than 2 1/2 pounds (nominal 1 pound LP-Gas capacity)
connected for use shall stand on a firm and substantially level surface and, when necessary, shall be secured in an upright position.
1926.153(h)(12) The maximum water capacity of individual containers shall be 245 pounds (nominal 100 pounds LP-Gas
capacity).
..1926.153(h)(13)
1926.153(h)(13) For temporary heating, heaters (other than integral heater-container units) shall be located at
least 6 feet from any LP-Gas container. This shall not prohibit the use of heaters specifically designed for attachment to the container or to a
supporting standard, provided they are designed and installed so as to prevent direct or radiant heat application from the heater onto the containers.
Blower and radiant type heaters shall not be directed toward any LP-Gas container within 20 feet.
1926.153(h)(14) If two or more heater-container units, of either the integral or nonintegral type, are located in
an unpartitioned area on the same floor, the container or containers of each unit shall be separated from the container or containers of any other
unit by at least 20 feet.
1926.153(h)(15) When heaters are connected to containers for use in an unpartitioned area on the same floor, the
total water capacity of containers, manifolded together for connection to a heater or heaters, shall not be greater than 735 pounds (nominal 300
pounds LP-Gas capacity). Such manifolds shall be separated by at least 20 feet.
1926.153(h)(16) Storage of containers awaiting use shall be in accordance with paragraphs (j) and (k) of this
section.
1926.153(i) Multiple container systems.
1926.153(i)(1) Valves in the assembly of multiple container systems shall be arranged so that replacement of
containers can be made without shutting off the flow of gas in the system. This provision is not to be construed as requiring an automatic changeover
device.
..1926.153(i)(2)
1926.153(i)(2) Heaters shall be equipped with an approved regulator in the supply line between the fuel cylinder
and the heater unit. Cylinder connectors shall be provided with an excess flow valve to minimize the flow of gas in the event the fuel line becomes
ruptured.
1926.153(i)(3) Regulators and low-pressure relief devices shall be rigidly attached to the cylinder valves,
clyinders, supporting standards, the building walls, or otherwise rigidly secured, and shall be so installed or protected from the elements.
1926.153(j) Storage of LPG containers. Storage of LPG within buildings is prohibited.
1926.153(k) Storage outside of buildings.
1926.153(k)(1) Storage outside of buildings, for containers awaiting use, shall be located from the nearest
building or group of buildings, in accordance with the following:
TABLE F-3
_______________________________________
Quantity of LP-Gas stored | Distance
| (feet)
_____________________________|_________
500 lbs. or less............ | 0
501 to 6,000 lbs............ | 10
6,001 to 10,000 lbs......... | 20
Over 10,000 lbs............. | 25
_____________________________|_________
1926.153(k)(2) Containers shall be in a suitable ventilated enclosure or otherwise protected against
tampering.
1926.153(l) Fire protection. Storage locations shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire
extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B:C.
..1926.153(m)
1926.153(m) "Systems utilizing containers other than DOT containers" -
1926.153(m)(1) "Application." This paragraph applies specifically to systems utilizing storage containers other
than those constructed in accordance with DOT specifications. Paragraph (b) of this section applies to this paragraph unless otherwise noted in
paragraph (b) of this section.
1926.153(m)(2) "Design pressure and classification of storage containers." Storage containers shall be designed
and classified in accordance with Table F-31.
Table F-31
__________________________________________________________________________
| For gases | Minimum design pressure of container,
| with vapor | lb. per sq. in. gage
| press. Not |________________________________________________
| to exceed | | 1949 edition of ASME Code
Container | lb. per | | (Par. U-200, U-201); 1950,
type | sq. in. | 1949 and earlier | 1952, 1956, 1959, 1962,
| gage at | editions of ASME | 1965, and 1968 (Division 1)
| 100 deg. F.| Code (Par. U-68, | editions of ASME Code; All
| (37.8 deg. | U-69) | editions of API-ASME
| C.) | | Code(3)
____________|____________|___________________|____________________________
80(1) | 80(1) | 80 (1) | 100 (1)
100 | 100 | 100 | 125
125 | 125 | 125 | 156
150 | 150 | 150 | 187
175 | 175 | 175 | 219
200(2) | 215 | 200 | 250
____________|____________|___________________|____________________________
Footnote(1) New storage containers of the 80 type have not been
authorized since Dec. 31, 1947.
Footnote(2) Container type may be increased by increments of 25. The
minimum design pressure of containers shall per 100 percent of the
container type designation when constructed under 1949 or earlier editions
of the ASME Code (Par. U-68 and U-69). The minimum design pressure of
containers shall be 125 percent of the container type designation when
constructed under: (1) the 1949 ASME Code (Par. U-200 and U-201), (2)
1950, 1952, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, and 1968 (Division 1) editions of the
ASME Code, and (3) all editions of the API-ASME Code.
Footnote(3) Construction of containers under the API-ASME Code is not
authorized after July 1, 1061.
1926.153(m)(3) Containers with foundations attached (portable or semiportable b containers with suitable steel
"runners" or "skids" and popularly known in the industry as "skid tanks") shall be designed, installed, and used in accordance with these rules
subject to the following provisions:
1926.153(m)(3)(i) If they are to be used at a given general location for a temporary period not to exceed 6 months
they need not have fire-resisting foundations or saddles but shall have adequate ferrous metal supports.
1926.153(m)(3)(ii) They shall not be located with the outside bottom of the container shell more than 5 feet (1.52
m) above the surface of the ground unless fire-resisting supports are provided.
1926.153(m)(3)(iii) The bottom of the skids shall not be less than 2 inches (5.08 cm) or more than 12 inches (30.48
cm) below the outside bottom of the container shell.
1926.153(m)(3)(iv) Flanges, nozzles, valves, fittings, and the like, having communication with the interior of the
container, shall be protected against physical damage.
..1926.153(m)(3)(v)
1926.153(m)(3)(v) When not permanently located on fire-resisting foundations, piping connections shall be
sufficiently flexible to minimize the possibility of breakage or leakage of connections if the container settles, moves, or is otherwise
displaced.
1926.153(m)(3)(vi) Skids, or lugs for attachment of skids, shall be secured to the container in accordance with the
code or rules under which the container is designed and built (with a minimum factor of safety of four) to withstand loading in any direction equal to
four times the weight of the container and attachments when filled to the maximum permissible loaded weight.
1926.153(m)(4) Field welding where necessary shall be made only on saddle plates or brackets which were applied by
the manufacturer of the tank.
1926.153(n) When LP-Gas and one or more other gases are stored or used in the same area, the containers shall be
marked to identify their content. Marking shall be in compliance with American National Standard Z48.1-1954, "Method of Marking Portable Compressed
Gas Containers To Identify the Material Contained."
1926.153(o) "Damage from vehicles." When damage to LP-Gas systems from vehicular traffic is a possibility,
precautions against such damage shall be taken.
[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 58 FR 35170; June 30, 1993]
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