(iii) Markings must be in at least 14inch figures and letters on a contrasting background.

(iv) The printed marking of the month and year of test is not required if each is clearly indicated by other means, such as perforations on a decal.

(n) Any drum meeting one specification which has been altered to meet another specification must be capable of meeting the new specification in all respects.

(1) Each drum so altered must be inspected, tested, and marked in accordance with paragraph (m) of this section. In addition, the drum must

(i) Bear the specification markings required by the specification under which it was originally manufactured, and

(ii) Bear both the old and the new specification identification in conjunction with the markings required by paragraph (m) of this section with the specification to which the drum is converted shown last, e.g., "17E/17H". For example:

17E/17H TESTED 2/70 DOT R1001

(18 U.S.C. 831-835; secs. 9, 902 (h); 49 U.S.C. 1657, 1421-1430, 1472 (h)) [29 F.R. 18671, Dec. 29, 1964, as amended by Order 66, 30 F.R. 5743, Apr. 23, 1965; Amdt. 173-3, 33 F.R. 14921, Oct. 4, 1968; Amdt. 173-31, 35 F.R. 12275, July 31, 1970; Amdt. 173-31A, 35 F.R. 19021, Dec. 16, 1970; Amdt. 173-54, 36 F.R. 18469, Sept. 15, 1971]

§ 173.29 Empty containers.

(a) Empty cylinders, barrels, kegs, drums, or other containers except carboys (see paragraph (c) of this section) previously used for the shipment of any hazardous materials, as defined in this part, if authorized for reuse must have all openings including removable heads, filling and vent holes, tightly closed before being offered for transportation. Small quantities of the material with which containers were loaded may remain in "empty" containers and when the vapors remaining therein are unstable, it is permissible to add sufficient inert gas to render the vapors stable.

(b) They may be loaded in open or stock cars when desired. Cars should not be placarded but lighted open-flame lanterns or other open-flame lights should be kept away.

(c) Carboys previously used for the shipment of corrosive liquids when offered to carriers for transportation as "empty" carboys, must have been thor

oughly (completely) drained. Whenever practicable they should not be loaded with valuable or perishable freight.

(d) Empty bottles other than carboys previously used for the shipment of acids or other corrosive liquids must be securely stoppered.

(e) All packagings and accessories which have been used for shipments of radioactive materials and which contain residual internal radioactive contamination, when shipped as empty, must be securely closed. The external surface must be free of significant removable radioactive contamination as provided in § 173.397(a). The radiation at the external surface of the packaging must not exceed 0.5 millirem per hour. The "Empty" label, described in § 173.413, must be affixed to the packaging.

(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided, empty containers offered for transportation (see paragraph (a) of this section) if bearing labels described in §§ 173.405 through 173.414 (except § 173.413) of this chapter must have such labels removed, obliterated, or completely covered. The label described in § 173.413 is authorized for the latter purpose. Containers which last contained explosives on which the word "EXPLOSIVES" and/or commodity name is printed, stenciled or otherwise marked or applied, when shipped as empty shall have such marking completely covered or obliterated if shipped in less-thancarload or less-than-truckload lots, or in open-top or flat cars or open-top or flat bed motor vehicles or trailers. Covering or obliteration of such labels and markings shall not be required for carload or truckload shipments made in closed cars or van-type motor vehicles when loaded by the shipper and unloaded by the consignee or their authorized agents.

[29 F.R. 18671, Dec. 29, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 173-3, 33 F.R. 19823, Dec. 27, 1968] § 173.30 Loading and unloading of transport vehicles.

(a) Any person who loads or unloads shipments of hazardous materials into or from transport vehicles shall comply with the applicable loading and unloading provisions of Parts 174 and 177 of this chapter as follows:

(1) Rail: Sections 174.525 through 174.567.

(2) Highway: Sections 177.834 through 177.848.

[Amdt. 173-6, 34 FR. 7160, May 1, 1969]

(a) General qualifications for use. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, every tank car used for the transportation of dangerous articles shall meet the requirements of the applicable specification and regulations for the transportation of the particular commodity. See subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.

(2) In addition to the tanks authorized in Part 173, tanks built prior to July 1, 1927 in compliance with the American Railway Association's Specifications for Tank Cars or tanks built in compliance with previous specifications of the Department, if built or under construction on the effective dates thereof, are authorized for service as prescribed in the following table and notes, provided tanks and safety relief devices are retested as prescribed in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section and equipped with approved valves, valve protection devices and safety relief devices.

NOTE 1: ARA tanks must have been originally designed or subsequently reconstructed for the transportation of acids.

NOTE 2: Tank cars equipped with safety vents must have the vent closure so chained or otherwise fastened as to prevent misplacement.

NOTE 3: These cars must not be used for shipments of smokeless powder in water unless equipped with positive closure type bottom outlet valves.

NOTE 4: Until Jan. 1, 1965, on cars built prior to Jan. 1, 1959, 25 psi safety relief valves may be replaced with 35 psi safety relief valves not having an official rated capacity.

NOTE 5: Tanks built as Spec. DOT-105A 100-W or 105A100A L-W may be altered and reclassified as Spec. DOT 105A 200-W or 105A200AL-W, respectively, by installing safety relief valves, retesting and stenciling in accordance with the applicable specification.

NOTE 6: The test pressures of tanks built in the United States prior to January 1, 1956, may be increased to comply with current spec. DOT-107A except that tanks built prior to 1941 are not so authorized. Original and revised test pressure must be indicated and may be shown on a plate attached to the bulkhead of the car.

(3) Unless otherwise specifically provided in Part 173, when class DOT105AW, 105A-ALW, 106A, 109A-ALW, 110AW, 111A, 112AW, or 114AW tank car tanks are prescribed, the same class tanks having higher marked test pressures than those prescribed may also be used. When class DOT-111AW1 tank car tanks are prescribed, class 111AW3 tank car tanks may also be used.

(4) Tank cars and appurtenances may be used for the transportation of any commodity for which they are authorized. Tank cars proposed for a commodity service other than authorized, must be approved for such service by the Association of American Railroads' Committee on Tank Cars. Transfer of a tank car from one authorized service to another may be made only by the owner or owner's authorization. Classes DOT105A-W, 109A-W, 111A-100-W-4, 112AW, 114A-W tank cars may be used for any commodity for which they are approved by the Committee on Tank Cars and may be stenciled accordingly. When a tank car is stenciled to indicate that it is authorized for one commodity only, it must not be used for any other service.

NOTE 1: For additional requirements for tank cars for compressed gases, see § 173.314.

(b) Loading and shipping-(1) Examination before shipping. When tanks are loaded and prior to shipping, the shipper must determine to the extent practicable, that the tank, safety appurtenances and fittings are in proper condition for the safe transportation of the lading. Tanks with bottom discharge outlets must have their outlet caps off, or outlet cap plugs open, during the entire time tanks are being loaded. After loading, tanks with bottom outlet valves which permit more than a dropping of the liquid with the outlet caps off, or the outlet cap plugs open, must not be offered for transportation until proper repairs have been made. Tanks which show any dropping or leaking of liquid contents at seams or rivets, must not be offered for transportation until proper repairs have been made.

(2) Loading requirements for tanks with interior heater coils. Tank cars equipped with interior heater coils, except when coils are rendered inoperative by blocking off the inlet and outlet, must be loaded with heater coil inlet and outlet caps off during entire time tanks are

being loaded and show no leakage with caps off.

(3) Securing closures. All closures of openings in tank cars and of their protective housings must be properly secured in place by the use of a bar, wrench, or other suitable cool. A wrench having a handle at least 36 inches long must be used to apply the outlet valve cap. Manway covers and outlet valve caps must be made tight against leakage of vapor and liquid, by use of gaskets of suitable materials, before cars are tendered to carrier for transportation. Luting materials must not be used in outlet cap or on threads of bottom outlet.

(4) Inspection of safety relief devices on class DOT-106A and 110A tanks. Safety relief devices of the frangible disc or fusible plug type used on tanks of classes DOT-106A or 110A must be inspected before each loaded trip of tank by removing at least one vent for visual inspection; if it shows signs of deterioration, all devices must be removed and inspected and those which do not meet the requirements must be renewed.

(c) Periodic retest and reinspection of single-unit tank car tanks. (1) Tanks. interior heater systems, and safety relief valves must be retested periodically as specified in Retest Table 1 of this paragraph. Retests may be made at any time during the calendar year the retest falls due except as provided in the notes. Periodic retest of exterior heater systems is not a specification requirement.

(2) Each tank must be retested by completely filling the tank and manway nozzle or expansion dome with water or other liquid of similar viscosity except as otherwise provided for in Note (d) to Retest Table 1 and applying the specified pressure for 10 minutes if the tank is not insulated, or 20 minutes if the tank is insulated. There shall be no leakage or evidence of distress. The tank insulation and jacket need not be removed unless leakage is indicated by a drop in pressure. The liquid temperature must not exceed 100° F. during the test. Calking of welded joints to stop leaks developed during retests is prohibited.

(3) Tanks in service 10 years or over must be internally inspected and interior heater systems inspected for defects which would make leakage or failure probable during transit.

(4) Anchor rivet housings, if used, must not be removed during retest.

They shall be retested by applying an air pressure of 100 psi through openings in the tank shell and must show no leakage.

(5) Interior heater systems must be retested hydrostatically at 200 psi and must show no leakage.

(6) Safety relief valves must be retested with air or gas and must start to discharge at the pressure prescribed within plus or minus 3 percent except that if the start-to-discharge pressure is under 100 psi, the valve must start to discharge at the pressure prescribed within plus or minus 3 psi. Valves must be vapor tight at the prescribed pres

sure.

(7) All DOT tanks built to one specification and authorized to be stenciled to another specification must be retested in accordance with the higher specification and the test pressure stenciled accordingly on the tank or jacket.

(8) Retests of tanks and safety relief devices must be reported by party making tests to car owner. Reports must show initials and numbers of cars, pressure to which tested, date and place of test, and by whom tested. Reports of latest retest must be retained by owner until the next retest has been accomplished and recorded.

(9) After repairs requiring welding, riveting, caulking of rivets, or hot or cold forming to restore tank contour, tanks must be retested as specified in Retest Table 1 of this paragraph before return to service. Glass, lead, or rubberlined tanks must be retested before lining is renewed. Interior heater systems must be retested before return to service after repairs or renewals of any part of the system.

(10) The month and year of tests of tanks, safety relief valves, heater system and pressure to which tested must be stenciled on the tank or on jacket if insulated.

(d) Periodic retest and reinspection of tanks other than single-unit tank car tanks. (1) Tanks designed to be removed from cars for filling and emptying and tanks to spec. DOT 107A*** and their safety relief devices must be retested periodically as specified in Retest Table 2 of this paragraph. Retests may be made at any time during the calendar year the retest falls due.

(2) Each tank, except as provided in subparagraph (d) (9) of this section, must be subjected to the specified hydro

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