[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 68212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25889]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-04-18975; Notice No. 04-07]
Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Marking of Compressed Gas Cylinders
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Safety advisory notice.
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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that RSPA is investigating the
unauthorized marking of DOT specification high-pressure carbon dioxide
fire extinguishers serviced by Statewide Fire Equipment, Inc.
(Statewide), West Buxton, ME. Note that non-DOT specification dry
chemical fire extinguishers are not at issue. RSPA has evidence that
suggests Statewide marked, certified and returned to service numerous
high-pressure DOT specification carbon dioxide fire extinguishers when
the cylinders had not been properly requalified in accordance with the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). In addition, the evidence
suggests that Statewide used the Retester Identification Numbers (RINs)
of several other licensed retest facilities without the permission or
knowledge of these facilities.
A hydrostatic retest and visual inspection are used to verify the
structural integrity of compressed gas cylinders. If a hydrostatic
retest and visual inspection are not performed within the time period
required by the HMR, cylinders with compromised structural integrity
may be returned to service when they should be condemned. Extensive
property damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from
rupture of a cylinder.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its investigation, RSPA believes
that Statewide marked, certified and returned to service an
undetermined number of high-pressure carbon dioxide fire extinguishers
without the authority to perform such servicing or without ensuring
that the cylinders were properly requalified by an authorized retest
facility. The cylinders are owned by municipal school systems, fire
departments, and a yet to be determined number of other customers in
southern Maine, The HMR require that a cylinder requalification
facility hold a current RIN issued by RSPA. Statewide has never applied
for or received a RIN; therefore it is not an authorized cylinder
requalification facility. Cylinders serviced by Statewide were found to
be marked with the RINs of four different authorized requalification
facilities. The facilities and RIN numbers are: RIN A803 issued to AAA
Fire Extinguisher Co., Inc. (AAA Fire Extinguisher), 328 Rodman Road,
Auburn, ME, (207) 784-8306; RIN A887 issued to Simplex Grinnell LP
(Simplex Grinnell), 20 Thomas Drive, Westbrook, ME, (207) 842-6440; RIN
A813 issued to J. N. Johnson Sales & Service, Inc., (J. N. Johnson),
4200 West 76th Street, Edina, MN, (952) 835-4600; and RIN A857 issued
to Orange County Fire Protection (Orange County Fire), 137 West Bristol
Lane, Orange, CA, (714) 974-9025.
RSPA has reviewed the retester records from these four companies
from 1995 to the present, and has determined that none of these
companies have performed any cylinder requalification for Statewide.
Although AAA Fire Extinguisher of Auburn, ME requalified DOT
specification high pressure carbon dioxide fire extinguishers for
Statewide until approximately 1995, it has not performed any services
for Statewide since then. In addition to the four RIN numbers mentioned
above, RSPA believes that Statewide may have marked cylinders with
other unauthorized RINs. The RIN and date of retest are marked on the
shoulders of cylinders in the following pattern:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23NO04.002
M is the month of retest (e.g., 10), and Y is the year of the retest
(e.g., 04).
This safety advisory covers all high-pressure DOT specification
fire extinguishers that have been marked and certified as having been
requalified while in the custody of Statewide. These cylinders may pose
a safety risk to the public and should be considered unsafe for use in
hazardous materials service until requalified by an authorized retest
facility. Furthermore, cylinders described in this safety advisory must
not be filled with a hazardous material unless the cylinders are first
properly retested by an authorized retest facility. A list of
authorized requalification facilities sorted by state or by RIN number
may be obtained at RSPA's Web site: http://hazmat.dot.gov/files/
approvals/hydro/hydro_retesters.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Lima, Senior Hazardous
Materials Enforcement Specialist, Eastern Region, Office of Hazardous
Materials Enforcement, Research and Special Programs Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 306,
West Trenton, NJ 08628. Telephone: (609) 989-2252.
RSPA requests that any person possessing a high pressure DOT
specification fire extinguisher serviced by Statewide since 1995
contact inspector Anthony Lima with the following information for each
cylinder: (1) The DOT specification number and service pressure, (2)
the serial number which should be marked in association with the
specification number and service pressure, (3) the RIN number and the
month and year of the last marked requalification, (4) invoices from
Statewide that have the line item, ``Hydrostatic Tests'' completed, and
(5) the customer name, address, contact person and telephone number so
the inspector may contact you if necessary. Please provide the
requested information via facsimile to: (775) 307-4971.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 17, 2004.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-25889 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P