A. Design and Construction

B. Shop inspection shall be made of all containers during construction by a duly authorized inspector who holds a National Board Commission, and who is employed by an insurance company, state, or municipality.

C. EXCEPTION: Small containers of thirty (30) water gallon capacity, or less, may be constructed to comply with the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) covering containers used for the storage of liquefied petroleum gases. Such containers shall be constructed for a pressure of not less than two-hundred and forty (240) pounds per square inch, shall be used only for the storage of a liquefied petroleum gas mixture known as Propane. These small containers shall be filled only by weight at approved central filling stations, the amount of gas placed in a container to be determined by weighing in accordance with the appropriate densities given in Table No. 4, page 93, of these regulations. (Department of Transportation [DOT] formerly Interstate Commerce Commissions [ICC].)

Larger DOT containers are approved for domestic use, but, must be filled on the customer's premise. DOT containers larger than thirty (30) water gallon capacity are not to be transported for filling. These stationary DOT containers must be set the proper distance from a building according to distance chart outlined in rules and regulations.

All DOT cylinders using liquefied petroleum gases shall be maintained and inspected in compliance with DOT requirements. (For location of bottle filling plants, see Section 17.)

DOT forklift cylinders may be filled by volume rather than weight, if, so equipped and designed for filling by volume as outlined in NFPA 58

The volumetric method shall be permitted to be used for the following containers if designed and equipped for filling by volume:

All cylinders with a capacity of over 40lbs of propane, that are not fitted with an OPD valve, must be transported and stored with a POL plug. Cylinder valves requiring maintenance that are fifteen (15) years or older must be replaced. Board approved signage must be displayed in a prominent location. Permit holders must use the Board approved form to report new and existing station locations. Class 1 and Class 3 permit holder will provide Board approved training for exchange station employees. Record of such training will be transmitted to the Board office.

D. All containers shall have the manufacturer's name plate firmly attached to the container, designating the manufacturer's serial number, maximum allowable working pressure, year built, diameter, length, shell and head thickness, and capacity in water gallons.

On underground containers, the manufacturer's name plate shall also be attached in a firm manner in the dome cover, as well as on the tank itself.

(See also “Fit for Service” section regarding replacement name plates).

E. All containers, except storage, shall be fully equipped by the manufacturer with the required fittings, and all connections tested under air pressure of not less than 75 psi gauge. Air pressure of not less than 25 psi gauge or more than 75 psi gauge shall be left in the container when shipment is made into the State by the manufacturer or jobber, and this information shall be included in the report of shipment provided for in the following paragraph.

F. Manufacturers and jobbers shall forward to the Board notice of shipment and manufacturer's data report, together with the applicable fee, for each container on the same day that shipment of container is made into the State.

G. All containers constructed for domestic, fuel, or commercial use, equipped with liquid and vapor outlets, shall have the liquid and vapor outlets plainly marked with the words “LIQUID” and “VAPOR” on a permanent plate in letters not less than three-sixteenth (3/16) inch in height, this plate to be attached to the tank as near the liquid and vapor outlet valves as possible, or to the valve connections at the time the valves are installed. When a connection is provided for liquid transfer purposes, this connection must be equipped with both an excess flow check valve and a liquid shutoff valve.

H. Containers with foundations attached (portable or semiportable containers with suitable steel “runners” or “skids” and popularly known in the industry as “skid tanks”) shall be equipped with skids not less than two (2) inches or more than twelve (12) inches below the outside bottom of the container shell.