[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 68212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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