98-33098. Safety Advisory; High Pressure Composite Cylinders

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 68819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33098]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice 98-12]


Safety Advisory; High Pressure Composite Cylinders

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: RSPA is alerting persons who own, use or are responsible for 
the maintenance of composite cylinders to a hazard. Damage may occur 
when a composite cylinder comes in contact with strong cleaners or 
other strong corrosive agents. RSPA is aware of ruptures involving two 
DOT-E 8059 composite cylinders made with aluminum liners and wrapped 
with ``S glass'' fibers. The probable cause of both cylinder failures 
was stress-corrosion cracking of the fiberglass overwraps as a result 
of exposure to a strong corrosive agent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl West Freeman, Office of 
Hazardous Materials Technology, Research and Special Programs 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW, 20590-0001, Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RSPA investigated two failures involving 
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) cylinders manufactured by EFI 
Corporation under exemption, DOT E-8059. The first failure occurred in 
March 1996 at the Humboldt (California) Fire Protection District. The 
second failure occurred this year at the Hawthorne (Florida) Volunteer 
Fire Department. Both cylinders failed while stored in fire trucks. 
Exponent-Failure Analysis Associates (FaAA) in Menlo Park, California, 
analyzed the cylinders. In its reports, FaAA concluded that the 
failures were caused by stress-corrosion cracking of the fiberglass 
wraps resulting from exposure to a strong corrosive agent. Fiberglass 
composite cylinders are particularly at risk for stress-corrosion 
cracking because the fibers are under constant tension due to the 
internal pressure. When the structural integrity of the overwrap is 
weakened, a catastrophic failure of a cylinder can occur that may 
result in serous injury or death.
    Persons responsible for the care of composite cylinders should take 
measures to ensure that they do not come in contact with strong 
corrosive agents, that the cylinders are washed only with a mild soap 
and water solution, and that all recommendations of the cylinder 
manufacturer or distributor in regard to maintenance, requalification 
and use are carefully followed.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 8, 1998.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-33098 Filed 12-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P