[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10547-10548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5447]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
46 CFR Part 56
[USCG-1998-3560]
Coast Guard Acceptance of Resiliently Seated Valves
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of policy; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces an interim policy concerning the
acceptance of resiliently seated valves as an alternatives to the
requirements in 46 CFR 56.20-15. Additionally, the Coast Guard requests
the public's comments on how the Coast Guard should proceed in the
future regarding any regulatory revision of the current criteria for
the acceptance of resiliently seated valves as contained in 46 CFR
56.20-15.
DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before
May 4, 1998.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility,
[USCG-1998-3560], U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400
7th Street SW., Washington DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to Room PL-
401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same
address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366-9329.
The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this
notice. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or
copying at Room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif
Building at the address above between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also access this
docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Wayne M. Lundy, Systems Engineering Division (G-MSE-3), U.S. Coast
Guard Headquarters, telephone (202) 267-2206 for questions concerning
the substance of this notice or Carol Kelly, Coast Guard Dockets Team
Leader, or Paulette Twine, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S.
Department of Transportation, telephone (202) 366-9329 for questions
concerning the filing and reviewing of comments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
Persons submitting comments should include their names and
addresses, identify this notice [USCG-1998-3560] and the reason for
each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing to the DOT Docket Management Facility at
the address under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt
of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or
envelopes. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during
the comment period and may change this policy in view of the comments.
Background and Purpose
Over the past twelve months, the Coast Guard has received several
inquiries from the marine industry, including valve manufacturers and
distributors, regarding the acceptance criteria for resiliently seated
valves addressed in 46 CFR 56.20-15. The current issue is whether the
existing acceptance criteria found in the 1989 version of 46 CFR 56.20-
15. The current issue is whether the existing acceptance criteria found
in the 1989 version of 46 CFR 56.20-15 is significantly stricter than
the criteria previously applied to the resiliently seated valves
grandfathered by the regulatory project on vessel piping systems (CGD
77-140; 50 FR 1072, January 9, 1985, and 54 FR 40592, October 2, 1989).
In the preamble to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on vessel piping
systems (CGD 77-140; 50 FR 1074, January 9, 1985), Category A
resiliently seated valves were previously recognized by the Coast Guard
as acceptable for continued service, without additional testing,
provided there were no changes in the design or materials, and no
casualty data or Coast Guard tests which would indicate a need to
withdraw the acceptance. The preamble to the Final Rule on vessel
piping systems (CGD 77-140; 54 FR 40592, October 2, 1989), stated that
46 CFR 56.20-15 was revised to clarify the requirements of resiliently
seated valves. However, neither the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking nor
the Final Rule discussed that the intent of the regulatory changes to
46 CFR 56.20-15 was to increase the acceptance criteria for new
resiliently seated valves beyond the previous acceptance criteria
applied to resiliently seated valves.
Recent inquiries have caused the Coast Guard to review and re-
evaluate past policies and practices employed in the development and
evolution of the acceptance criteria for resiliently seated valves over
the past 35 years. In addition, the Coast Guard reviewed its casualty
data available during the same period. From this effort, the Coast
Guard concluded that the existing acceptance criteria contained in 46
CFR 56.20-15 did, in fact, exceed the acceptance criteria applied to
previously accepted resiliently seated valves, but that the change in
acceptance criteria was unintended. Additionally, the Coast Guard was
unable to identify any casualty data which justified an increase in the
stringency of the criteria for acceptance of new resiliently seated
valves.
As a result of this review, the Coast Guard will, as an interim
policy until a regulatory project can be published to revise 46 CFR
56.20-15, consider new resiliently seated valves for acceptance as
Category A that demonstrate a level of safety equivalent to previously
accepted resiliently seated valves that have shown satisfactory service
for at least 5 years. This may be done by demonstrating that the valves
provide for performance or dimensional equivalence to previously
accepted resiliently seated valve designs. Precedent for acceptance of
equivalents
[[Page 10548]]
exists in other sections of Title 46, such as 46 CFR 30.15-1. The
comparisons for performance or dimensional equivalence must be
certified by a recognized independent testing facility, a
classification society recognized under the Alternate Compliance
Program, or a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) acceptable under
the provisions of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 10-
92. This written certification should be submitted with other
supporting documentation when applying for approval by the Coast Guard.
Comparison tests of performance should demonstrate that the
effective closure (internal leakage with the resilient seat removed) of
a new resiliently seated valve is equivalent with that of a previously
accepted resiliently seated valve. New resiliently seated valves being
submitted for acceptance by the Coast Guard based on performance
equivalency must have a flow coefficient (Cv), when in the closed
condition with the resilient material removed, that is within
acceptable tolerances, as indicated in Instrument Society of America
standard ISA-S75.02-1996, of the Cv of a previously accepted
resiliently seated valve. New resiliently seated valves being submitted
to the Coast Guard for acceptance based on dimensional equivalency must
demonstrate that the dimensions of the pressure-containing components
(valve body, disk, and stem, etc.) are within acceptable tolerances,
based on a recognized industry standard, such as American Petroleum
Institute (API) 609 (1997), Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS)
SP-67 (1990), or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B16.10
(1992), of the dimensions of the previously accepted resiliently seated
valve. Regardless of which method is demonstrated, the materials of the
pressure-containing components for all new resiliently seated valves
shall comply with the requirements of 46 CFR 56.60.
Notwithstanding this interim policy, valve manufacturers continue
to have the option of demonstrating compliance with the existing
regulations in 46 CFR 56.20-15. Those seeking acceptance of new
resiliently seated valves under the provisions of this policy notice
or, alternatively, those choosing to continue to use the existing 46
CFR 56.20-15, should submit supporting documentation for approval to
the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20590-0001.
Additionally, the Coast Guard solicits the public's comments on how
it should proceed with the revision or amendment of the existing
regulatory requirements for resiliently seated valves as contained in
46 CFR 56.20-15. The Cost Guard has identified five potential options
on how to proceed as follows: incorporation by reference of an industry
standard (develop a suitable industry standard working in conjunction
with a voluntary standards development organization, e.g., the American
Society for Testing and Materials F-25 Technical Committee on
Shipbuilding); evaluation of the need to have any standard for
resiliently seated valves; revise the acceptance criteria requirements
within existing 46 CFR 56.20-15 to reflect acceptance criteria applied
to previously accepted resiliently seated valves; maintain the
acceptance criteria contained in existing 46 CFR 56.20-15 and set an
effective date upon which the acceptance of previously accepted
resiliently seated valves would terminate; or maintain the acceptance
criteria as currently exists in 46 CFR 56.20-15. The preferred option
for the Coast Guard, at this juncture, is to pursue development of an
industry standard which can be considered for incorporation by
reference into 46 CFR 56.20-15. Therefore, the Coast Guard encourages
submission of written data, views, or arguments regarding the five
options addresses above or any other alternative option. Also, the Coat
Guard is soliciting comments which address. The service history of
previously accepted resiliently seated valves; compliance of previously
accepted resiliently seated valve designs with the current leakage rate
criteria found in 46 CFR 56.20-15(c)(1); the need for a leakage rate
criteria with the seat removed as an option in lieu of fire tests;
compliance of designs with an acceptable fire test (e.g., American
Petroleum Institute (API) standard 607); and the need for the current
three categories of resiliently seated valves, (Category A, Category B,
and positive shut-off). The Cost Guard will carefully consider all
comments received and may initiate a regulatory project to adopt one of
these or another alternative.
Dated February 26, 1998.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection
[FR Doc. 98-5447 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
