46 C.F.R. Subpart 58.16—Liquefied Petroleum Gases for Cooking and Heating
Title 46 - Shipping
(a) This subpart prescribes standards for the use of liquefied petroleum gas for heating and cooking on inspected vessels, except ferries. (b) It is the intent of the regulations in this subpart to permit liquefied petroleum gas systems of the vapor withdrawal type only. Cylinders designed to admit liquid gas into any other part of the system are prohibited. (c) Except as provided by §58.16–7(b), all component parts of the system, except cylinders, appliances, and low pressure tubing, shall be designed to withstand a pressure of 500 pounds per square inch without failure. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGD 83–013, 54 FR 6402, Feb. 10, 1989] For the purpose of this subpart the term “liquefied petroleum gas” means any liquefied flammable gas which is composed predominantly of hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons, such as propane, propylene, butane, butylene, or butadiene, and which has a Reid ASTM D 323 (incorporated by reference, see §58.03–1). Method of test for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)) vapor pressure exceeding 40 pounds per square inch absolute at 100 °F. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by USCG–2000–7790, 65 FR 58460, Sept. 29, 2000] (a) Cooking equipment using liquefied petroleum gas on vessels of 100 gross tons or more that carry passengers for hire must meet the requirements of this subpart. (b) Cooking equipment using liquefied petroleum gas on vessels of less than 100 gross tons that carry passengers for hire must meet the requirements of 46 CFR 25.45–2 or 184.05, as applicable. (c) Systems using liquefied petroleum gas for cooking or heating on any other vessels subject to inspection by the Coast Guard must meet the requirements of this subpart. [CGD 83–013, 54 FR 6402, Feb. 10, 1989] (a) Gas appliances. (1) All gas-consuming appliances used for cooking and heating shall be of a type approved by the Commandant, and shall be tested, listed and labeled by an acceptable laboratory, such as: (i) The American Gas Association Testing Laboratories. (ii) The Marine Department, Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (formerly Yacht Safety Bureau). (2) Continuous-burning pilot flames are prohibited for use on gas appliances when installed below the weather deck. (3) Printed instructions for proper installation, operation, and maintenance of each gas-consuming appliance shall be furnished by the manufacturer. (b) Cylinders. (1) Cylinders in which liquefied petroleum gas is stored and handled shall be constructed, tested, marked, maintained, and retested in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation. (2) All liquefied petroleum gas cylinders in service shall bear a test date marking indicating that they have been retested in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation. (3) Regardless of the date of the previous test, a cylinder shall be rejected for further service when it leaks; when it is weakened appreciably by corrosion, denting, bulging or other evidence of rough usage; when it has lost more than 5 percent of its tare weight; or when it has been involved in a fire. (c) Safety relief devices. All safety relief devices where required, shall be approved as to type, size, pressure setting, and location, by the Bureau of Explosives in conformance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation. (d) Valves, regulators, and vaporizers. All component parts of the system, other than cylinders and low pressure distribution tubing between regulators and appliances, shall be tested and approved by and bear the label of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or other recognized testing laboratory. (e) Plan approval. Drawings in triplicate, showing the location and installation of all piping, gas-consuming appliances, cylinders, and other component parts of the system shall be submitted for approval. [CGFR 68–82, 33 FR 18878, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69–127, 35 FR 9980 June 17, 1970] (a) Each cylinder shall have a manually operated screw-down shutoff valve fitted with a handwheel installed directly at the cylinder outlet. (b) All cylinders shall be protected by one or more safety relief devices complying with the requirements of §58.16–10(a). The safety relief device shall be a shutoff valve with an integral spring-loaded safety relief valve and supplementary fusible plug, the latter designed to yield when the cylinder has been emptied of liquid gas by the relief valve under conditions of exposure to excessive heat. (c) Cylinder valves and safety relief devices shall have direct communication with the vapor space of the cylinder. (d) In addition to the cylinder valve, a multiple cylinder system shall be provided with a two-way positive shutoff manifold valve of the manually operated type. The manifold valve shall be so arranged that the replacement of empty cylinders can be made without shutting down the flow of gas in the system. (e) A master packless shutoff valve controlling all burners simultaneously shall be installed at the manifold of all gas-consuming appliances. (a) All systems shall be provided with a regulating device so adjusted as to release gas to the distribution tubing at a pressure not in excess of 18 inches water column, or approximately 10.5 ounces per square inch. (b) The low pressure side of all regulators shall be protected against excessive pressure by means of a suitable relief valve which shall be integral with the regulator. The relief valve shall be set to start to discharge at a pressure not less than two times and not more than three times the delivery pressure. (c) All reducing regulators shall be fitted with a pressure gage located on the high pressure side of the regulator. (a) The piping between the cylinders and the appliances shall be seamless annealed copper tubing or such other seamless tubing as may be approved by the Commandant. (b) All high pressure tubing between the cylinders and the regulators shall have a minimum wall thickness of 0.049 inch. All low-pressure tubing between the regulator and appliances shall have a minimum wall thickness of 0.032 inch. (c) Tubing connecting fittings shall be of the flare type; or connections may be soldered or brazed with material having a melting point in excess of 1,000 °F. (a) Cylinders, regulating and safety equipment. (1) Cylinders, regulating and safety equipment shall be installed in a substantially constructed and firmly fixed metal enclosure located on or above the weather deck. The cylinder enclosure shall have access from the weather deck only. The enclosure shall be provided with top and bottom ventilation consisting of a fresh air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe both entering through the top of the cylinder housing. The enclosure shall be constructed so that when the access opening is closed, no gas can escape except through the ventilation system. (2) Cylinders, regulating and safety devices shall be securely fastened and supported within the metal enclosure. The cylinders and high pressure equipment shall be so mounted as to be readily accessible and capable of easy removal for refilling and inspection. The stowage of high pressure equipment in the housing shall be such that the cylinder valves can be readily operated and the pressure gage dial be easily visible. Where possible cylinders shall be mounted in an upright position. (3) Stowage of unconnected spare cylinders, filled or empty, shall comply with the requirements for cylinders. (4) All valves, manifolds and regulators shall be securely mounted in locations readily accessible for inspection, maintenance and testing, and shall be adequately protected. (5) Discharge of the safety relief valves shall be vented away from the cylinder, and insofar as practicable, upward into the open atmosphere, but in all cases so as to prevent impingement of the escaping gas onto a cylinder. (b) Piping. (1) All piping shall be installed so as to provide minimum interior runs and adequate flexibility. The piping at the cylinder outlets shall be fitted with flexible metallic connections to minimize the effect of cylinder movement on the outlet piping. (2) Distribution lines shall be protected from physical damage and be readily accessible for inspection. Lines shall be substantially secured against vibration by means of soft nonferrous metal clips without sharp edges in contact with the tubing. When passing through decks or bulkheads, the lines shall be protected by ferrules of nonabrasive material. The distribution lines shall be continuous length of tubes from the regulator to the shutoff valve at the appliance manifold. (c) Gas-consuming appliances. All gas-consuming appliances shall be permanently and securely fastened in place. (d) Electrical. No electrical connections shall be made within the cylinder housing. (a) Installation. (1) After installation, the distribution tubing shall be tested prior to its connection to the regulator and appliance by an air pressure of not less than 5 pounds per square inch. (2) After satisfactory completion of the tests prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the distribution tubing shall be connected to the regulator and appliance and the entire system subjected to a leak test as required by §58.16–30(j). (b) Periodic. Leak tests as required by §58.16–30(j) shall be conducted at least once each month and at each regular annual or biennial inspection. The tests required at monthly intervals shall be conducted by a licensed officer of the vessel or qualified personnel acceptable to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. The owner, master, or person in charge of the vessel shall keep records of such tests showing the dates when performed and the name(s) of the person(s) and/or company conducting the tests. Such records shall be made available to the marine inspector upon request and shall be kept for the period of validity of the vessel's current certificate of inspection. Where practicable, these records should be kept in or with the vessel's logbook. (a) Compartments containing gas-consuming appliances which are located above the weather deck shall be fitted with at least two natural ventilator ducts led from the atmosphere with one extending to the floor level and the other extending to the overhead of the compartment. Powered ventilation may be used provided the motor is outside the compartment. (b) Compartments in which gas-consuming appliances are located entirely below the weather deck shall be provided with powered ventilation of sufficient capacity to effect a change of air at least once every 6 minutes. The motor for the powered ventilation shall be located outside the compartment. (a) All liquefied petroleum gases shall be effectively odorized by an agent of such character as to indicate positively by a distinctive odor, the presence of gas down to concentration in air of not over one-fifth the lower limit of combustibility. (a) Before opening a cylinder valve, the outlet of the cylinder shall be connected tightly to system; and in the case where only a single cylinder is used in the system, all appliance valves and pilots shall be shut off before the cylinder valve is opened. (b) Before opening cylinder valve after connecting it to system, the cylinder shall be securely fastened in place. (c) When cylinders are not in use their outlet valves shall be kept closed. (d) Cylinders when exhausted shall have their outlet valves closed. (e) Nothing shall be stored in the metal enclosure except liquefied petroleum gas cylinders and permanently fastened parts of the system. (f) Valve protecting caps, if provided, shall be firmly fixed in place on all cylinders not attached to the system. Caps for cylinders in use may remain in the cylinder enclosure if rigidly fastened thereto. (g) The opening to the cylinder enclosure shall be closed at all times except when access is required to change cylinders or maintain equipment. (h) Close master valve whenever gas-consuming appliance is not in use. (i) No smoking is permitted in the vicinity of the cylinder enclosure when access to enclosure is open. (j) Test system for leakage in accordance with the following procedure: With appliance valve closed, the master shutoff valve on the appliance open, and with one cylinder valve open, note pressure in the gage. Close cylinder valve. The pressure should remain constant for at least 10 minutes. If the pressure drops, locate leakage by application of liquid detergent or soapy water solution at all connections. Never use flame to check for leaks. Repeat test for each cylinder in a multicylinder system. (k) Report any presence of gas odor to ____________________ (a) The outside of the cylinder enclosure housing liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, valves and regulators shall be marked as follows:
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Keep Open Fires Away. Operating Instructions (b) A durable and permanently legible instruction sign covering safe operation and maintenance of the gas-consuming appliance shall be installed adjacent to the appliance. (c) “Operating Instructions” as listed in §58.16–30 shall be framed under glass, or other equivalent, clear, transparent material, in plainly visible locations on the outside of the metal enclosure and near the most frequently used gas-consuming appliance, so they may be easily read.
Title 46: Shipping
PART 58—MAIN AND AUXILIARY MACHINERY AND RELATED SYSTEMS
Subpart 58.16—Liquefied Petroleum Gases for Cooking and Heating
§ 58.16-1 Scope.
§ 58.16-5 Definition.
§ 58.16-7 Use of liquefied petroleum gas.
§ 58.16-10 Approvals.
§ 58.16-15 Valves and safety relief devices.
§ 58.16-16 Reducing regulators.
§ 58.16-17 Piping and fittings.
§ 58.16-18 Installation.
§ 58.16-19 Tests.
§ 58.16-20 Ventilation of compartments containing gas-consuming appliances.
§ 58.16-25 Odorization.
§ 58.16-30 Operating instructions.
____________________§ 58.16-35 Markings.
