Sec. 7017. Minimum requirements for top fittings protection for class DOT–117R tank cars
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Except as provided in subsections
(b)and (c), top fittings on DOT specification 117R tank cars shall be located inside a protective housing not less than ½-inch in thickness and constructed of a material having a tensile strength not less than 65 kilopound per square inch and conform to the following specifications: The protective housing shall be as tall as the tallest valve or fitting involved and the height of a valve or fitting within the protective housing must be kept to the minimum compatible with their proper operation. The protective housing or cover may not reduce the flow capacity of the pressure relief device below the minimum required. The protective housing shall provide a means of drainage with a minimum flow area equivalent to six 1-inch diameter holes. When connected to the nozzle or fittings cover plate and subject to a horizontal force applied perpendicular to and uniformly over the projected plane of the protective housing, the tensile connection strength of the protective housing shall be designed to be— no greater than 70 percent of the nozzle to tank tensile connection strength; no greater than 70 percent of the cover plate to nozzle connection strength; and no less than either 40 percent of the nozzle to tank tensile connection strength or the shear strength of twenty ½-inch bolts. The pressure relief device shall be located inside the protective housing, unless space does not permit. If multiple pressure relief devices are equipped, no more than 1 may be located outside of a protective housing. The highest point on any pressure relief device located outside of a protective housing may not be more than 12 inches above the tank jacket. The highest point on the closure of any unused pressure relief device nozzle may not be more than 6 inches above the tank jacket. As an alternative to the protective housing requirements in subsection
(a)of this section, the tank car may be equipped with a system that prevents the release of product from any top fitting in the case of an incident where any top fitting would be sheared off. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary to issue regulations to implement this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from approving new technologies, methods or requirements that provide a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided for in this section.