CSA Group CSA B340:25 National Standard of Canada Selection and use of cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for the transportation of dangerous goods, Class 2

Preface

This is the eighth edition of CSA B340, Selection and use of cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for the transportation of dangerous goods, Class 2. It supersedes the previous editions published in 2018, 2014, 2008, 2002, 1997, 1988, and 1986.

This Standard is one of a series of Standards adopted by reference by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. Because the Regulations might adopt this Standard with certain exceptions or additional requirements, they should be consulted to determine where they differ from the requirements of this Standard.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Standard, compliance with the provisions of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and the regulations thereto might call for additional requirements due to particular characteristics or properties of individual dangerous goods. Any requirements of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the handling, the offering for transport, and the transportation of dangerous goods in cylinders, spheres, and tubes are to be fully complied with.

The Technical Committee on Cylinders, Spheres, and Tubes for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, which is responsible for this Standard, has maintained close links with Transport Canada to ensure compatibility of the new edition of this Standard with the amended Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. The Committee has also reviewed and made extensive use of Compressed Gas Association publications and the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

The following are the major changes to this edition:

1. a) revised requirements for cylinders and tubes mounted on vehicles and trailers;
2. b) new requirements for cylinders and tubes longer than 2 m;
3. c) revised filling requirements for carbon dioxide;
4. d) new provisions for filling Specification TC-4LM containers with methane, refrigerated liquid and natural gas, or refrigerated liquid with high methane content; and
5. e) revised provisions for vaccum-insulated closed containers for helium-refrigerated liquid.

This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Cylinders, Spheres, and Tubes for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Public Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Notes:

1) Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.

2) Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

3) This Standard was developed by consensus, which is defined by CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization as “substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity”. It is consistent with this definition that a member may be included in the Technical Committee list and yet not be in full agreement with all clauses of this Standard.

4) To submit a request for interpretation of this Standard, please send the following information to [email protected] include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:

1. a) define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include a graphical image;
2. b) provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and
3. c) where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue. Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are available on the Current Standards Activities page at standardsactivities.csagroup.org.

5) This Standard is subject to review within five years from the date of publication. Suggestions for its improvement will be referred to the appropriate committee. To submit a proposal for change, please send the following information to [email protected] include “Proposal for change” in the subject line:

1. a) Standard designation (number);
2. b) relevant clause, table, and/or figure number;
3. c) wording of the proposed change; and
4. d) rationale for the change.

Scope

1.1 Purpose

This Standard covers safety requirements for the selection and use of cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for the transportation of dangerous goods, Class 2.

1.2 Subjects addressed

This Standard covers requirements for the handling and filling of cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for the transportation of dangerous goods, Class 2.

1.3 Exclusions

The following containers are not covered in this Standard:

1. a) containers of 120 mL or less in water capacity except gas lighters;
2. b) containers of 1 L capacity or less filled to not more than 1150 kPa at 15 °C, or 115 L capacity or less filled to not more than 500 kPa at 15 °C, when the containers are filled with materials that are not dangerous goods to not more than 90% of their capacity at 15 °C, and then filled with a non-flammable, compressed gas;
3. c) containers, including aerosol containers of 820 mL or less water capacity, filled with a non-toxic, non-corrosive solution and gas(es) where the pressure in the containers does not exceed 1200 kPa at 55 °C;
4. d) food, carbonated beverage, soap, and biological material containers; electronic tubes; and audible fire alarm systems;
5. e) fire extinguishers partially filled with gases to not more than 1650 kPa at 21 °C and having a water capacity not exceeding 18 L;
6. f) fuel containers of self-propelled vehicles or machinery;
7. g) pressure containers used as component parts of passenger restraint systems in motor vehicles;
8. h) tires and pressure containers used as component parts of tire inflation systems in motor vehicles;
9. i) water pump system tanks charged with gas;
10. j) balls used for sports;
11. k) chemical ammunition;
12. l) gas identification sets;
13. m) portable tanks;
14. n) non-refillable containers other than TC-39M or DOT-39;
15. o) glass ampoules and vials;
16. p) metal cartridges;
17. q) inside containers other than those listed in Clause 4.9;
18. r) bulk transportation and storage tanks; and
19. s) non-pressured containers except vacuum-insulated containers used for refrigerated liquefied gases.

1.4 Terminology

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.5 Units of measurement

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard except for the cylinder marking requirements where the service pressure and the test pressure, where applicable (e.g., Specification TC-39M), are expressed in bar.

For consistency in the design and test requirements of all containers, MPa and kPa have been retained as units to express service pressure. Considering the use of the bar unit by ISO to mark service and test pressures, the Technical Committee decided to use the same unit for marking service pressure. The capital letter “M” is added to each specification designation to formally identify the container specification is metricated.