[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.169]

[Page 530-531]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR

 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 

                                OF LABOR

 
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents

 
          Subpart M_Compressed Gas and Compressed Air Equipment

 
Sec. 1910.169  Air receivers.


    (a) General requirements--(1) Application. This section applies to 

compressed air receivers, and other equipment used in providing and 

utilizing compressed air for performing operations such as cleaning, 

drilling, hoisting, and chipping. On the other hand, however, this 

section does not deal with the special problems created by using 

compressed air to convey materials nor the problems created when men 

work in compressed air as in tunnels and caissons. This section is not 

intended to apply to compressed air machinery and equipment used on 

transportation vehicles such as steam railroad cars, electric railway 

cars, and automotive equipment.

    (2) New and existing equipment. (i) All new air receivers installed 

after the effective date of these regulations shall be constructed in 

accordance with the 1968 edition of the A.S.M.E. Boiler and Pressure 

Vessel Code Section VIII, which is incorporated by reference as 

specified in Sec. 1910.6.

    (ii) All safety valves used shall be constructed, installed, and 

maintained in accordance with the A.S.M.E. Boiler and Pressure Vessel 

Code, Section VIII Edition 1968.

    (b) Installation and equipment requirements--(1) Installation. Air 

receivers shall be so installed that all drains, handholes, and manholes 

therein are



[[Page 531]]



easily accessible. Under no circumstances shall an air receiver be 

buried underground or located in an inaccessible place.

    (2) Drains and traps. A drain pipe and valve shall be installed at 

the lowest point of every air receiver to provide for the removal of 

accumulated oil and water. Adequate automatic traps may be installed in 

addition to drain valves. The drain valve on the air receiver shall be 

opened and the receiver completely drained frequently and at such 

intervals as to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts of liquid 

in the receiver.

    (3) Gages and valves. (i) Every air receiver shall be equipped with 

an indicating pressure gage (so located as to be readily visible) and 

with one or more spring-loaded safety valves. The total relieving 

capacity of such safety valves shall be such as to prevent pressure in 

the receiver from exceeding the maximum allowable working pressure of 

the receiver by more than 10 percent.

    (ii) No valve of any type shall be placed between the air receiver 

and its safety valve or valves.

    (iii) Safety appliances, such as safety valves, indicating devices 

and controlling devices, shall be constructed, located, and installed so 

that they cannot be readily rendered inoperative by any means, including 

the elements.

    (iv) All safety valves shall be tested frequently and at regular 

intervals to determine whether they are in good operating condition.



[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 49 FR 5322, Feb. 10, 1984; 61 

FR 9239, Mar. 7, 1996]