[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.306]

[Page 231-232]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1926_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart I_Tools_Hand and Power
 
Sec. 1926.306  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.
    (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 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.

[[Page 232]]

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.

[58 FR 35176, June 30, 1993]