Non-Pressure Tank Cars

Fort Bend County Hazardous Regional hazardous Materials

Response Team

Tank Car Emergency Response

• Overview– While problems with tank cars occur

infrequently, response personnel are called upon to handle those few problems. When faced with a tank problem,the responder’s ability to communicate an accurate and detailed description of the contents, condition of the tank, and other circumstances is extremely important.

Non-Pressure Tank Cars

• Transport hazardous and non-hazardous materials with vapor pressures below 25 psig at 105-115F

• Tank pressures are 60 to 100 psi

• Capacities range from 4,000 to 45, 000 gallons

Tank Car Appearance • Cylindrical with rounded

ends• At least one manway for

access to the tank’s interior• Fittings for

loading/unloading, pressure and/or vacuum relief, gauging, and other purposes are visible at the top and/or bottom of the car

Tank Car Structure• Body Bolster

– Cradles the tank• Continuous underframe

– Absorbs the draft and buff forces of train movement

• Stub Sill – Attaches the the tank to its

trucks• Truck

– Consists of wheels, axles, side frames springs, truck bolster, center bowl and pin.

Side and End Identification Nomenclature

• Tank divided into quadrants

• The “B” end of the car is the end with the hand brake

• All nomenclature is based on facing the “B” end of the car

• Truck wheels designated along left and right side

Commodities

• Class 3 (flammables)• Class 4 (flammable

solids/reactive liquids and solids)

• Class 5 (oxidizers/organic peroxides)

• Class 6 (poisons and irritants)

• Class 8 (corrosives)

Tank Car Markings

• Overview– Knowledge of the tank and its contents will help

you size up the problem and plan a response. These markings may be difficult to read from a distance, but aided vision may allow you to read the markings, including:

• Initials (reporting marks) and number• Capacity stencil• Specification marking

Reporting Marks and Number

• Unique set of initials• The initials and numbers

are stencilled on both sides (to the left when facing the car) and both ends (upper center) of the tank car

• Useful getting information about car’s contents from shipper.

Capacity Stencil

• Shows the volume of the tank car in gallons or pounds.

• Stencilled on both ends of the car under the car’s initials and number

• The term “load limit” may be used to mean the same thing as capacity

Specification Marking Components

• Approving Authority• Class Number• Delimiter letter• Tank Test Pressure• Material Construction• Weld Construction• Other Features• Additional Information

Specific Characteristics

• General Service– Manway– Safety relief valve– Mailbox

• Liquid line• Vapor line• Vacuum breaker

– Bottom valve or top operated bottom valve

• Acid Car– Manway– Liquid line– Vapor line

• Vent with frangible disk

Potential location of Leaks

• Overview– Most tank car problems are associated with

their fittings. Quite often, tightening a valve or a fitting with readily available hand tools can stop these releases.

Basic Methods for Stopping Releases

• If it’s open, close it (clockwise to close)• If it’s loose, tighten it (clockwise to tighten)• If a component is missing (but near by), replace it• If a pressure relief valve activates, don’t try to

tighten it, or cover it, initiate emergency procedures

• If not trained as a tank car specialist, seek assistance, initiate emergency procedures

Tank Damage Assessment

• Cracks• Scores and Gouges• Wheel burns• Dents• Rail burns• Puncture• Flame impingement• Corrosion

Thank You