Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration August 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is to notify the public that PHMSA and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are investigating the manufacture, marking, and sale of high pressure DOT exemption cylinders made and/or distributed by Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI), Ontario, CA. PHMSA and the OIG have evidence that suggests GCI manufactured, marked, certified, and sold an undetermined number of high-pressure DOT exemption carbon fiber filament cylinders when the cylinders had not been manufactured in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), DOT-E 12695, and the design qualification standards incorporated into the exemption. The evidence suggests that some of these cylinders were not wrapped with a sufficient number of carbon fiber layers to insure their structural integrity. In addition, the evidence suggests that many of these cylinders did not undergo the complete series of safety tests and inspections required by the HMR and may not possess the structural integrity to safely contain its contents under pressure during normal transportation and use. Extensive property damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from rupture of a cylinder.