California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 1 - Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders
Article 7 - Compressed and Liquefied Natural Gas System
Section 527 - Control of Products in Tanks and Cylinders

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 527

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) General. Natural gas contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide and water shall be so minimized as to prevent any adverse effects on storage and utilization equipment.

(b) Compressed Natural Gas.

No natural gas shall be delivered into any vessel or system covered by these Safety Orders unless odorized. The gas shall have a distinctive odor of sufficient intensity so that the presence of the gas may be detected down to the concentration in air of not over 20 percent of the lower explosive limit. Odorants in the concentrations used shall be:

(1) Harmless to humans.

(2) Non-toxic.

(3) Non-corrosive to steel, iron, brass or copper.

(4) Non-soluble in water to an extent greater than 2.5 parts by weight of odorant to 100 parts by weight of water.

(5) Be compatible with natural gas at the pressures and temperatures to be encountered in storage, transfer and service.

The delivery of LNG into any vessel or system covered by these Orders shall be subject to monitoring by a methane gas detection system, as follows:

(1) Each methane gas detection system required by this section shall provide a warning when an airborne methane gas concentration exceeding 20 percent of the lower explosive limit is detected. The warning shall be plainly audible and visible to those within the zone of potential exposure to fire or explosion of the vessel, system, or delivery operation.

(2) Where LNG is delivered into a vessel or system that is part of a motor vehicle, the methane gas detection system shall function continuously during the course of the delivery operation so that methane leaks resulting in an airborne concentration exceeding 20 percent of the lower explosive limit will be detected in the immediate vicinity of the operation.

(3) Where LNG is delivered to any other vessel or system covered by these Orders, the methane gas detection system shall function continuously during the course of the delivery operation so that methane gas leaks resulting in an airborne concentration exceeding 20 percent of the lower explosive limit will be detected in the immediate vicinity of the operation and the entire vessel or system into which the LNG is delivered. After delivery is completed, the methane gas detection system shall be operated continuously in the immediate vicinity of the entire vessel or system into which the LNG was delivered for as long as the vessel or system contains LNG.

(4) Nothing in this section is intended to supercede or alter the applicable requirements of 13 CCR Section 935.

1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (b), new subsections (c)-(c)(4) and new NOTE filed 9-25-2002 as an emergency; operative 9-25-2002 (Register 2002, No. 39). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-23-2003 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. Certificate of Compliance as to 9-25-2002 order, including further amendment of subsections (b) and (c)(1)-(3), transmitted to OAL 1-17-2003 and filed 2-24-2003 (Register 2003, No. 9).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.