CSA B341-15

Preface

This is the second edition of CSA B341, UN pressure receptacles and multiple-element gas containers for the transport of dangerous goods. It supersedes the previous edition published in 2009.

This Standard was prepared with the view that it become part of the Government of Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations through adoption by reference. It should be emphasized that this Standard was not prepared with the intention of removing existing requirements for TC specification gas containers manufactured in accordance with CSA B339-14, Cylinders, spheres, and tubes for the transportation of dangerous goods; rather, it was developed to incorporate the ISO standards as referenced in the United Nations’ Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations, 18th rev. ed. (2013) (“UN Model Regulations”) as an optional means of compliance and hence to provide for a broader selection of authorized pressure receptacles and facilitate international transport.

In the development of this Standard, the Subcommittee reviewed and made extensive use of the UN Model Regulations. It should be noted that members of the Subcommittee participated in developing and evaluating the ISO pressure receptacle Standards that are included in the UN Model Regulations. This Standard takes into account proven experience and recent technical advances. The following requirements have been included in this Standard for consistency with North American practice:

(a) manufacturers, inspection bodies, periodic inspection and test bodies, and design review agencies need to be registered with Transport Canada;

(b) UN pressure receptacles and multiple-element gas containers manufactured in accordance with this Standard are marked with the letters “CAN” to denote the country of approval; and

(c) an inspection body is not authorized to delegate its inspection functions to inspectors of the manufacturer.

Scope

1.1

This Standard specifies requirements for the design, construction, initial inspection and testing, marking, periodic inspection and testing, and repair of UN pressure receptacles and multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs) for the transport of dangerous goods. Annex A specifies the regulatory requirements for the conformity assessment system and registration requirements for manufacturers and inspection bodies. Annex B specifies the regulatory requirements for the conformity assessment system and registration requirements for periodic inspection and test bodies and for repair facilities. Annex C specifies the design approval process for multiple-element gas containers. Tables 1 to 9 provide information on the UN pressure receptacles covered by this Standard.

Note: It should be noted that compliance with the provisions of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and the Regulations thereto may call for additional requirements due to particular characteristics or properties of individual dangerous goods.

1.2

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.