CFR > Title 49 - Transportation > SUBTITLE B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation > CHAPTER I—PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Parts 105–199) > SUBCHAPTER D—PIPELINE SAFETY (Parts 186–199) > PART 192—TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS > SUBPART J—Test Requirements (§192.501 to §192.517) > 192.503—General requirements.

192.503—General requirements.

(a) No person may operate a new segment of pipeline, or return to service a segment of pipeline that has been relocated or replaced, until—
(1) It has been tested in accordance with this subpart and § 192.619 to substantiate the maximum allowable operating pressure; and
(2) Each potentially hazardous leak has been located and eliminated.
(b) The test medium must be liquid, air, natural gas, or inert gas that is—
(1) Compatible with the material of which the pipeline is constructed;
(2) Relatively free of sedimentary materials; and
(3) Except for natural gas, nonflammable.
(c) Except as provided in § 192.505(a), if air, natural gas, or inert gas is used as the test medium, the following maximum hoop stress limitations apply:
Class location Maximum hoop stress allowed as percentage of SMYS
Natural gas Air or inert gas
1 80 80
2 30 75
3 30 50
4 30 40
(d) Each joint used to tie in a test segment of pipeline is excepted from the specific test requirements of this subpart, but each non-welded joint must be leak tested at not less than its operating pressure.
[35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970, as amended by Amdt. 192-58, 53 FR 1635, Jan. 21, 1988; Amdt. 192-60, 53 FR 36029, Sept. 16, 1988; Amdt. 192-60A, 54 FR 5485, Feb. 3, 1989]