PROHIBITED REFILLING OF DOT 39 SPECIFICATION CYLINDERS
Mock picture of DOT 39 non-reusable cylinder being illegally filled by a DOT 4BA (20-lb propane) cylinder using an adaptor
Purpose: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
is issuing this safety alert to notify the general public about the safety
hazard of refilling and transporting DOT 39 (non-reusable) specification
cylinders.
Background: DOT 39
cylinders, known as “non-reusable cylinders,” are manufactured for one-time use
only. Refilling and transportation in
commerce of these cylinders is prohibited under federal hazardous materials
regulations. They are labelled with the
following warning: “Federal Law forbids transportation if refilled - penalty
up to $500,000 fine and five years’ imprisonment (49 U.S.C. 5124)” to
communicate this prohibition. Because
the cylinders are designed for one-time use, they are not subject to more
rigorous manufacturing standards of refillable cylinders. Thus, they may lack
the durability of refillable cylinders and their performance over multiple
refills is unknown, which presents a potential safety hazard due to the
stresses of refilling and emptying of these cylinders.
PHMSA has become
aware of the sale of adapters designed to allow refilling of DOT 39 cylinders
using larger cylinders (see attached photographs). These adaptors are sold at various retail
outlets and online. Some of the common trade names are the “MacCoupler”, “Mr.
Heater” and “Shnozzle”. “MacCoupler” is manufactured by KM North America in
Traverse City, MI. “Mr. Heater” and “Shnozzle” are manufactured in China and
sold on Amazon. Additionally, several
websites demonstrate how to use these adaptors.
Standard warning label on DOT 39 cylinders
Actions: We strongly
recommend that the general public refrain from refilling DOT 39 cylinders
because of the one-time use design of these cylinders, and the purchase and use
of any adaptor sold as a means to refill DOT 39 cylinders creates a potential
risk of fire, explosion, serious injury, and property damage. For further information contact: PHMSA’s
Information Center at 1-800-467-4922 or phmsa.hm-infocenter@dot.gov.