Portable Tanks and ISO Containers

A portable tank is defined by TC and DOT as any packaging, except a cylinder having a 1000-lb (454-kg) or less water capacity, over 110 U.S. gallons (380 L) capacity and designed primarily to be loaded into or on, or temporarily attached to, a transport vehicle or ship. A portable tank is equipped with skids, mounting, or accessories to facilitate handling of the tank by mechanical means. As defined, a portable tank is not a cargo 

Portable tanks complying with TC/DOT Specification 51 are authorized for shipping many compressed gases. Specification 51 provides for steel tanks of seamless or 

There are other portable tank specifications which may be continued in use. For complete listings, refer to Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 49 

Each portable tank must be provided with one or more pressure relief devices which, unless otherwise specified for a particular product, must be pressure relief valves of the spring-loaded type. Refer to Chapter 7 for detailed information on pressure relief devices. 

ISO containers for compressed gases are gas tanks permanently mounted in a frame conforming to the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). A catalog of ISO standards is available from International Organization for Standardization, Central Secretariat, 1 rue de Varembe, Case postale 56, CH-1211 Geneve 20, Switzerland/Suisse. 

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