PIBC Think Tank E News

Please join us in welcoming Dottie Coughlin to Precision!

October 9, 2007

Dottie is the friendly, energetic voice you hear when you call our Broussard, LA office. Before joining the Precision family, Dottie held the position of Production Analyst for Petroleum Engineers for 10 years.

Dottie was born in Mississippi but moved to Louisiana at such an early age, she considers herself a native. She and her three daughters, Brittany, Hannah and Madison currently reside in Broussard and the surrounding area. She enjoys spending time with her girls, touring and researching historical homes, and volunteering at her daughter's elementary school.

Are your tanks compliant?

With very few exceptions, stainless steel IBCs are UN certified tanks which must be retested periodically to maintain that certification. The pressure and thickness tests required to maintain certification are quick, inexpensive and painless processes that could save companies money in fines and downtime if non-compliant tanks accidentally put on the road are held up by DOT, or out-of-date tanks in the fleet are holding up production.

UN certification requires a pressure test be performed on IBCs every 2 _ years. A thickness test is also required every 5 years.

No worries, Precision IBC is here to help. We have all your testing information available on our website. Check out our FAQs for testing information and the Title 49 regulations that mandated these tests. We also offer retesting in our Broussard, Louisiana and Fairhope, Alabama facilities as well as onsite retesting services for large fleets.

A recap of tests needed to maintain UN certification and remain in compliance is listed below. Should you have any questions, or need any additional information regarding Precision IBCs retesting abilities, please do not hesitate to contact a packaging consultant at 800-544-7069.

How often should each IBC used for the transportation of a hazardous material be successfully retested before further use?
Per 49 CFR 173.32(e)(1)(ii), federal regulations state all UN Specification IBCs should be pressure tested at least once every 2.5 years. All units manufactured with the UN marking also need a thickness test every 5 years.

How do I know if my IBC has a current test date?
The date of the most recent periodic retest must be marked on the tank on or near the metal serial number plate, 49 CFR 173.32(e)(3).

How can the test be verified?
The owner or the lessee of the tank must retain a written record indicating the date and results of all required tests and the name and address of the testing entity until the next retest has been satisfactorily completed and recorded per 49 CFR 173.32(e)(4).

What if the test date expires while the tank is filled with hazardous product?
An IBC may not be filled and offered for transportation if the inspection period has expired. This requirement does not apply to any IBC filled prior to the retest or inspection due date. 49CFR173.35 (a)

We are introducing a new column, Dear John! Each quarter we will highlight a specific question or questions we have received and that we feel would benefit everyone. John Myers, Packaging Consultant and resident IBC guru (of course, he prefers genius), will attempt to answer your questions. So don’t hesitate, please send your question(s) to john@precisionibc.com, today!

Dear John,
What’s the difference between buttress or metric threads and NPT or national pipe threads?

NPT or national pipe threads are thinner threaded connections and are standard in the US. Buttress or metric threads are usually S60 x 6, industry standard and used mainly in Europe. There is also a British fine thread which we don’t see much

Mark your calendar

Mark your calendar and join us at the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE) show October 23-25 in Lafayette, LA.

Congratulations!

We are happy to announce the promotion of Tami Chatwood to National Account Representative based out of the Fairhope, Alabama facility. The appointment is effective August 1, 2007.

Tami previously held the position of Packaging Consultant and has been deeply involved in every aspect of the sales activities of the company for several years. Prior to joining Precision IBC in 2001, Tami served Hoover Materials Handling Group as a Rental Representative.

Please join us in congratulating Tami on her well-deserved promotion and extend her your full support in her new and expanded role.

* Best wishes to Joseph Weller of our Broussard, LA facility and his wife Kelly on the birth of their first child Sophie Carlyle Weller at 7:35 p.m. on September 27. Sophie weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz.

Name the part

Time for Precision’s newest game, Name that Part! It is really quite easy. Test your IBC knowledge and see how many of the parts below you can identify. The answers are also below. Now, we’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again, no peeking.

Name the part