Dangerous Goods by Road
Items of equipment for battery-vehicles and MEGCs
Service and structural equipment shall be configured or designed to prevent damage that could result
in the release of the pressure receptacle contents during normal conditions of handling and carriage.
When the connection between the frame of the battery-vehicle or MEGC and the elements allows
relative movement between the sub-assemblies, the equipment shall be so fastened as to permit such
movement without damage to working parts. Manifold piping leading to shut-off valves shall be
sufficiently flexible to protect the valves and the piping from shearing, or releasing the pressure
receptacle contents. The filling and discharge devices (including flanges or threaded plugs) and any
protective caps shall be capable of being secured against unintended opening.
In order to avoid any loss of content in the event of damage, the manifolds, the discharge fittings (pipe
sockets, shut-off devices), and the stop-valves shall be protected or arranged from being wrenched off
by external forces or designed to withstand them.
The manifold shall be designed for service in a temperature range of -20° C to +50° C.
The manifold shall be designed, constructed and installed so as to avoid the risk of damage due to
thermal expansion and contraction, mechanical shock and vibration. All piping shall be of suitable
metallic material. Welded pipe joints shall be used wherever possible.
Joints in copper tubing shall be brazed or have an equally strong metal union. The melting point of
brazing materials shall be no lower than 525ºC. The joints shall not decrease the strength of tubing as
may happen when cutting threads.
Except for UN No.1001 acetylene, dissolved, the permissible maximum stress σ of the manifolding
arrangement at the test pressure of the receptacles shall not exceed 75% of the guaranteed yield
strength of the material.
The necessary wall thickness of the manifolding arrangement for the carriage of UN No.1001
acetylene, dissolved shall be calculated according to an approved code of practice.
NOTE: For the yield strength, see 6.8.2.1.11.
The basic requirements of this paragraph shall be deemed to have been complied with if the following
standards are applied: (Reserved).
By derogation from the requirements of 6.8.3.2.3, 6.8.3.2.4 and 6.8.3.2.7, for cylinders, tubes,
pressure drums and bundles of cylinders (frames) forming a battery-vehicle or MEGC, the required
closing devices may be provided for within the manifolding arrangement.
If one of the elements is equipped with a safety valve and shut-off devices are provided between the
elements, every element shall be so equipped.
The filling and discharge devices may be affixed to a manifold.
Each element, including each individual cylinder of a bundle, intended for the carriage of toxic gases,
shall be capable of being isolated by a shut-off valve.
Battery-vehicles or MEGCs intended for the carriage of toxic gases shall not have safety valves,
unless the safety valves are preceded by a bursting disc. In the latter case, the arrangement of the
bursting disc and safety valve shall be satisfactory to the competent authority.
When battery-vehicles or MEGCs are intended for carriage by sea, the requirements of 6.8.3.2.26
shall not prohibit the fitting of safety valves conforming to the IMDG Code.
Receptacles which are elements of a battery-vehicle or MEGC intended for the carriage of flammable
gases shall be combined in groups of not more than 5 000 litres which are capable of being isolated by
a shut-off valve.
Each element of a battery-vehicle or MEGC intended for the carriage of flammable gases, when
consisting of tanks conforming to this Chapter, shall be capable of being isolated by a shut-off valve.
Type approval
No special requirements.
Inspections and tests
The materials of every welded shell with the exception of cylinders, tubes, pressure drums and
cylinders as part of bundles of cylinders which are elements of a battery-vehicle or of a MEGC shall
be tested according to the method described in 6.8.5.
The basic requirements for the test pressure are given in 4.3.3.2.1 to 4.3.3.2.4 and the minimum test
pressures are given in the table of gases and gas mixtures in 4.3.3.2.5.