Transfer or Transport - Selecting the Correct Gas Can
By Paul Ederer, Technical Product Support Specialist, AW Direct
You’ve all experienced road service calls where someone simply runs out of gas. Simple solution, right? Well, maybe not. The choice of which container used to bring fuel is actually not so simple.
There are three basic types of containers: Safety can, portable can and D.O.T. compliant can. Here’s the difference.
Safety Can: Safety cans are approved by a third party safety company such as UL or FM. Safety cans must be five gallons or less and have a flash-arresting screen, a spring-closing lid and spout cover and be designed to safely relieve internal pressure when subject to fire exposure per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.155(l). This type of can is required when used by any business or commercial enterprise for storing or transferring flammable liquids. These cans meet OSHA requirements and are available in steel or plastic.
Eagle Type I Red Safety Can
Portable Fuel Can: A portable fuel can is any container designed and marketed for use by consumers for receiving, transporting, storing and dispensing gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene. Cans that are red, yellow or blue are deemed to be portable fuel containers regardless of how they are labeled per EPA 40 CFR 59.680. Portable fuel cans are designed to control evaporative emissions and reduce spillage and are often referred to as CARB (California Air Resource Board) compliant cans. These models are also designed with child resistant features to meet the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. These cans may meet EPA requirements, but not OSHA or DOT requirements. These cans are generally made of plastic, but there are some metal cans on the market.
CARB Compliant Plastic Portable Fuel Can
While safety and portable fuel cans can be used for storing or transferring fuel, the key for our industry is whether they can be used for transporting fuel on our commercial road service vehicles. The short answer is... it depends on the can! This leads to the third type of can.
DOT Compliant Can: These cans need to meet the Performance Oriented Packaging requirements of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations. For instance, a standard safety can does not meet the requirements for transport. However, there are Safety Transport Cans that have a hold-down bracket for the lid and guards to protect the spout assembly that do. Some portable fuel cans have DOT caps that replace the spout assembly during transport to make them compliant. Jerri cans with screw-in caps that replace the spout assembly can also meet DOT requirements. Only cans meeting DOT requirements can be used for transporting flammable liquids.
DOT Compliant Cans and Cap
To see if your gas cans meet DOT requirements check the label or imprinting on the can for DOT approval stamp or the presence of UN marking numbers such as 1A1/T1.2/100.
The choice of which gas can you purchase depends on how the container will be used. Safety cans are great in maintenance shops or storage yards while DOT approved cans are best for road service vehicles. See more Fuel Cans.
For more information, contact AW Direct’s Technical Service Specialists Monday through Friday at 1-800-243-3194.
AW Direct | Answering the Call™
1-800-243-3194 | awdirect.com
Before using any equipment described, be sure to read, understand and follow all manufacturers instructions and guidelines.
