Section XII FINALLY Adopted?!

In 1995 the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the DOT, requested ASME develop new rules specifically for transportation tanks. ASME created the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XII – Transportation Tanks Comittee and work began. Section XII was published in 2004 and we’ve been waiting ever since….

Over the years, RSPA became the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and a few Notices of Rulemaking were issued, suggesting an eventual adoption where, rather than replacing the existing rules, Section XII would be an option for manufacturers. Various rounds of public comment were held. US presidents came and went. And we continued to wait.

Finally, on September 28, 2026, PHMSA announced [in Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0019 (HM-241)] that Section XII was finally being adopted, We have not yet completed a thorough review of the rulemaking, but it is clear that the new rule will bring in the 2015 Edition of Section XII AND will also allow users to use the 2015 Edition of the NBIC (we were previously restricted to the 1992 Edition). Effective date is October 28, 2026.

We are intending to write up a more complete summary/explanation of the rulemaking (or provide links to such work completed by others). In the meantime, you may read the complete rulemaking here.