PHMSA Updates 20 Regulatory Notices

PHMSA has updated or confirmed the effective dates of the following Direct Final Rules: 

Rationalize Calculation of Regulatory Filing and Compliance Deadlines

• The DFR amended PHMSA’s procedural regulations to establish a rule of construction clarifying the operation of procedural filing deadlines scheduled to fall on weekends and Federal holidays. 

• The effective date is updated from October 9, 2025, to November 3, 2025. 

Standards Update—API RP 1170 and API RP 1171

• The DFR amended PHMSA’s regulations at 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference the updated industry standards American Petroleum Institute (API) recommended practice (RP) 1170, “Design and Operation of Solution-mined Salt Caverns Used for Natural Gas Storage,” and API RP 1171, “Functional Integrity of Natural Gas Storage in Depleted Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Aquifer Reservoirs.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—API RP 2026

• 49 CFR part 195 to incorporate by reference the updated industry standard American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 2026, “Safe Access/Egress Involving Floating Roofs of Storage Tanks in Petroleum Service.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—API Spec 6D

• 49 CFR parts 192 and 195 to incorporate by reference the updated industry standard American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification 6D, “Specification for Valves.” 

• Effective date of January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—API STD 620

• Incorporate by reference the updated industry standard American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard (STD) 620, “Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks.” 

• Effective date of January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM A381/A381M

• 49 CFR parts 192 and 195 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM A381/A381M-18, “Standard Specification for Metal-Arc-Welded Carbon or High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Pipe for Use with High-Pressure Transmission Systems.” 

• Effective date of January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM A53/A53M

• 49 CFR parts 192 and 195 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM A53/A53M, “Standard Specification for Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM A578/A578M

• Incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM A578/A578M, “Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applications.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026. 

Standards Update—ASTM F1973

• The DFR amended PHMSA’s regulations at 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F1973, “Standard Specification for Factory Assembled Anodeless Risers and Transition Fittings in Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide 11 (PA11) and Polyamide 12 (PA12) Fuel Gas Distribution Systems.” 

• Effective date of January 1, 2026. 

Standards Update—ASTM F2145

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F2145, “Standard Specification for Polyamide 11 and Polyamide 12 Mechanical Fittings for Use on Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide 11 and Polyamide 12 Pipe and Tubing.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM F2600

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F2600, “Standard Specification for Electrofusion Type Polyamide-11 Fittings for Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide-11 Pipe and Tubing.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM F2767

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F2767, “Specification for Electrofusion Type Polyamide-12 Fittings for Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide-12 Pipe and Tubing for Gas Distribution.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—ASTM F2817

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F2817, “Standard Specification for Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Gas Pressure Pipe and Fittings for Maintenance or Repair.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026, 

Standards Update—ASTM F2945

• Incorporate by reference ASTM International’s updated industry standard ASTM F2945, “Standard Specification for Polyamide 11 Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update—NFPA 70

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference the updated industry standard National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, “National Electrical Code” (NEC). 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update PPI-TRR 4

• Incorporate by reference the updated industry standard Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report (TR)-4, “PPI HSB Listing of Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB), Hydrostatic Design Stress (HDS), Strength Design Basis (SDS), Pressure Design Basis (PDB) and Minimum Required Strength (MRS) Ratings For Thermoplastic Piping Materials or Pipe.” 

• Effective date: January 1, 2026 

Standards Update PPI-TR 3

• 49 CFR part 192 to incorporate by reference the updated industry standard Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report (TR)-3, “Policies and Procedures for Developing Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB), Hydrostatic Design Stresses (HDS), Pressure Design Basis (PDB), Strength Design Basis (SDB), Minimum Required Strength (MRS) Ratings, and Categorized Required Strength (CRS) for Thermoplastic Piping Materials or Pipe.” 
• Effective date: January 1, 2026