1926.306: Air Receivers
This section covers compressed air receivers and equipment used for cleaning, drilling, hoisting and chipping. New receivers and safety valves must meet the 1968 A.S.M.E. code, receivers must not be buried or inaccessible, must have a drain at the lowest point drained often, and must have a visible pressure gage and spring-loaded safety valves with no valve between the receiver and its safety valve.
Key takeaways
- 1926.306 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 53 times in the last 3 years, in 53 inspections, with $22,443 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (34), MD (14), GA (2).
- Most-cited part: 1926.306(b) Installation and equipment requirements (53 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.306, "Air receivers", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart I). It has 13 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1926.306 (13 paragraphs)
(a) General requirements —
(1) Application. This section applies to compressed air receivers, and other equipment used in providing and utilizing compressed air for performing operations such as cleaning, drilling, hoisting, and chipping. On the other hand, however, this section does not deal with the special problems created by using compressed air to convey materials nor the problems created when men work in compressed air as in tunnels and caissons. This section is not intended to apply to compressed air machinery and equipment used on transportation vehicles such as steam railroad cars, electric railway cars, and automotive equipment.
(2) New and existing equipment.
(i) All new air receivers installed after the effective date of these regulations shall be constructed in accordance with the 1968 edition of the A.S.M.E. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII.
(ii) All safety valves used shall be constructed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the A.S.M.E. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII Edition 1968.
(b) Installation and equipment requirements — Open (b) 53 citations
(1) Installation. Air receivers shall be so installed that all drains, handholes, and manholes therein are easily accessible. Under no circumstances shall an air receiver be buried underground or located in an inaccessible place.
(2) Drains and traps. A drain pipe and valve shall be installed at the lowest point of every air receiver to provide for the removal of accumulated oil and water. Adequate automatic traps may be installed in addition to drain valves. The drain valve on the air receiver shall be opened and the receiver completely drained frequently and at such intervals as to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts of liquid in the receiver.
(3) Gages and valves. Open (b)(3) 53 citations
(i) Every air receiver shall be equipped with an indicating pressure gage (so located as to be readily visible) and with one or more spring-loaded safety valves. The total relieving capacity of such safety valves shall be such as to prevent pressure in the receiver from exceeding the maximum allowable working pressure of the receiver by more than 10 percent. Open (b)(3)(i) 42 citations
(ii) No valve of any type shall be placed between the air receiver and its safety valve or valves.
(iii) Safety appliances, such as safety valves, indicating devices and controlling devices, shall be constructed, located, and installed so that they cannot be readily rendered inoperative by any means, including the elements. Open (b)(3)(iii) 11 citations
(iv) All safety valves shall be tested frequently and at regular intervals to determine whether they are in good operating condition.
[58 FR 35176, June 30, 1993]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 53 inspections cited 1926.306 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.306.
At 2:49 p.m. on February 22, 2025, Employee #1 was standing on a 5-foot ladder inspecting a sandblasting tank while refilling it and checking hose connections.An unidentified substance inside the tank exploded, causing Employee #1 to be thrown from the ladder. Employee #1 was fatally…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 14 |
Top states: NC (34), MD (14), GA (2), AZ (1), LA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SEMPER FI INDUSTRIAL COATINGS | SHREVEPORT, LA | $11,585 |
| 159247 - GSO CONTRACTING, INC. | SUMMERFIELD, NC | $3,000 |
| PIG ROOFING, LLC. | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $2,200 |
| DIEGO BRICENO | SAVANNAH, GA | $2,074 |
| FERNANDO HERNANDEZ LOPEZ | SAVANNAH, GA | $1,659 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.306.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.306(b) Installation and equipment requirements 53 citations
- 1926.306(b)(3) Gages and valves 53 citations
- 1926.306(b)(3)(i) 42 citations
- 1926.306(b)(3)(iii) 11 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Can an air receiver be buried?
No. Under no circumstances shall an air receiver be buried underground or located in an inaccessible place.
Where must the drain be?
At the lowest point of every air receiver, to remove oil and water.
What gauges and valves are required?
A readily visible indicating pressure gage and one or more spring-loaded safety valves.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.306 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-07
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.