# Bernzomatic — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0002  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-03-14

01-0002 response to Bernzomatic concerning 173.22.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
MAR 14 2001
Mr. Roger L. Maxon
Ref. No. 01-0002
Bernzomatic
One Bernzomatic Drive
Medina, New York 14103
Dear Mr. Maxon:
This responds to your letter dated January 4, 2001 requesting clarification on the proper shipping
description, under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180), for your
BF-9 cylinder used to fill butane torches.
According to your letter, Bernzomatic merchandises a small, non-refillable cylinder filled with butane as
a fuel source for various products. The primary use for this cylinder is to allow customers to fill butane
torches distributed by your company. You state that on January 3, 2001, a DOT inspector cited
Bernzomatic stating that the proper shipping name for the product should be "Lighter Refills, 2.1, UN
1057." Bernzomatic had described the product in the cylinder as "Petroleum gas, liquefied, 2.1, UN
1075." You believe "Petroleum gas, liquefied, 2.1, UN 1075" most appropriately describes the product
and that this description would be better recognized by an emergency responder.
Under the provisions of § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly class and describe a
hazardous material. This Office does not normally perform that function. However, based on the
information provided in your letter and attachment, it is the opinion of this Office that your product may
be appropriately described as: "Petroleum gas, liquefied, 2.1, UN 1075," or "Butane, 2.1, UN 1011."
In addition, if your product is used as a lighter refill your product may also be described as "Lighter
Refills, 2.1, UN 1057." Further, the proper shipping name you select will determine the authorized
packaging for the product. In every instance Emergency Response Guidebook guide number 115
applies to each of these shipping descriptions.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.22
010002

<<<PAGE 2>>>

-. 81/24/1995
04:35
7167986048
BZO PERSONNEL
PAGE
02
MICRO-TORCH
MICRO-CHALUMEAU
MICRO-SOPLETE
BERNZ OMATIC
BiRN/OMATIC
TROUSSE DE MICRO-CHALUMEAU
Michi
МІсна
MICRO ToRCH KiT
SAPIETE
Mich!
JUEGO DE MICRO SOPLETE
ST100T
ST150K
ST1000TS
BERNZ OMATIC
MICRO TORCH
MICRO-CHALUMEAU
MICRO-SOPLETE
PIEZO
Bilane
Balano
BF9
BUTANE CYLINDER

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010002.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `0d144b9c908b874f84afae1061b2b97d11e0ac7f93d7af598e9192ba84f48c33`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T22:10:54.773Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0002`

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