# Vopak USA, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0177  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-10-18

01-0177 response to Vopak USA, Inc. concerning 173.28.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
OCT 1 8 2001
Mr. Jay Jarvis
Ref. No. 01-0177
Vopak USA, inc.
334 Worth Street
Fayetteville, NC 28304
Dear Mr. Jarvis:
This responds to your July 13, 2001 letter requesting clarification on cleaning and testing a UN 1HI
drum for reuse under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask whether your new air pressure test satisfies requirements for reuse of packagings
in § 173.28.
You have developed your own pressure testing machine that will apply 3 psi of air and hold it for the
specified time frame. You want to air pressure test your drums in order to make them acceptable for
reuse for transporting hazardous materials on common carriers.
Based on the information provided in your letter, it is the opinion of this Office that your new method of
pressure testing conforms to Appendix B to Part 178 - Alternate Leakproofness Test Methods and
with the reuse provisions in § 173.28(b). However, leakproofness testing at 3 psi will only be suitable
for drums marked for PG II or PG IIl liquids; PG I materials require a leakproofness test conducted at
7 psi.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Tilm
my Allo
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
113.28

<<<PAGE 2>>>

07/13/01
10:45
217045873917
VOPAK FAYE
334 Worth Strcel
Vopak US.4 Inc.
Fax: 910 483-1557
Faycaevillo NC 28304
Phone: 910 483-2107
Boothe
facsimile transmittal
§173.28
Reuse
01-0177
To:
Mr. Edward Mazzallo
Fax:
202-366-3012
From: Jay Jarvis- Operations Manager
Date:
7/13/2.001
Re:
DOT Drum Testing Question
Pages:
1
CC:
Gary Toury-SE Operations Mannger
e we have spoken but I have a real good question concerning the Testing of UN 1H1 Poly
*Drums
Referen
49 CFR 1810.173.28-Reuge, Reconditiondng and Remanufacture of Reconditioning
operations.
1910.173.28 Paragraphs (b)(7) through (bX(7X|-iv B). Refiling with the same type products and
At present wa are cleaning our own 55/15 gallon poly drums in accordano with: 49 CFR
transporting on our own trucks or contracted carriers. All cordainers being Packing Group I!
Question:
We want to do Air Pressure Testing of our containers in addition to cleaning as prescribed Ir
paragraphs (bX2) through (b)2)(i). What are the current, up to date requirements in order t
do this?
Our Plan:
it for the specified time frame. (Concral industry standard Is 30 seconds) This will be totd to
We have developed our orm Pressure Testing Machine which will apply (3) psi of air and hold
us through an air pressure gauge and a clock. All past and fail reconds will be kept manually
Hit passes, if It fatt it will be marked with an "X" and property destroyed. Atter Cleaning all
on a dally basis. The container will be property marked in accordance with: paragraph (by2Xi)
containers will have to pass through this Air Pressure Testing Machine.
a LIN 1H1 poly container so the container, filled with a hazardous chemical can be shipped on
Please advise if "Our Plan" will meet the current requirementa for Pocuse- DOT Certification of
communion carriers.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010177.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `cc49bc72d3bef4e5edef68ea31ce11d17306d6020ff27120f780df0f6234c773`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-26T16:02:22.121Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0177`

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