# Nefab, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0205  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-10-26

01-0205 response to Nefab, Inc. concerning 173.159.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
OCT 26 2001
Mr. Thomas D. Kusek
Ref. No. 01-0205
Nefab, Inc.
26435 Springland Drive
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Dear Mr. Kusek:
This responds to your August 9, 2001 letter requesting clarification on § 173.159(c)(1) of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether you
may ship alkali batteries under the provisions of § 173.159(c)(1) via rail, highway or vessel.
According to your letter, you are shipping 16 individual alkali batteries in a bag with molded foam pads
in place between and on top of the batteries packed in a wooden package which weighs less than 800
pounds. The molded foam pads protect the terminals as well as prevent any void space in the package.
It is your understanding that provisions in § 173.159(c)(1) allow you to ship these batteries by rail,
highway, or vessel within the United States as long as your package can pass a compression test of two
times the weight of the package with the batteries, or 1600 pounds. Provided all provisions in
§ 173.159(c)(1) are met, your understanding is correct.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
She 76,050
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
010205
-

<<<PAGE 2>>>

09 01 01:38p
Kusek
248-478-8834
p.l
Boothe
173.159 (e)
NEFAB
Batterres
01 - 0205
Fax
Date: 8/9/01
To:
Mr. Edward T. Mazullo
From:
Thomas D. Kusek
Diretor Office of Hazardous Materials
Nefab, Inc.
U.S. DOT/RSPA (ĐMH-10)
400 7% Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
Fax:
202-366-3012
Pages: 1
Dear Mr. Mazullo:
In reading CFR 173.159 (c), I am interpreting this subpart to be or statements not and statements.
We have a wood package containing 16 individual alkali batteries in a bag with foam The total
package weighs less than 800 Ib. Using Subpart (c) 1 we are assuming that we can ship these
batteries via rail, highway, or sea within the United States as long as our package can pass a
compression test of two times the weight of the package with the batteries, 1600 Ib.
Would you please let us know in writing whether we have interpreted CFR 173.159 (c) properly
eply by fax including the detail as specified. Our fax number is 248-478-8834
nd whether it is legal to ship the batteries as I have described above. We would appreciate
Thank you for your help,
Sincer
Dhusk
Thomas I. Kusek
NEFAB, INC. • 26435 SPRINGLAND DRIVE • FARMINGTON HILLS, Mj 48334 • PHONE: (248) 478-8569 • FAX: (248) 478-8834
internet: http://www.nefab.com • E-Mail: tom.kusek@nefab.com

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010205.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `fd4c61f63f46957b6e330f64cb26415afe60c515855370e9002232eda698b056`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T21:14:21.261Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0205`

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