# Sandia National Laboratories — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 02-0238  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2002-10-16

02-0238 response to Sandia National Laboratories concerning 178.503.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

or ransominon
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
OGT 16. 2002
Roland M. Kelley
Packaging Consultant
Ref No. 02-0238
Sandia National Laboratories
.O. Box 5800, MS 112
lbuquerque, NM 8718:
.:a.
Dear Mr. Kelley:
This is in response to your September 3; 2002 letter, requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to marking requirements on the side of steel
drums. Specifically, you question the current validity of Interpretation letter: dated August 23, 1993 and
addressed to Evans Industries, Inc. stating that the United Nations symbol is required for any additional
replication of markings other than embossed.
As provided in § 178.503, a packaging conforming to a UN standard must be marked with the United
Nations symbol as illustrated in paragraph (e)(1) of this section. The letters, "UN" may be applied in
place of the symbol for embossed metal receptacles. Any additional replication of the required UN
marking through other means (e.g. silk screening or stenciling) must include the UN symbol rather than
the letters "UN".
I hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Die FiStfi
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
/78.503
020238

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Sandia National Laboratories
sir:
Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by
Sandia Corporation
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1453
PO Box 5800, MS 1120
Albuquerque, NM 87185
Foster
$178.503(X1)
September 3, 2002
Marking
DHM -11
Ms. Sandra Webb, Transportation Reg. Specialist
02-0238
U. S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20590
RE: Interpretation of 178.503 (a) (1)
Dear Ms. Webb:
phone requesting clarification of 178.503 in reference to the additional marking reqüirement on
On August 28 and 29, 2002, I spoke to you and Mr. Arthur Pollack, on separate occasiöns by
the sides of steel drums. The interpretation letter dated August 23,1993, and addressed to
replication of markings other than embossed. During our discussions it was confirmed that the
Evans Industries, Inc., (07238.pdf) stated that the UN symbol is required for any additional
clarification is still valid and that the regulations still require that "Any additional replication of
the required UN marking through other means (e.g. silk screening or stenciling) must include
the UN symbol rather than the letters "UN"*
letter dated August 23,1993, and addressed to Evans Industries, Inc., is still valid and binding.
At this time Sandia National Laboratories requests confirmation in writing that the interpretation
Thank you for your quick responses in this matter. Should you have any further questions
please contact me at 850-547-2122 or 505-845-7337.
Sincerely,
She Kelly,
Roland M. Kelley
Packaging Consultant
Attachment
Exceptional Service in the National Interest

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020238.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `e67349ba185d7685061c00129de3e9927684159439a30e249bf6343292a8def1`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T11:58:25.515Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-02-0238`

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