# PPG Industries, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 04-0033  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2004-02-24

04-0033 response to PPG Industries, Inc. concerning 173.21.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
FEB 2:4 2004
Mr. Gordon W. Rousseau
Ref. No. 04-0033
5448 Solway Drive
Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951
Dear Mr. Rousseau:
This responds to your February 23, 2004 letter on behalf of PPG Industries, Inc., concerning the
transportation of calcium hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880, under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask if calcium hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880,
transported in 300- and 425-lb. fiber drums, is a forbidden material within the meaning of § 173.21 of
the HMR.
The answer is no. Notwithstanding that the self-accelerated decomposition temperature (SADT) of
calcium hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880, in the drums is slightly less than 50 °C, the material is not
forbidden under § 173.21 because the material is not likely to decompose under normal conditions of
transport when shipped in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. Under the HIMR,
calcium hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880, is not subject to the controlled temperature provisions of
§ 173.21(f) when transported in the quantities and packagings specified in your letter. All applicable
HMR requirements for shipping documentation, packaging, marking, labeling, placarding, and stowage
and segregation must be met. Similarly, calcium hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880, is not a prohibited
material or subject to temperature control requirements under the provisions of the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Under both the HMR and the IMDG Code, calcium
hypochlorite, hydrated, UN 2880, is subject to stowage provisions that require it to be stowed away
from heat.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have questions or require additional
information.
Sincerely,
Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards
040033
|73.21

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Gorsky
3173.2/
GORDON W. ROUSSEAU Fobbidden
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
5448 Solway Drive
Materials
Tel. No. 321-951-3220
Fax No. 413-622-7627
04-0033
February 23, 2004
Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Research and Special Projects Administration
Washington, DC 20590
U.S. Department of Transportation
Re: Authorized Transportation of Calcium Hypochlorite Hydrated
(UN2880) Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Subchapter C
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing on behalf of PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). As discussed, PPG has long un-
derstood that the transportation of UN2880 in 300 and 425 lb. fiber drums is authorized under
the provisions of 49 C.F.R. Subchapter C. I should be grateful if you would confirm that PPG's
interpretation of the relevant regulatory provisions is correct.
It has been suggested that even though authorized by the package requirements of the
Ib. drums is nevertheless "forbidden" by § 173.21(f) because the SADT of the product in those
Hazardous Materials Table (HIMT), 49 CFR § 172.101, the shipment of UN2880 in 300 and 42:
drum sizes is less than 50°C. (IMO documentation indicates that this SADT information was
known as far back as 1980. According to information before the IMO and DOT it is clear that
the critical temperature of the product in these drums is below 50°C. Information PPG
in these drums is between 47°C and 50°C.)
previously furnished to DOT confirms the earlier IMO information that the SADT of the product

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Germany and Japan to require temperature controls on UN2880. DOT surely would not have
done so if the shipment of UN2880 in 300 and 425 lb. drums were forbidden by § 173.21(f).
drums is not "forbidden" simply because the SADT threshold is below 50°C, and that UN2880 is
Can you therefore please confirm that the shipment of UN2880 in 300 and 425 Ib. fiber
not on account of § 173.21(f) subject to the controlled temperature provisions in 49 C.F.R. or the
IMDG Code?
Thank you for your assistance.
Very truly yours,
Gordon W. Rousseau

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040033.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `47ea639c58623da00cfee1b9546ba36d6301474fca08fd7d340ff3215fa11bb8`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T17:44:46.975Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-04-0033`

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