# Packaging Corporation of America — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 04-0170  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2004-10-22

04-0170 response to Packaging Corporation of America concerning 178.503.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
special Program!
Administration
OCT 22 2004
Mr. Michael Gilgenbach
Ref. No. 04-0170
Packaging Corporation of America
Technical and Development Center
2150 South Shaddle Avenue
Mundelein, IL 60060
Dear Mr. Gilgenbach:
This responds to your July 13, 2004 letter requesting clarification on the proper use of a
package manufacturer's symbol or "M" number when marking UN specification
packagings under 178.503(a) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR
Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether your company, which produces corrugated
boxes, an approval agency certifying compliance (e.g., third party testing facility), or a
customer is required to have a symbol or "M" number.
If your company does not accept responsibility for certifying a packaging and provides
packagings to your customer who does accept responsibility for certifying the packaging,
your company does not need an "M" number.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
178.3
178.503
040170

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Boothe
7.-
$118.3
$178.503
PCA
Marking of lacksgings
July 13, 2004
PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
04-0170
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standard
U.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
400 7* Street SW
Washington, DC 20590-001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I need to know the proper use of M numbers. I work for a company that produces
corrugated boxes. Some of which are used for shipping hazardous materials. We do not
number? Should we have an M number? If our customer is the Certifier of Record,
certify the packages. It is done by third party labs. Should this third party lab have an M
should they have an M number? We are never considered the "Manufacturer" would we
need an M number?
You may e-mail me at mgilgenbach@packagingcorp.com of fax a response to 847-482-
2100.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Michael Gigentach
Michael Gilgenbach
Technical and Development Center • 250 South Shaddle Avenue • Mundelein, Illinois 60060 • Tel (847) 482-3000

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040170.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `80b7618fbcf45cae9d17832a8f5e620472f06f330c3c20433ea53a0dc69b0272`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T05:51:08.904Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-04-0170`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Packaging Corporation of America"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. Michael Gilgenbach"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "04-0170"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2004-10-22"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    178
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/46201"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "178.503",
    "178.503(a)",
    "178.3"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/178503"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040170.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040170.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040170.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/04-0170-fa5273f959.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "070e1847e07c956613fb1b6e4ffcae9d86607b515efcdd08e2a3d87b03be5065",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/04-0170-fa5273f959.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "60de970903ecee816edd970ff8732c87cd9b9a5b0ff7d88dd4e7f4b3886519e6",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```