# Michelman, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 05-0113  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2005-08-23

05-0113 response to Michelman, Inc concerning 173.140.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safery
Administration
AVO 2 3 2005
Transportation Analyst
Ms. Tiffany Lawson
Ref. No.: 05-0113
9080 Shell road
Michelman, Inc.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45236-1299
Dear Ms. Lawson:
This responds to your letter regarding classification of your company's product under the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You asked whether the
would meet the definition of a Class 9 material.
product, which contains 2.4588% Ammonia and can cause discomfort to a flight crew,
A shipper is responsible for classifying a hazardous material in accordance with the HMR
(see § 173.22). The hazard class is determined based on the chemical composition and
hazard properties of the material. You did not provide sufficient information concerning
your company's product to enable us to offer an opinion on how it should be classed.
the definition of any other hazard class, and includes a material that has an anesthetic,
A Class 9 is a material that presents a hazard during transportation but, that does not meet
noxious or other similar property that could cause extreme annoyance or discomfort to a
flight crew member so as to prevent the correct performance of assigned duties. If your
company's product containing 2.4588% Ammonia causes extreme annoyance or
discomfort to a flight crew, it may meet the definition in § 173.140(a) as a Class 9
(Miscellaneous) hazardous material and be regulated for purposes of transportation in
commerce. A Class 9 material is not regulated for transportation by highway, rail, or
hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or marine pollutant.
vessel, unless it meets the definition in § 171.8 as a elevated temperature material,
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.140
050113

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Engrum
9 | 73
.14.0
Detinitions
ZZ MICHELMAN
05-0113
Waterbased Technology Worldwide
Michelman; Inc., 9080 Shell Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236-1299 USA / Tel: 513-793-7766 Fax: 513-793-2504
Dear Mr Mazzulo,
I am in need of an interpretation of a possible Class 9 material. The product contains
2.4588% Ammonia and "can cause discomfort to a flight crew". Do I need to classify this
product as a Class 9 via rail, road or ocean.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding this question.
Thank you,
Tiffany Lawson
Transportation Analyst
Michelman, Inc.
(513) 794-4223

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050113.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `bfee4c26002875ee0ce2c0c0173d1424154e89c7337292e5af96e85ddafe47bf`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T14:58:28.117Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-05-0113`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Michelman, Inc"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Ms. Tiffany Lawson"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "05-0113"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2005-08-23"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    173
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/50216"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "173.140",
    "173.140(a)",
    "173.22",
    "171.8"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173140"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050113.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050113.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050113.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/05-0113-765dba4861.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "f2677dded342bf151a29bb415017fd5595e8f142dd4fdd4a266c76b4552070ab",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/05-0113-765dba4861.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "7e4b2a47efede4cf3184286e8f2ac047e14b9704fe4f4e32069db8b4a4a4f798",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```