# Citronix, LP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 07-0174  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2008-03-17

07-0174 response to Citronix, LP concerning 173.27.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
MAR 1 7 2008
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Chris A. DuBois
Product Manager
Citronix, LP
3030 SE Loop 820
Forth Worth, TX 76 140
Ref. No.: 07-0174
Dear Mr. DuBois:
This is in response to your August 3 1,2007, email requesting clarification on closure
requirements for packagings containing hazardous materials transported by aircraft in
accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180).
According to your letter, your company ships liquid hazardous material in combination
packages with inner receptacles consisting of 4 ounce or 16 ounce bottles. The closures
consist of an ultrasonically sealed foil and plastic material (induction seal) and a screw cap
fitted over the seal. The combination package is tested and certified to conform to the UN
packaging requirements of Part 178 and the additional requirements of 9 173.27. Section
173.27(d) requires each screw-type closure on any packaging to be secured to prevent the
closure from loosening due to vibration or substantial change in temperature. It is your
understanding that since the bottle is physically sealed without the screw cap, the closure is
the induction seal, not the screw cap and the requirements of 8 173.27(d) would not apply.
If the tested combination package has inner receptacles fitted with a screw cap, the screw cap
must be secured in accordance with § 173.27(d). This applies regardless of whether the inner
receptacle also employs an induction seal. If the screw-cap closure is secured in a manner
that prevents it from loosening due to vibration or substantial change in temperature, the
requirement of § 173.27(d) has been met.
I hope this information is helpfbl. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Sincerely,
1. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Friday, August 31, 2007 11 :46 AM
Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
FW: Request for Formal interpretation of 49 CFR 173.27 (d) 5\11
Carolyn,
Could you process this as a formal interpretation request for us? Thanks a million! fave
a good weekend!
Erin
----- Original Message-----
From: Chris DuBois [mailto:cdubois@citronix.com]
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 11:24 AM
To: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Cc: Richard Fox
Subject: Request for Formal interpretation of 49 CFR 173.27 (d)
I am requesting a formal written interpretation of 49 CFR 173.27 (d)
Citronix designs, manufactures and sells industrial continuous inkjet printers all over
the world. This includes consumables such as inks, makeups and cleaning solvents. Our
fluids are shipped in 4 or 16 ounce bottles which are ultrasonically sealed (the machine
punctures the seal like a cartridge) and have a screw cap over the seal. Our complete
combination package has been tested and UN certified by an independent lab.
It has been brought to my attention that we may be in violation of 173.27
(d) which states "Each screw-type closure on any packaging must be secured to prevent
closure from loosening due to vibration or substantial change in temperature." According
to 49 CFR 171.8 closure means a device which closes an opening in a receptacle. Since our
bottle is sealed without the cap the closure would actually be the foil/plastic seal and
not the screw cap an as such 173.27 (d).
Sincerely,
Chris A. DuBois
Product Manager
Citronix, LP
3030 SE Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76140
Tel: 817-568-9800 Ext 4
Fax: 817-568-1970
cdubois@citronix.com
www.citronix.com

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070174.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `10c9962913bd18868bb8f438fe594baf671070c3e5400ed92144a64885ef66e5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T11:39:30.664Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-07-0174`

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