# URS Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 08-0270 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2008-11-07 08-0270 response to URS Corporation concerning 173.306. ## Document text <<>> 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - 7 2008 Mr. Andrew Romach Regulatory Compliance Manager URS Corporation 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Ref. No.: 08-0270 Dear Mr. Romach: This is in response to your October 28,2008 letter requesting clarification of the non-bulk shipping requirements for shock absorbers under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180). Specifically, you ask if shock absorbers that are classed as "Articles, pressurized pneumatic, UN3 164" may be shipped together in non-specification outside packaging (e.g., large fiberboard box or metal cage) and whether they are excepted from DOT hazard labeling and placarding requirements. In accordance with 5 173.306(0(3), the shock absorbers are excepted from labeling (unless offered for transportation by aircraft) and specification packaging requirements. To take advantage of these exceptions, each shock absorber must be designed and fabricated with a burst pressure of not less than five times its charged pressure at 70°F when shipped. In addition, each shock absorber must be shipped as an inside packaging (outer packaging may consist of a large fiberboard box or metal cage that meets the general packaging requirements in Part 173), have a gas space under stored pressure of 2,500 cubic inches or less, and be tested before initial shipment and before each refilling and reshipment without evidence of failure or damage. Shock absorbers conforming to the requirements in § 173.306(f)(3) are not excepted from placarding requirements. - I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance. Sincerely, Susan Gorsky Acting Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> Mr. Ed Mazzullo, Director Office of Hazardous Material Standards Research and Special Programs Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590-000 1 PAX: (202) 366-3012 Dear Mr. Mazzullo: I am writing to you to request written clarification of the regulatory requirements set out in 49 CFR 173.306(f) that apply when shipping several hundred automotive shock absorbers together in an outside packaging, such as a metal cage or a large fibreboard box. These shock absorbers are being shipped for metal recycle. The shock absorbers are classified as Articles, pressurizedpneumatic, UN3 164. The shock absorbers meet the requirements set out in 49 CFR 173.306(0(3). Based on my reading of the regulations, 49 CFR 173.306(f)(3) appears to allow shock absorbers to be shipped together in an outside packaging, such as a metal cage or a large fibreboard box, and to be excepted from DOT hazard labeling and placarding requirements. Please confirm that this shipping scenario is correct. I have described below the regulatory evaluation to support this shipping scenario. In discussions with Donald Burger in DOT'S Office of Hazardous Materials Technology, he agreed that as a receptacle for a gas, each shock absorber would meet the definition of a non-bulkpackaging in 49 CFR 171.8 because each shock absorber has a water capacity much less that this 454 kg limit. As set out in column 8A (exceptions) of the Hazardous Material Table in 49 CFR 172.10 1, non-bulk shipping requirements for Articles, pressurizedpneumatic, LIN3 164 are found in 49 CFR 173.306. Based on the requirements set out in 49 CFR 173.306(0(3), the above-described shock absorbers could be shipped as follows: Each shock absorber would be considered an inside packaging [49 CFR 173.306(0(3), indirect reference to 49 CFR 173.306(f)(2)(i).] The shock absorbers must be contained in an outer packaging. A metal cage or a large fibreboard box could be used as the outer packaging. (The shock absorber is excepted from specification packaging requirements.) [49 CFR 173.306(f)(3)]. The outer package must be marked with the proper shipping name and UN number (Articles, pressurized pneumatic, UN3 164). The outer packaging is excepted from the Division 2.2 hazard label [49 CFR 173.306(f)(3)]. <<>> Page 2 of 2 The shipment is also excepted from placarding. (Although the exception from placarding is not explicitly stated in 49 CFR 173.306(0(3), the exception is referenced indirectly through 49 CFR 173.306(0(3)(i), which states: "Each accumulator must be in compliance with the requirements stated in paragraph (Q(2). . .." Paragraph (f)(2) states: "In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter." Please confirm that the above-described shipping scenario is correct for shipping several hundred shock absorbers together in an outside packaging, such as a metal cage or a large fibreboard box, and that under this shipping scenario, the shock absorbers contained in the outside packaging would also be excepted from DOT hazard labeling and placarding requirements. I appreciate your written clarification of this regulatory question. Sincerely, Andrew N. Romach Regulatory Manager URS Corporation URS Corporation 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Tel: 919.461.1220 Fax:919.461.1371 andy~romach@urscorp.com ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `e722cacd7978e6b2ef2a417e799226294c39ae197384d3a399b09dbc1566155d` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T04:03:43.664Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0270` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "URS Corporation" ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Andrew Romach" ], "refIds": [ "08-0270" ], "catalogDates": [ "2008-11-07" ], "catalogParts": [ 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/45096" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "173.306", "171.8", "172.10" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173306" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080270.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080270.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080270.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0270-fab75dd503.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "7e8632d45add7a5969efd7f7b9d3dea82163efd7ace345b94cdaab36cedd5632", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0270-fab75dd503.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "68e9597593607e95c4aecda5739b14176b7bb0b6fd2af45dd20b68eb7fa62706", "pageCount": 3, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```