# URS Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 10-0060  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2010-04-19

10-0060 response to URS Corporation concerning 180.352.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
APR 1 9 2010
Ms. Erin Jarman
Environmental Scientist
DRS Corporation
1600 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 400
Morrisville, NC 27560
Ref. No. 1O~0060
Dear Ms. Jarman:
This responds to your March 16, 2010 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171~180) as they apply to Intermediate Bulk Containers
(IBCs). Specifically, you ask for clarification of the language in § 180.352(b)(2)(iii) that states,
"The inner receptacle of a composite IBC must be removed from the outer body for inspection
unless the inner body is bonded to the outer body or unless the outer body is constructed in such
a way (e.g., a welded or riveted cage) that removal ofthe inner receptacle is not possible
without impairing the integrity of the outer body." Your questions are summarized and
answered as follows:
Q1) Would an inner body of a composite IBC that is secured into the outer body by straps that
are welded and that would require cutting have to be removed from the outer body for
inspection?
AI) No. The HMR do not require attachments that are welded to the outer body to be removed
prior to inspection.
Q2) Would an inner body of a composite IBC that is secured into the outer body by straps that
are crimped and that would require cutting have to be removed from the outer body for
inspection?
A2) Yes, provided cutting the crimped attachments would not affect the integrity of the outer
body.
Q3) Would an inner body of a composite IBC that is secured into the outer body with straps
having bolted fasteners have to be removed from the outer body for inspection?

<<<PAGE 2>>>

A3) Yes, provided removal of the inner body would not affect the integrity of the outer body.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this office.
Sin:t'~
Charles E. Betts
Chief, Standards Development
e of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

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March 16,2010
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office ofHazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-1O)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing to you with regards to the retest and inspection requirements for composite IBCs found
in 49 CFR §IS0.352(b)(2)(iii). Specifically, the language in 49 CFR §180.352(b)(2)(iii) states the
following:
"The inner receptacle of a composite IBC must be removed from the outer body for inspection
unless the inner body is bonded to the outer body or unless the outer body is constructed in such a
way (e.g., a welded or riveted cage) that removal ofthe inner receptacle is not possible without
impairing the integrity of the outer body."
There has been a growing debate among various IBC retesters as to whether an inner body ofa
composite IBC that is secured inside an outer body by metal straps or bolted fasteners would need to
be removed in order to facilitate a proper inspection. Some retesters feel that the above language
permits them to leave the inner body in the outer body ofthe IBC during inspection. On the other
hand, some feel that since the metal straps can be cut or unbolted, removal of the inner body from
the outer body is not impossible and should therefore be done for proper inspection.
My questions are as follows:
I) Would an inner body ofa composite IBC that is secured into the outer body by straps that are
welded and which would require cutting have to be removed from the outer body for inspection?
2) Would an inner body of a composite IBC that is secured into the outer body by straps that are
crimped and which would require cutting have to be removed from the outer body for inspection?
3 ) Would an inner body of a composite IBC that is secured into the outer body by straps having
bolted fasteners have to be removed from the outer body for inspection?
Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Erin N. Jarman
Environmental Scientist
URS Corporation
1600 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 400
Morrisville, NC 27560
Tel: 919-461-1478
Erin_Jarman@urscorp.com

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100060.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `16aec907b181f43eac4be8f41318c933b8cb662e44859a3e0fc50f8f8e8b481e`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T15:04:39.700Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-10-0060`

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