# Implant Technologies — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 10-0167  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2010-09-13

10-0167 response to Implant Technologies concerning 173.226, 178.601.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
SfP 1 3 2010
Mr. James V. McManus
Sr. Project Manager
Implant Technologies
7 Commerce Drive
Danbury, CT 96810
Ref. No. 10-0167
Dear Mr. McManus:
This responds to your July 26,2010 request for clarification on the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). According to your letter and subsequent telephone
conversation with a member ofmy staff, you are going to ship "UN 3383, Toxic by inhalation
liquid, flammable, n.o.s.," using packaging authorized in §173.226. Specifically, you ask ifyou
may use selective testing variation 2 in § 178.601(g)(2) to exclude testing ofthe inner packaging
system as normally required in § 173.226(c)(3)(ii).
The answer to your question is no. In accordance with 178.601 (g)(2), selective testing of
combination packaging variation 2 provides relief from performance testing for outer packaging of
combination packaging when inner packaging differ in minor respects from the tested pack~ging
configuration. Variation 2 applies to inner packaging that are not themselves subject to
performance testing. Section 173.226(c)(3)(ii) requires the inner packaging system to meet the drop
test, leakproofness test, and hydrostatic pressure performance tests ofpart 178 subpart M at the
Packing Group I performance level. Additionally, the outer packaging ofthe non-bulk combination
packaging must also conform to the performance test requirements of subpart M ofpart 178 at the
Packaging Group I performance level. As a result ofthe specific requirements for your packaging,
you may not use variation 2 to exclude performance testing ofthe inner packaging system required
by § 173.226(c)(3)(ii).
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this Office at
202-366-8553.
Sincerely,
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Office ofHazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

'Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) -§/7Z./0/
Sent: Tuesday, July 27,20109:18 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) lesf-iY)~
Cc: DerKinderen, Dirk (PHMSA) 
 IO-lJJl!"
Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation
Carolyn,
See below, yet another request for a formal written letter of interpretation.
-Rob
From: jmcmanus@atmi.com [mailto:jmcmanus@atmi.com]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 5:04 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Subject: Request for Interpretation
To Whom it May Concern:
I request an interpretation on the following situation in order to answer the question below:
1. The material of interest is UN3383, Toxic by inhalation liquid, flammable, n.o.s.
2. The packaging authorization for UN3383 is CFR 49 173.226.
3. The packaging we are using is a non-bulk combination packaging.
4. The inner packaging system consists of:
a. A helium leak tight 1.3 liter stainless steel container that contains the UN3383 liquid.
b. A 5 gallon leak tight drum certified to UN1A2 is the second part of the inner packaging
system that contains the 1.3 liter stainless steel container.
My question pertaining to the above hazardous material and the associated packaging authorization
is as follows:
Can I use the Selective Testing Variation prescribed in 178.601 (g) (2) to exclude testing of the inner
packaging system as normally required in CFR 49 173.226 (c) (2) (iv)
if the outer packaging complies with CFR 49 178 (g) (2) (i)-(vii)?
I note that 178.601 (g) (2) indicates "inner packagings of any type" for solids or liquids, may be
assembled and transported without testing in an outer packaging if the outer packaging complies with
CFR 49 178 (g) (2) (i)-(vii).
We look forward your interpretation on the above question as we have received conflicting
information from several sources regarding this
question.
1

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Kind regards,
Jim McManus
Jim McManus
Project Manager
Mobile 203-482-1606
Phone 203-207-9307
*************************
***********
individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent
This email message may contain information that is confidential and/or privileged and is intended only for use of the
responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of
this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify sendel
immediately and destroy the original message. Thank you.
2

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100167.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `778791c401964b722dd96ae2dda7767d14376049213880f5559ba5a92f5b1d1d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T17:27:21.925Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-10-0167`

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