# AirSep Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 11-0072  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2011-04-20

11-0072 response to AirSep Corporation concerning 173.185, 175.10.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
APR 20 2011 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Richard W. Boerdner
Production Manager
AirSep Corporation
401 Creekside Drive
Buffalo, NY 14228-2085
Reference No. 11-0072
Dear Mr. Boerdner:
This responds to your March 25,2011 letter and subsequent telephone conversation with a
member ofmy staff regarding the applicability ofthe Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
CFR Parts 171-180) to a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) for purposes ofobtaining FAA
approval to allow a passenger to carry the POC aboard an aircraft. According to your letter, the
POC (trade name Focus) is a device that separates oxygen from ambient air through a process
called Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA). The device uses oxygen conserving technology to
provide supplemental oxygen to persons with medical needs. The maximum operating pressure
ofthe POC is 39 psi a at 20°C. The POC is powered by multiple sources, including AC or DC
power, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack consists of four 2.6 Ah
lithium-ion cells equating to an equivalent lithium content of 0.78 g per cell and 3.12 g aggregate
equivalent lithium content for the battery pack (38.48 Wh). The lithium-ion battery pack is a type
proven to meet the appropriate tests in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, and the
battery pack is packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits when offered for transport or
carried onboard passenger aircraft. You ask whether this device is regulated under the HMR.
Based on the information provided in your letter, the Focus POC is currently not subject to the
HMR because: (1) the pressure ofthe oxygen in the device does not exceed 200 kPa gauge (29.0
psigl43.8 psia) at 20°C (68 OF); (2) the lithium-ion battery pack used to operate the device is
excepted from the HMR under § 172.1 02( c)( I), Special provision 188; (3) the POC contains no
other materials subject to the HMR; and (4) the battery pack is packaged in a manner to preclude
it from creating sparks or generating a dangerous quantity ofheat (e.g., by the effective insulation
ofexposed terminals).
Although the exception in § 175.1O(a)(18) ofthe HMR would apply to a passenger carrying a
Focus POC as described above, approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is
required before it may be used by a passenger onboard an aircraft. The FAA published a final
rule on July 12,2005 (70 FR 40155) regarding these devices. For further assistance, you may
contact Mr. Dave Catey, Aviation Safety Inspector for the FAA Air Carrier Operations Branch
(AFS-220) by phone at (202)-267-3732 or email at david.catey((v,faa.gov. In addition, even with

<<<PAGE 2>>>

FAA approval, an air carrier ultimately determines what mayor may not be carried on its aircraft.
We suggest that you contact the airlines to ensure that the Focus POC may be carried.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

AirSep Corporation
401 Creekside Drive
Buffalo, New York 14228-2085
(716) 691-0202
Industrial 8. Medical Air Separation Equipment Fax (716) 691-4141
Der I<IYJdeveJ1
<§1'13, (/5
Mr. Charles Betts
~ 175 . J 0 ,
U.S. DOT
PIDvfSA Office of F[azardous Materials Standards 
 C(assiti CQhOv1
Attention: PIIH·lO
East Building II'Oc)1Z1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590·0001
Subject: Formal Letter of Interpretatioll
Dear, Mr. Betts
In accordance with 49 CFR 173.115, after review of this section of the CFR it is
our interpretation that our Focus portable oxygen concentrator manufactured by AirSep
Corporation in Buffalo New York is exempt as hazardous materials. However we would
like your offices concurrence to our interpretation.
Our complete contact Information is as follows:
AirSep Corporation
401 Creekside Drive
Buffalo, New York 14228
Atln: Richard W. Boerdner -- Production Manager - POC
716691-0202 ext. 365
rboerdner@airsep.com
The device for which an exemption is being considered is a portable oxygen
concentrator known by the trade name of Focus. People who have a medical condition
that requires them to receive supplemental oxygen therapy use this device as a SOlU"ce of
oxygen. The Focus portable oxygen concentrator separates oxygen from ambient air
through a process called Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). This portable oxygen
concentrator uses oxygen conserving technology. The systems maximum operating
pressure is 39 psia at 20° C. The device uses multiple power sources, including AC or
DC power and rechargeable lithium ion battery which is a 2.6 Ah, 38.48 Wh battery
pack. The lithium ion cells and battery pack are compliant to the United Nations Manual
of Tests and Criteria and is packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits when offered
for transport or carried on board passenger aircraft.
-------------------~~---------------
March 25, 2011

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Page 2
AirSep Corporation requests your office concurrence that our Focus is exempt
from section 175.10 paragraph A18 which allows a certificate holder to allow passengers
to carry and operate such devices provided a number of conditions are met. AirSep
Corporation is not a certificate holder however we do have procedures in place to ensure
the safety and effectiveness of the Focus. These include the requirements of the FDA's
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), International standards lEe 60~1-1 General
requirements for safety for Medical equipment, and lEC 60~1-1·2 for Electromagnetic
compatibility requirements and tests for medical equipment. In addition the AirSep
Quality Management System is approved as being compliant with the requirements of
1809000:2000 and ISO 9000: 13485 guideline with no exclusions.
1 look forward to your review and input on exemption of this product. If you
should need any more information please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
'Richard W. Boerdner
l:U!~~.A(/
Production Manager - POC
AirSep Corporation

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110072.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `81d715c52233272fb3e800fe6a92f2005729c18ef1b4bbd1aea07c8f5cc3522e`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T11:47:44.265Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-11-0072`

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