# United Brands — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 11-0168  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2011-10-27

11-0168 response to United Brands concerning 173.306.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department 1200 New
of Transportation
Washington,
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
Mr. Jimmy Zahriya OCT 27 2011
United Brands
145 Bluxome Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Ref. No. 11-0168
Dear Mr. Zahriya:
This responds to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the shipment of compressed nitrous oxide and
compressed carbon dioxide in non-specification cylinders. Specifically, you ask if aluminum
chargers with a capacity of 10.2 mL that are filled with 8 mL or 8 gms of N20 and CO2
comply with § 173.306(a)(1) of the HMR.
The answer is yes. Under § 173.306(a)(1), a compressed gas placed in a non-specification
container with a maximum capacity of four fluid ounces (7.22 cubic inches) or less may be
described and transported as a limited quantity when it conforms to the provisions of this
section. Note that the four fluid ounce (7.22 cubic inches) limit applies to the capacity of the
container, not the volume of material contained in the container. This section excepts a
limited quantity package from labeling, unless offered for transportation by air, and from the
placarding and specification packaging requirements under the HMR. Additionally, the HMR
permit the shipment of compressed nitrous oxide and compressed carbon dioxide by all modes
of transportation.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carol n From:
INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Sent:
Monday, July 18, 20114:10 PM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: request for interpretation
5i1l\l~rts
~173. 30(0
L..,;M,'.f.ed Qu"ttI-i+;~s of -....."..'Wur-eS9:'J
G"Ctse s II -0162>
Hi Carolyn,
We received the following request for a letter of interpretation at the HMIC.
Thanks,
Victoria
Victoria Lehman
Hazmat Information Center (HMIC)
http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center
(202) 366-1035
From: Dan Koh [mailto:dan@unitedbrands.us)
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:05 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Cc: Jimmy Zahriya; leemun yee; Patrice Hernandez
Subject: request for interpretation
To Whom It may Concern,
I spoke with Andrew in the DOT CS center and he advised us that we should contact the DOT Info Center for further
detailed explanation of Section 173.306 (a) (1)
Specifically, we fill 10.2 ml aluminum chargers with 8ml or 8gms of N20 and C02.
Title49:Transportation
§ 173.306 Limited quantities of compressed gases.
(a) Limited quantities of compressed gases for which exceptions are permitted as noted by reference to this
section in § 172.101 ofthis subchapter are excepted from labeling, except when offered for transportation or
transported by air, and, unless required as a condition ofthe exception, specification packaging requirements of
this subchapter when packaged in accordance with the following paragraphs. For transportation by aircraft, the
package must also comply with the applicable requirements of §173.27 ofthis subchapter and only hazardous
materials authorized aboard passenger-carrying aircraft may be transported as a limited quantity. In addition,
shipments are not subject to subpart F (Placarding) ofpart 172 ofthis subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter
except §174.24, and to part 177 of this subchapter except §177.817. Each package may not exceed 30 kg (66
pounds) gross weight.
1

<<<PAGE 3>>>

If a letter needs to be sent instead of an email, Please send it to:
United Brands
Attn: Jimmy Zahriya
145 Bluxome Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Otherwise, you may reply to this e-mail address:Dan@unitedbrands.us
Best Regards,
OM/~I cf. Mh
daniel ,~oh !re!~ionai manager, asia/pacific
united brands, H1C
P 41'59927918
In +66846655360
2

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110168.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `223b19b0e340f641e5b5211c41e97ed4b14902dcf51228394184417ef0c183ad`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:57:39.308Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-11-0168`

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