# Elkhart Plastics, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 17-0075  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2017-12-28

17-0075 response to Elkhart Plastics, Inc concerning 178.81.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Project Engineer
Elkhart Plastics, Inc.
51703 Packard Drive
Middlebury, IN 46540
Reference No. 17-0075
Dear Mr. Furrer:
This letter is in response to your June 27, 2017, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to drop testing requirements for
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs). Specifically, you ask whether the scenario you provide
meets the criteria in § 178.810(e) for a failure of the drop test. You provide pictures showing a
broken plastic fitting on a pump mounted to the top neck fill on an IBC and explain that the
opening is located at least six inches above the fluid level of the package. Additionally, you
explain that the test lab noted, "minor discharge, but no continued leakage."
The criteria for passing the drop test in § 178.810(e) state, "there may be no damage which
renders the IBC unsafe to be transported for salvage or for disposable." Based on the scenario
you provided, it is the opinion of this Office that a damaged fitting that creates an opening in the
package renders the IBC unsafe to be transported.
I hope this information is helpful. 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>>>

From: Jason Furrer [mailto:jason.furrer@epi-roto.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 9:35 AM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) < INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>
Cc: Chuck Huston <Chuck.Huston@epi-roto.com>; Cullen Jones <cullen.jones@epi-roto.com>
Subject: Request for Interpretation
DOT Hazmat specialists,
We have a 220 gallon IBC tank with a 12VDC pump mounted on the top fill neck as shown below.
Pump
During the drop test at a third party test lab, the plastic fitting next to the pump broke as shown below.
1

<<<PAGE 3>>>

According to the test lab, "there was a minor discharge, but no continued leakage." The concern would be whether or
not this would be unsafe to be transported for salvage or disposal (per 178.810 (3) (e). I spoke with Eamonn on the DOT
hotline and he was unable to address this "performance" standard.
Since the open fitting is over 6 inches above the fluid level, would this be considered unsafe for transport?
Thank you,
Jason Furrer, P.E.
Project Engineer
www.epi-roto.com
› Elkhart
Plastics. Inc.
Elkhart Plastics, Inc.
• 51703 Packard Dr. • Middlebury, IN 46540
P 574.825.9797 ext 172 F 574.825.1797 E Jason.Furrer@epi-roto.com
2

<<<PAGE 4>>>

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56856/170075.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `6cfa243977962cb5a73e2d1df83bb295d1d6d433fe220696e27d8cfaa7b182fd`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T15:00:07.071Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-17-0075`

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