# Schuetz Container Systems — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 18-0112 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2019-07-01 18-0112 response to Schuetz Container Systems concerning 178.703. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Brian Minnich Director Tech Service and Quality Schuetz Container Systems 200 North Aspen Hill Road North Branch, NJ 08876 Reference No. 18-0112 Dear Mr. Minnich: This letter is in response to your August 2, 2018, email and subsequent phone conversation with a member of my staff requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the requirements for marking an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC). Specifically, you ask whether the IBC may be marked with a stacking test load at a lesser level than the successful test result or a capacity lower than the rated capacity the IBC was designed to. For example, you present a scenario where a composite IBC successfully completed the test at 3855 kg but is marked 3700 kg, and the rated capacity of the packaging is 2031 L but is marked 2020 L. You ask if this conforms to the marking requirements in§ 178.703. The answer is no. An IBC may not be marked at a lower weight than the stacking test load at which it was successfully tested. In accordance with§ 178.703(a)(l)(vii), IBCs must be marked with "the stacking test load in kilograms (kg)." The stacking test load marking is associated with the additional marking requirements for the IBC stack symbol found in § 178. 703(b )(7). Specifically, in § 178. 703(b )(7)(iv), the maximum permitted stacking load in kilograms must be displayed. The mass marked above the symbol must not exceed the load imposed during the design test, as indicated in§ 178.703(a)(l)(vii), divided by 1.8. Further, an IBC must be marked with the rated capacity it was designed to in liters of water at 20 °C (68 °F), as prescribed in § 178.703(b)(l)(i). I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. <<>> Dodd, Alice (OST) From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Thursday, August 02, 2018 4:17 PM Hazmat Interps FW: Letter of Interpretation IBC UN Marking Letter of Interpretation Request 8-2-2018.docx Hi Ikea, Attached is a request for a letter of interpretation. I spoke with Austin regarding his request. Thank you, Jodi From: Austin Ip [mailto:Austin.lp@schuetz.net] Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2018 9:35 AM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: Letter of Interpretation Hi, I am requesting a letter of interpretation in regards to composite IBCs. See attachment. Thanks. Austin Ip Technical Service Engineer Schuetz Container Systems 200 Aspen Hill Road North Branch, NJ 08876-5950 Phone: 908-526-6161 ext.1126 Email: austin.ip@schuetz.net 1 <<>> SCHUTZ Schuetz Container Systems Inc. 200 Aspen Hill Road North Branch, NJ 08876 August 2, 2018 To: Office of the Chief Counsel PHMSA US DOT PHC-10 1200 New Jersey Ave, Southeast building Washington, DC 20590 - 0001 From Austin Ip Schuetz Container Systems 200 Aspen Hill Road North Branch, NJ 08876 Subject: Request for Letter of Interpretation Regarding UN Marking of Composite IBCs. In accordance with 49 CFR 105.20, I am requesting a letter of interpretation in regards to the UN marking of composite IBCs. Our company currently produces composite IBCs with designation 31 HA 1. As such, the UN marking includes stacking weight, gross filling weight (including package), and tare weight. If the corresponding UN test report has the samples tested at a more stringent level, a composite IBC marked at or below the testing level should be considered acceptable. For example, an IBC was tested to the following: 31HA1 / Y / ** / USA I +AA6011 I 3855 / 203 1 / 57kg / l00kPa If the package was marked as: 31 HA 1 I Y I ** I USA I +AA6011 I 3700 I 2020 I 58kg / I00kPa this would be considered acceptable. Thank you for the assistance. Sincerely, Austin Ip Technical Service Phone: 908-526-6161 ext. 1126 Email: austin.ip@schuetz.net ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `556e6ff21d9a3ed3fec07e3619e03ab528702ed4c978f9fc77870f415ec2d153` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T13:53:22.797Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-18-0112` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Schuetz Container Systems" ], "individuals": [ "Brian Minnich" ], "refIds": [ "18-0112" ], "catalogDates": [ "2019-07-01" ], "catalogParts": [ 178 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/71496" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "178.703" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/178703" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71721/180112.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71721/180112.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71721/180112.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/18-0112-a3cb61d7ae.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "73fcd091825165be6d0c79dcd7fb48f0e29c6343526c48d44748e97fc50de6c4", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/18-0112-a3cb61d7ae.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "71a447bf14be8f0726804656c81d1aafd4c5b71b279fdd72f52444889d852234", "pageCount": 3, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```