# Exxel/Atmos, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0186  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1995-10-12

98-0186 response to Exxel/Atmos, Inc. concerning 173.115.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

•
•
of Transportation
U.S.Department
Washington, D C
400 Seventh Street. S W
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
OCT 12 1995
Mx. John A. Del Grosso
Director of Technical
33 Schoolhouse Road
Exxel/Atmos, Inc.
Services
Somerset, NJ
08873
Dear Mr. Del Grosso:
This is in reply to your letter of August 23, 1995, requesting
psi), non-aerosol
onfirmation that your company's low pressure less than 40
compressed gas
dispensing system is not regulated
as a
Regulations
as Packaging
CFR
Parts
under
171-180).
the Hazardous Materials
information on the contents of the container.
You
provided no
The drawings you enclosed show the system consists of a pleated
inner plastic bottle fitted with a valve and surrounded with a
rubber sleeve that is placed inside of an outer container. You
stated
contents of the bot
the bottle causes
expanded rubber sleeve on the
the valve using no
the contents to be
gas propellant.
Based on
• expelled
information you provided, if the internal
container is under 40 psi, and no hazardous material is
pressure of the
contained in the package, the package is not regulated under
the HMR.
171.8.
See definition of "hazardous material" in 49 CFR
neptutou for your inquiry. I hope this information is
Sincerely,
Beth 2 Amo

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Exxel / ATMAS," Inc.
matin
33 Schoolhouse Road • Somerset, NJ 08873 • (908) 560-3655
Fax (908) 560-0119
File: 173.115
SC: 518,118
August 23, 1995
DECENET
114125
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street Sw
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards DHM-10
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
I called your office today and spoke with Ms. Eileen Martin. She
is very knowledgeable, and was courteous and helpful.
recommended I write to
request a letter of interpretation from
She
your office for our unique non-aerosol dispensing system.
our customers frequently request from us DOT information with
is being shipped after filling. Ms. Martin's opinion was that
regard to any regulations that may apply to this package when it
this dispensing system would not be regulated because of the low
operating pressure. I am certain a written response from your
office would greatly enhance our information packet we send to
our potential customers.
ATMOS is
which utilizes pressure from an expandable rubber sleeve to
a low pressure (less than 40 psi) dispensing system
squeeze the products from the container when the dispensing
actuator is pressed.
used at any time with this dispensing system.
There are no compressed gas propellants
Enclosed is an information packet for the AIMOS package. I have
package. Please call me at (908) 560-3655 if you need anything
included detailed article drawings and a description of the ATMOS
to complete this request.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from
you soon.
Sincerely
irector of Technical Services
•

<<<PAGE 3>>>

ATMOS Overview
•
Section 1
ATMOS Overview
The ATMOS
ATMOS is a unique, gas-free aerosol dispensing system that
System
delivers a variety of benefits:
• Safety
• Purity
• Convenience (360° continuous spray)
The cost effective ATMOS package is adaptable to a wide range of
product viscosities and is able to accommodate a broad array of
outer packaging designs.
How ATMOS ATMOS is best described as a package within a package.
Works
The five step process starts with a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
plastic bottle (the recyclable kind used to make soda bottles) that is
pleated and fitted with a valve. The bottle is inserted into a rubber
sleeve, placed in an outer container made from recyclable plastic,
metal, glass and other materials, then filled with product. The
contents are injected under pressure, which expands the bottle and
stretches the rubber sleeve. The rubber's propensity to contract
provides the pressure to produce the spray. The figure below
shows this process.
ATMOS* The Continuous Dispensing System
O1LI
A molded
1. Pleated
2. Inserted into a
3. Fitted with
ET bottle is:
rubber sleeve
a valve
4. Placed in an
and filled.
outer container
Exxel / ATMOS Technical Reference
1-1

<<<PAGE 4>>>

DATE SYM
•
S.S.
VALVE
SPRING
-
SPRING CUP
VALVE
PET BARRIER BAG
GASKET
VALYE
DISC
ALUMINUM
FERRULE
-
•
(EXCRAT AR NOTROS
TOLERANCES
EXX
DECIMAL
MATERIAL:
SCALI
*
AS SHOWN
FRACTIONAL
TITLE
POWER ASSEMBL
RUNING 40-21
:
ANGULAR
DATE
DRAWING NUMBER
11-9-87
P. I. B. 2.
•APPENDIX A

<<<PAGE 5>>>

[DATE aYM
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
729฿D MAX.
D
TITL
VALVE FERRULE
LADI
2
BARRIER BAG
ENERGY SLEEVE
3
MAX.
0,960"
-
0. 225"..
MAX.
-7.050"
•
•
•
NOTES
I DIMENSIQNS SHOWN ARE FOR REFERENCE
-
ONLY.
TOLERANCES
...EXX
2. DO NOT SCALE DRAWING.
DECiMAL.
MAXIMUM FILL:
SCA
230 ML.
PRACTIORA.
##'230 ML. POWE
ANGULAR
10 13-88 |
DATE
DRAWING NUMBER
P. I.B.:
APPENDIX G

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980186.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `5a809b85ed7ad99e4c412d49e5da370d21dfe7d1bbe1f72d925775953555b779`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T11:48:47.174Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0186`

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