# Amerex Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0584  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1998-02-23

98-0584 response to Amerex Corporation concerning 173.309.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Nashington, D.C.
100 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
FEB 23 1998
Mr. Fred B. Goodnight
Amerex Corporation
P.O. Box 81"
Trussville, AL 35173-0081
Dear Mr. Goodnight:
This is in response to your letter of January 19, 1998, asking whether a fire extinguisher
conforming to 49 CFR 173.309 may be shipped as a Consumer Commodity ORM-D in
accordance with the provisions of § 173.144.
The answer is no. In order for a material to be reclassed as ORM-D, the material must: (1) meet
the definition for consumer commodity in § 171.8; (2) be packaged for shipment in accordance
with the limited quantity provisions; and (3) the packaging exception section, referenced in
Column (SA) ot the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table, must allow an exception for shipment
as an ORM-D. In your case, the fire extinguishers may meet the definition of consumer
commodity and may be packaged as a limited quantity, but § 173.309 does not authorize
shipment of fire extinguishers as ORM-D.
I hope this information is helpful. Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact
uS.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

01/19/98
16:09
8205 655 3279
AMEREX CORP.
4001
contractoo
Ali 173114, 173.305
158
Amerex Corporation
AMEREX
Trunevlite, Al 35173-0081
P.O. Box 81
FAX: 205-856-3279
208-855-3271
January 19, 1998
VIA-FAX & MAIL- 202-386-3753
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo.
U.S. DOURSPA [DHM-10]
400 7th Street S. W.
Washingłon, DC 20590-0001
SUBJECT:
ORM-D Interpretation
Dear Sir:
a fire extinguisher conforming to 173.309 can be shipped via UPS (highway) as ORM-D? H
Could you please give us a formal (written) Interpretation regarding 49CFR173.144 and whether
seems to us that ORM-D can be used because:
2.
1.
3.
packages and will comply with all restrictions of 173.309. i.e. they will
santain less than 241 psig of non-flammable, non-comosive, and non
4.
requirements of 173.308 (a).
Exceptions are provided in Table 172.101.
We need your written interpreration for UPS to accept the above extinguishers as ORM-D
at 205-655-3271 or fax 205-655-3279.
material. If you have any questions of us, or need any additional information, please contact me
Very truly yours,
FBG/ja
CC:
Mr. Paul Polydores - DOT

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980584.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `54e279bf7e3250ddf806a2e1301f05bfd3c2ca43638b602a331ecd1948e2645a`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T04:14:50.186Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0584`

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