{"operation":"document","citation":"00-0027","title":"Regulatory Center of Excellence — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2000-01-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"00-0027 response to Regulatory Center of Excellence concerning 172.312.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0027.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0027.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0027","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000027.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nS. Departmen\nf Transportatio\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nVashington, D.O\nMashington D.C. 20\nAdministration\nJAN 27 2000\nMr. William O. Gramer\n3M Package Engineering,\nRef. No: 00-0027\nRegulatory Center of Excellence\n3M Center 224-1E-09\nSt. Paul, MN 55144-1000\nDear Mr. Gramer:\nThis is in response to your letter regarding the orientation arrow markings that are required on certain\npackages of liquid hazardous materials under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\nParts 171-180). Specifically you ask whether § 172.312 prohibits the placement of arrows for\npurposes other than orientation on packages containing liquid hazardous materials.\nThe answer is yes. As provided by § 172.312, each non-bulk combination package having inner\npackagings containing liquid hazardous materials must be packed with closures upward, and legibly\nmarked with package orientation markings. Additionally, arrows for purposes other than indicating\nproper orientation may not be displayed on a package containing a liquid hazardous material.\nI hope this information is helpful.\nSincerely,\nWhen Hills,\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n000027\n172.312\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n01/13 :00 11:34\nID:3M Package Eng 224-1E\nFAX: 1-651-736-5983\nPAGE 1\n3M Package Engineering\n3M Center\nBuilding 224-1E-09\nSt. Paul, MN 55144-1000\n5-11-9921\nLavalle\nTo Texwitze LARim\nEdward Mazzulio. Director.\nFat 20₴\nResearch and Special Progranx Administration. $ 10 6178.312\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n- 360-302\nam bill\nGRANTER\nЗМ\nW'ashington. DC. 20590-0001\n400 7' St SW; DHM-10\n00 - 0027\nin 1- 736-1407\nRequest for Interpretation concerning the use of up-arrows\": 6Augl 998\nDear Mr. Mazzulio.\n'orientation arrows' on combination packages containing liquid dangerous goods (hazardous materials) in\nIt is our understanding that the Hazardous Materials Regulations (FIMR) do not allow placement of\nviolation of the HMR. according to 49CFR172.312, and at best is misleading to dangerous goods package\narticles or containers which have no 'upward' orientation. To display such marking appears to be a\nhandlers for whom the arrows are intended.\nIn 172.312(b) we see that for liquid dangerous goods packages, \"... arrows for purposes other than\nindicating proper package orientation may not be displayed...\", 172.312(a)(1) specifically requires liquid-\ncarrying dangerous goods packages to be oriented, or \"...packed with closures upward\" during transport.\nreceptacles with closures capable of application and removal by the filler and user. It is generally\nIn 172.312 (c) orientation arrows are generally required on combination packages of liquid-carrying inner\nremoved to allow emptying or other applications, the closures do not form a 'permanent' or 'welded-\nunderstaod that because these type of closures (e.g. screwtop, etc) are applied after filling and may be\nhermetic' seal, and thus, pose a possible means of liquid leakage from the outer package. An 'upward\nrisk of leakage in transport.\npackage orientation' clearly exists and is therefore communicated fo the package handler so as to minimize\nor no closures at all, there is therefore no 'upward' orientation and the requirement to label a package with\nParagraphs 172.312(c)(4) and (5) clearly state that when inner packagings have no such removable closures\narrows \"...pointing in the correct upright direction. [172.312(a)(2)\" does not apply. The reason for this\nreguirement seems self-evident - these types of packages have no such 'closure orientation'. As paragraphs\n(4) and (5) seem to state, 'articles\" and \"inners' which are \"..leak-tight in all orientations...\" and which have\n\"...hermetically sealed...\" closures have no 'upward' orientation. As such, these type packages are not\nlabel the package as having such an orientation \"...pointing in the correct upright direction. [172312(ak2))\"\ntested and designed for shipment in a specific orientation to minimize leakage from closures. Therefore, to\nwould be incorrect.\nFurther, it seems that to label these packages as such could be misleading to handlers of the package as is the\nconcern in paragraph (b). To apply arrows to such packages would not be for proper orientation of the\ninner closures (none exist), and thus may be \"...for purposes other than indicating proper package\norientation\" and therefore may \"... not be displayed...\" [172,312(b)]. This seems to mean displaying such\narrows would not be \"optional\". as may be the case of small quantity exceptions stated in (c)(2) and (3).\nthat up-arrows on combination packaging containing liquids in \"... manufactured articles or hermetically-\nWould you please clarify whether our understanding as stated in paragraph one is correct? Specifically:\nsealed inner packaging...\" having no upward closure orientation are not allowed by 49CFR172.312.\nSincerely:\nWilliam O Gramer. Lead Engincer\n3M Package Engineering. Regulatory C'enter of Excellence\n3M Center 224-1E-09\n(651) 736-1407\nSt. Paul MN 55144-1000\nRE-SENT-\n-\n13 JAN 2000.\n-..\nthis will not be\nPlease aduise if\nanswened, on if it\nahuande has heer.","truncated":false,"body_characters":5112}