# Trans World Airlines, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0028
- **title:** Trans World Airlines, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-02-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0028 response to Trans World Airlines, Inc. concerning 175.75.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0028.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0028.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0028
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000028.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
•
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Administrations
FEB 1 8 2000
Mr. Les Adolph
Ref. No. 00-0028
Sr Manager-Hazardous Materials Transportation Programs
Trans World Airlines, Inc.
9200 N. W. 112'h Street
P.O. Box 20126
Kansas City, MO 64195
Dear Mr. Adolph:
This is in response to your letter dated January 17, 2000, regarding the proper shipping description for
crew member personal breathing equipment (PBE) manufactured by Essex PB&R Corporation.
Specifically, you ask if the proper shipping description for the PBE described in your letter is "Life-
saving appliance, not self-inflating, 9, UN3072."
Under 49 CFR 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly describe a material in accordance
with Parts 172 and 173. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this Office. In your
letter, you describe a PBE which contains two small compressed oxygen cylinders, each having a
volumetric capacity of approximately 3.3 ounces, and approximately 0.2 kilograms of lithium
hydroxide, and otherwise complies with the conditions and limitations of § 173.219. We agree that the
proper shipping name for this article is "Life-saving appliance, not self-inflating, 9, UN3072." In
addition, it is our opinion that the limitations in § 175.85(i)(1) and (2) which limit the number of
cylinders of compressed oxygen in certain cargo compartments do not apply to articles which may be
described as "Life-saving appliance, not self inflating."
I trust this information is of use to you. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
17575
000028
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<<<PAGE 2>>>

TRANS WORLD AIRLINES. INC.
TWA
9200 N. W. 112'h Street. - P.O. Box 20126 - Kansas City, Missouri 64195
Gale
January 17, 2000
$175.75
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
8172.101(1)
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: Ed Mazzullo
Headquarters (DHM-10)
le saving
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
aipliance
Washington, DC 20590
00-0028
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
I am writing to you requesting a formal interpretation of the proper shipping name for Crew Member
Personal Breathing Equipment (PBE) manufactured by Essex PB&R Corporation. It is my suggestion
that an appropriate proper shipping name for these devices would be Life-saving appliances, not self-
inflating, UN3072. However, at this time there does not appear to be agreement from your agency on
this point.
I want to assure you that this request is only for the type of PBE, which uses compressed oxygen, and
IS NOT to be associated in anyway with the PBE's that use oxygen generators.
I am enclosing copies of correspondence I have had with DOT on this subject as well as information
from the manufacturer that describes the device. Perhaps due to a misunderstanding on my part, I
inough we already had achieved the ability to use Life-saving appliances, not self-inflating.
UN3072. However, the manufacturer uses two proper shipping names for each PBE that is shipped:
and they are, Oxygen, compressed, UN1072 and Corrosive solid, n.o.s. (Anhydrous lithium
hydroxide), UN1759.
There are some important justifications for preferring UN3072 for these devices.
First, they contain relatively small amounts of each of their hazardous constituents. The
amounts of both of the products is minimal - i.e., two small cylinders of oxygen totalling
0.048kg and 0.2 kg of lithium hydroxide which is used as a carbon dioxide scrubber.
Second, they function together in the operation of this device, when it operates as a PBE.
• Third, and perhaps most importantly from a handling point of view, the presence of
Oxygen, compressed, UN1072, in this device links it directly to the loading restrictions (i.e.,
in Docket HM-224A.
no more than six oxygen cylinders per Class D compartment), introduced in the Final Rule
I have been in discussions with the manufacturer who also supports the change to Life-saving
appliances, not self-inflating, UN3072.
-

<<<PAGE 3>>>

This letter is part of a two-fold approach. Through ATA, the air carrier industry has asked for an
emergency exemption that seeks to exclude these small units from the limitation of six oxygen
cylinders per aircraft, in inaccessible cargo compartments, which becomes effective March 1, 2000.
While that exemption would be valuable to every operator, I still feel that Life-saving appliances, not
self-inflating, UN3072 is the most appropriate proper shipping name that represents the minimal
hazards associated with this device but I would like a formal interpretation that supports its use.
Best regards,
Les Cafe
Les Adol6
Sr. Manager-Hazardous Materials Transportation Programs
Trans World Airlines, Inc.
Chairman-Air Transport Association-HAZMAT COMAT TASK FORCE
Attachments:
Cc: Frank Black - ATA
Wayne Kerley - PB&R Essex Corporation
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