# Professional Services Industries — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0095
- **title:** Professional Services Industries — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-06-13
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0095 response to Professional Services Industries concerning 172.101.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0095.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0095
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000095.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington. D.C
20590
Research and
special Programs
Administration
JUN I 3 2000
Mr. Paul B. Medwig and
Ref. No. 00-0095
Mr. Scott Bischoff
Professional Services Industries
850 Poplar Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Dear Messrs. Medwig and Bischoff:
This is in response to your letter dated March 23, 2000, and subsequent telephone conversation with
Eric Nelson of my staff regarding non-bulk package testing under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether an oxygen generator may be replaced
by a "mock-up" oxygen generator for package testing when there would be no way of determining
whether the oxygen generator fired during the test.
Section 178.602(a) requires each package be closed in preparation for testing and tests be carried out
in the same manner as if the package: was prepared for transportation. A hazardous material may be
replaced by a non-hazardous material for package testing provided its physical properties correspond
as closely as possible to the hazardous material to be transported (See § 178:602(c)). Special
Provision 60 requires that each oxygen generator that is shipped with its means of initiation attached
incorporate at least two positive means of preventing unintentional actuation and be classed and
approved by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
In the case of oxygen generators, the requirements of § 178.602 apply to the structural integrity of the
packaging, not whether the generator fires. The terms of an approval will authorize the means of
preventing unintentional actuation.. Additional packaging performance requirements may be specified in
an approval, especially if transportation by aircraft is authorized.
If this office can be of any further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172.101/0)
000095

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Edward T. Mazzullo
Director Office of Hazardous Material Standards
U.S. DOT RSPA (DHM-10)
400 7* Street Southwest
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
We were informed per our telephone conversation with the DOT Hotline that it is
acceptable to test boxes intended for the purpose of shipping oxygen generators with
mock-ups (dummys) rather than the actual generator. There is some concern with the
legitimacy of this test since there could be no way of knowing if the generators fired
using mock-ups.
The seriousness of this test dictates that we request a written response concerning this
issue before we feel we can proceed with this testing. Thank you for your timely
cooperation in this matter.
If you should have any questions concerning this request, please feel free to contact us
at (412) 922-4000.
Sincerely,
Professional Service Industries, Inc.
I. heat birdeff
R. Scott Bischoff
Lab Technician, Special Test
Manager, Electrical/Special Test
Professional Service Industries, Inc. • 850 Poplar Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15220 • Phone 412/922-4010 • Fax 412/922-4014
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