{"operation":"document","citation":"00-0159","title":"Compliance and Response Management — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2000-08-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"00-0159 response to Compliance and Response Management concerning 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0159.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0159.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0159","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000159.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nAUG 1 5 2000\nMr. Henry Renfrew\nRef. No. 00-0159\nCompliance and Response Management\n25 Audette Drive\nWallingford, CT 06492\nDear Mr. Renfrew:\nThis is in response to your letter dated May 12, 2000, requesting assistance in selecting an appropriate\nproper shipping name and packaging requirements for a mixture of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG),\n80% Butane and 20% Isobutane (which are expelled from 2Q inner containers, 8 oz. - 227 gm, and\nused for heat/flame in small portable cooking appliances), under the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). The 2Q inner containers are packaged in an outer packaging\ncontaining approximately 12 cans. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows:\nQ1. Are the following descriptions the preferred or appropriate proper shipping name(s) for LPG\ncontaining 80% Butane and 20% Isobutane: \"Petroleum gases\", \" Liquefied petroleum gas\";\nor \"Liquefied petroleum gases\"?\nA1.\nWhen a material is not specifically listed by name in the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table\n(§ 172.101 HMT), selection of a proper shipping name must be made from the general\ndescription entries corresponding to the specific hazard class, packing group, and subsidiary\nhazards of the material. In accordance with the § 172.101 HMT, the most appropriate proper\nshipping name(s) for the LPG blend would be: \"Petroleum gases, liquefied\" or \"Liquefied\npetroleum gas\" or \" gases\". Proper shipping names may be used in either the singular or plural\n(see § 172.101(c)(1) and (12)).\nQ2.\nCan the \"Aerosols\" description in the § 172.101 HMT be used for the LPG blend (expelled as\na vapor from the container) and shipped under the limited quantity exceptions in\n§ 173.306(a)(3) when it originates and is distributed in the United States by highway?\nA2.\nNo. The exception in § 173.306(a)(3) is limited to aerosol containers not exceeding one liter\ncapacity in which one or more gases are used to expel other material that is a liquid, paste or\npowder. A liquefied compressed gas (e.g., LPG blend) packaged without a liquid, paste, or\npowder in the container, is not eligible for the exception, and may not be described under the\n\"Aerosols\" description when shipped solely in domestic transportation by highway or rail.\n000159\n3\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n•\nFor aircraft and vessel shipments, except as provided for limited quantities of compressed gases\nin containers of not more than 4 fluid ounces capacity under § 173.306(a)(1), aerosols must\nmeet the definition for \"Aerosol\" in § 171.8 (See §§ 171.11(d)(14) and 171.12(b)(17)).\nQ3.\nAre the packagings in § 173.304(d)(3)(ii) acceptable for the LPG blend (packaged in inner 2Q\ncontainers having less than a maximum capacity of 31.83 cubic inches and less than the\nmaximum charging pressure of 45 p.s.i.g. at 70 degrees F. and 105 p.s.i.g. at 130 degrees F.)?\nA3.\nThe containers in § 173.304(d)(3)(ii) are authorized for the LPG blend and may be used within\nthe limits of quantity and pressures specified in the table shown in this paragraph. Such\ncontainers must be equipped with safety relief devices which will prevent rupture of the\ncontainers and dangerous projection of the closing devices when the containers are exposed to\nthe action of fire.\nI hope this satisfies you inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nDuhan Ho'llings\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Refrew. EMall hrenfrew@aol.com Fax: 203-284-2675 Voice: 203-265-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzullo, Director\nPage 1 of 6 Monday, May 22, 2000 10:48:15 AM\nHenry Renfrew\nCompliance and Response Management\n25 Audette Drive Wallingford, Connecticut 06492\nPhone (203) 265-7511 Fax (203) 284-2675\nEmail hrenfrew@aol.com\nMay 12, 2000\nEngrum\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n$173.22\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nOffice of Hazardous Material Safety\n00 - 0159\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10)\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20690-0001\nRef: Proper Shipping Name and Packaging Requirements\nLP Gas Blend (Butane and Isobutane) - Expelling Vapor - 2Q container\nDear Director Mazzullo:\nThe purpose of this letter is to request assistance from DOT RSPA in determining\n(1)\nthe preferred proper shipping name, per 172.101(a), and\n(2) packaging requirements, per 173\nfor a mixture or blend of two liquefied petroleum gases containing approximately\n80% Butane and 20% Isobutane in 2Q containers with a relief device (8 oz - 227 gm\naverage). The LP-Gases vapors in the containers are expelled and used for heat /\nflame in small portable cooking appliances. These containers are usually\npackaged in outer packaging containing approximately 12 cans or containers.\n(1) PROPER SHIPPING NAME\nBoth Butane and Isobutane are listed in the Table and both contain the phrase see\nalso Petroleum gases, liquefied\nPackaging 173*\nHaz Mat Description and\nHC\nID#\nSpecial\nException\nNonbulk\nProper Shipping Name\nProvision\n2\n3\n4\n7\n8A\n8B\nButane, see also\n21\nUN1011\n19\n306\n304\nPetroleum gases,\nliquefied\nIsobutane, see also\n2.1\nUN1969\n19\n306\n304\nPetroleum gases,\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 1\n-\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Restrew, EMal hrentrew@aol.com Fax 203284-2675 Voice: 203-265-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzullo, Director\nPage 2 0f6 Monday, May 22, 2000 10:49:20 AM\n:\n•\nH. Renfrew Letter to DOT RSPS Dated May 12, 2000\nliquefied\nThe entry in the table for Petroleum gases, liquefied is:\nPackaging 173*\nHaz Mat Description and\nSpecial\nException\nNonbulk\nProper Shipping Name\nProvision\n2\n3\n4\n7\n8A\nPetroleum gases,\n2.1\nUN1075\n306\n304\nliquefied or Liquefied\npetroleum gas\nIn trying to determine the most appropriate shipping description, the following\nProper Shipping Names (PSNs) were also considered and rejected.\nPSNs from HM Table\nRejected / Reason\nFlammable compressed gas, see\nRefers you to Liquefied gas\nCompressed or Liquefied gas, flammable,\netc.\nLiquefied gas, flammable, n.o.s.\nPSN - Petroleum gases, liquefied or\nLiquefied petroleum gas is more specific\n(See Table)\nFlammable compressed gas (small\nNot sure what the meaning of\nreceptacles not fitted with a dispersion\n\"dispersion device is.\ndevice, not refillable), See Receptacles, etc.\nSee comment Receptacles\nReceptacle, small, containing gas (gas\nBy design, the 2Q containers have a\ncartridges) flammable, without release\nsafety relief device per 173.304 (d)(i)\ndevice, non refillable and not exceed 1 L\nNote 2. Rejected because of the release\ncapacity\ndevice.\nPSN \"Butane\". - Comment: 172.101(c)(14) states \"A proper shipping name that\ndescribes all isomers of a material may be used to identify any isomer of that material if the\nisomer meets criteria for the same hazard class or division, subsidiary risks) and packing\ngroup, unless the isomer is specifically identified in the Table\". Because Isobutane is listed\nin the table, 172.101 (c)(14) prohibits using just \"Butane\" as a shipping name.\nPSN \"Butane Mixture or Solution\" - Comment: Section 172.101 (c)(10)(ii) addresses\nmixtures or solution with two or more hazardous materials in the same hazard class\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 2\n-\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Rentrew. EMail hrentrew@aol.com Fax 203-284-2675 Volce: 203-255-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzullo, Director\nPage 3016 Monday. May 22, 2000 10:49:59 AM\nH. Renfrew Letter to DOT RSPS Dated May 12, 2000\nrequiring use of the most appropriate shipping description. Butane and Isobutane are both\nHazard Class 2.1.\nMost appropriate Proper Shipping Name\nWith both Butane and Isobutane in the HM Table, referring the user to \"Petroleum gases,\nliquefied\", it would appear that this entry in the table is the most appropriate or would be\nDOT's preferred proper shipping name per Section 172.101 (c)(10)iii).\nPackaging 173*\nHaz Mat Description and\nHC\nID #\nSpecial\nException\nNonbulk\nProper Shipping Name\nProvision\n2\n3\n4\n7\n8A\nPetroleum gases,\n2.1\nUN1075\n306\n304\nliquefied or Liquefied\npetroleum gas\nIt is unclear if this entry is intended to represent a mixture or solution of two LP-Gases.\nHowever, 172.101(e)(1) states the proper shipping name may be used in the singular or\nplural.\n172.101(c)(10)(iii) states that additional information from subparts C and D (technical\nnames of at least two components most predominately contributing to the hazards) may be\nrequired for mixtures or solutions. Per 172.203(k)(1) \"containing Butane and Isobutane\"\nwould be required as part of the proper shipping name, however, per 172.203(k)(iii) Butane\nand Isobutane would not be required as part of the PSN if LP-Gases was considered by\nDOT as the name of the \"Chemical Element or Group\" which is primarily responsible for\nthe material being included in the hazard class.\nThe National Fire Protection Association Standard NFPA 58 entitled the \"LP-Gas Code\"\ndated 1998 defines Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LP-Gas) as \"Any Material having a vapor\npressure not exceeding that allowed for commercial propane composed predominantly of\nthe following hydrocarbons, either by themselves or as mixtures: propane, propylene,\nbutane (normal butane or isobutane), and butylenes\".\nQuestions #1\nTherefore, based on the requirement in 172.101(a) to determine the preferred\nproper shipping name, I am asking DOT if based on the above information\nregarding this blend of LP-Gases, if the following proper shipping names are in\nfact the DOT preferred proper shipping names:\nPetroleum gases, or\nLiquefied petroleum gas, or\nLiquefied petroleum gases (plural per 172.101(e)(1))\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 3\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Rentrew, EMall hrentrew@aol.com Fax 203284-2675 Voice: 203-265-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzullo, Director\nPage 1 of 6 Monday, May 22, 2000 10:50:42 AM\nH. Renfrew Letter to DOT RSPS Dated May 12, 2000\nappropriate and acceptable to DOT.\nIf the above shipping names are not, what other proper shipping name(s) would be\n(2)\nPACKING REQUIREMENTS\nPackaging 173*\nHaz Mat Description and\nHC\nID#\nSpecial\nException\nNonbulk\nProper Shipping Name\nProvision\n2\n3\n4\n7\n8A\n8B\nButane, see also\n2.1\nUN1011\n19\n306\n304\nPetroleum gases,\nliquefied\nIsobutane, see also\n2.1\nUN1969\n19\n306\n304\nliquefied\nPetroleum gases,\n:\nPetroleum gases,\n21\nUN1075\n306\n304\nliquefied or Liquefied\npetroleum gas\nPACKING EXCEPTION - 49 CFR 173.306\nLimited quantities of compressed\ngases.\nThe Haz Mat Table for all three entries refers the user to 173.306 for Packaging\nexceptions\nBased on a review of the 173.306, this mixture or solution appears to not qualify for any of\nthese exceptions.\nSpecifically, 173.06(a)(3) applies only to expelling liquid, paste or powder. See DOT letter\nfrom Director Mazzullo to a Mr. Shaw of Claire Manufacturing Company (pdf file 07701)\ndated May 18, 1995 which states -\n\"this exception was never intended to address one or more gases packaged by\nthemselves. For a given container size, liquefied gases packaged by themselves would\npose greater stored energy and, when flammable, a greater fire risk than smaller volume of\ngases used to expel a liquid, paste or solid. Liquefied compressed gases (see 173.115(e)\nare not \"liquids\" for purposes of paragraph 173.306(a)(3) exception, regardless of the fact\nthat they may be present in both a gaseous and liquid phase when contained under\npressure. A compressed or liquefied gas, packaged without a liquid, paste or powder in the\ncontainer, is not eligible for this exception\"\nPlease Note: I was recently informed that the ICAO and/or IMDG includes GASES being\nexpelled in addition to liquid, paste and solids and therefore international shipments would\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 4\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Renfrew, EMall hrenfrew@aol.com Fax 203-284-2675 Voice: 203-265-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzullo. Director\nPage 5 of Monday, May 22, 2000 10.51:22 AM\nH. Renfrew Letter to DOT RSPS Dated May 12, 2000\napparently qualify under some condition for and be considered Aerosols whereas domestic\nInternational shipments into the United States under the Aerosol definition can be shipped\nshipments can not use 173.306(a)(3) because \"gases\" is not included. Apparently,\nto their final destination via ground transportation and warehoused. When these\n\"packages\" using the Aerosol Shipping Name are warehoused and then shipped\ndomestically to users, the Aerosol Shipping Name can not be used for domestic highway\nshipment.\nQuestions #2\nTherefore, based on these 2Q containers expelling an LP-Gas blend as vapor, I am\nasking DOT if domestic highway shipments originating and distributed within the\nUnited States can use the Aerosol shipping name and qualify for 173.306.\nPACKING NONBULK - 49 CFR 173.304\nCharging of cylinders with liquefied\ncompressed gas.\nBased on filling density, other chemical properties and pressure of the LP-Gas blend\nsection (d)(3)(ii) of 173.304 applies:\n173.304(d) Requirements for liquefied petroleum gas.\n(3)\nLiquefied petroleum gas must be shipped in specification containers\nas follows:\n(i)\nAdditional containers may be used within the limits of quantity\nand pressure as follows:\nMaximum capacity\nType of container\nCubic\nGallons\nMaximum charging pressure-p.s.i.g.\ninches\nDOT-2P or DOT-2Q 31.83\n45 p.sig. at 70° F. and 105 p. sig. at 130°\n(see Note 1)\nF. (see Note 2).\nNote 1: Containers must be packed in strong wooden or fiber boxes of such design as to\nprotect valves from injury or accidental functioning under conditions incident to\ntransportation. Each completed container filled for shipment must have been heated until\ncontents reached a minimum temperature of 130° F., without evidence of leakage,\ndistortion, or other defect. Each outside shipping container must be plainly marked\n\"INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED SPECIFICATIONS.\"\nNote 2: Containers must be equipped with safety relief devices which will prevent rupture\nof the containers and dangerous projection of the closing devices when the containers are\nexposed to the action of fire.\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 5\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nFrom: Henry Reptrew, Email hrentrew@aol.com Fax 203-284-2675 Voice: 203-265-7511 at DOT RSPA Haz Mat Standards To: Ed Muzzulfo. Director\nPage 6 o1 6 Monday. May 22, 2000 10:52:04 AM\nH. Renfrew Letter to DOT RSPS Dated May 12, 2000\nQuestions #3\ninches and less than the maximum charging pressure - p.s.i.g. in the table above, I\nTherefore, based on a LP-Gas blend in fhese 2Q containers less than 31.83 cubic\nam asking DOT if the packaging requirements are in fact 173.304(d)(3)(ii).\nIf closing, 1 am asking for help from DOT in answering these three important\ntechnical information in order to answer these questions, please feel free to\nquestions to ensure compliance with DOT regulations. If you need any general or\ncontact me by phone, fax or email.\nSincerely,\nHenry Reufsca\nHenry Renfrew\nDO00512.DOC\nPage 6","truncated":false,"body_characters":14902}