{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0052","title":"B Way Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2001-02-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0052 response to B Way Corporation concerning 178.603.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0052.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0052.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0052","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010052.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nor ansporation\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nresearch and\nAdministration\npecial Program\nFEB 2 8 2001\nMr. Erik Martinsen\nRef. No: 01-0052\nTechnical Service Engineer\nB Way Corporation\nP.O. Box 336\nHomerville, GA 31634\nDear Mr. Martinsen:\nThis is in response to your February 15, 2001 letter requesting clarification on the package testing\nrequirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically\nyou ask whether it is necessary to physically vent a packaging to reach equilibrium after performing\nthe drop test prescribed in § 178.603.\nThe answer is no. It is not necessary to physically vent a packaging to reach equilibrium. However,\nbefore it can be ascertained whether the packaging passed or failed the drop test the packaging must\nreach equilibrium (see § 178.603(Đ)(1)).\nI hope this information is helpful.\nSincerely,\nfor John A. Gale\nTransportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n010052\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nB'way Corporation\nFebruary 15, 2001\nLavalle\nJeff Furr\nUS DOT\nfax: (202) 3663012\n$178.603\nre: UN/POP Drop Test Procedure\nTesting\nDear Mr. Furr:\n01-0052\nAs we discussed on the telephone, attached is a letter of interpretation from RSP A to\nCleveland Steel Container Corp. dated August 24, 1993. The letter was found at\nLabelmaster Corporation's 49Online website in the DOT Letters of Interpretation section.\nQuestion and answer two are about the criteria for passing the UN/POP drop test as\nspecified in 49CFR 178.603(f)(1). The answer states that after the drop test is done \"it is\nnot necessary to physically vent packaging to achieve equilibrium.\" We understand this\nto mean that after the drop test the package must be inspected. If there is no sign of\nleakage the package is deemed to have passed the drop test.\nThis interpretation appears to be reasonable to us since we understand that the UN/POP\ndrop test is intended to simulate what would happen in a real world shipping\nenvironment. In that context we believe the package would not be vented after being\ndropped, but would continue enroute to it's ultimate customer in this dented but non-\nleaking state. Is this a current and accurate interpretation?\nYour help will be appreciated in resolving this matter for us so that we can provide the\nmost cost-effective packaging for our customers while complying with the letter and\nintent of 49CFR.\nErik Martingen\nTechnical Service Engineer\nattachment: CSC Corp. Letter Dated 3/16/93\nUS DOT Response Dated 8/24/93\nHIGHWAY 84 WEST - P.O. BOX 336 - HOMERVILLE, GEORGIA 31634 - TEL. 912 487 4000 - FAX 912 487 4010\nDrop Test Reg Jeff Fur 2-15.01. doo","truncated":false,"body_characters":2655}