# URS Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 01-0224
- **title:** URS Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2002-02-05
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 01-0224 response to URS Corporation concerning 172.102.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0224.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0224.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0224
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010224.pdf
**body:**

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Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
FEB - 5 2002
Mr. Andrew N. Romach
Regulatory Manager
Ref. No. 01-0224
URS Corporation
P.O. Box 13000
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Dear Mr. Romach:
This responds to your August 27, 2001 letter requesting clarification on the applicability of Special
Provision 110 in § 172.102 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HIMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180)
regarding your empty fire extinguisher. Specifically, you ask whether your empty fire extinguisher
which still contains the explosive actuating cartridge may be shipped as unregulated material under
Special Provision 110 in the HMR.
According to your letter your empty fire extinguisher was previously charged with a nonflammable,
nontoxic, noncorrosive material. However, the empty fire extinguisher still retains its originally installed
explosive actuating cartridge that allowed quick release of the fire extinguishing materials. The proper
shipping description "Fire extinguisher charges, expelling, explosive" refers you to "Cartridges, power
device" listed in the Hazardous Materials Table in § 172.101. Special Provision 110 in column (7) for
that description states that cartridges containing 3.2 grams or less of deflagrating (propellant) explosives
installed in a fire extinguisher are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter.
It is the opinion of this Office that the empty fire extinguisher with the explosive actuating cartridge
attached is regulated under the HMR as an explosive device, and, therefore, Special Provision 110
does not apply. Before being offered for transportation, the explosive actuating device must be
approved by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety as specified in $ 173.56. An
empty fire extinguisher with the explosive actuating cartridge removed is not subject to the HMR.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Dubmitzizo
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172.103
010224

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FROM: RADIAN INTERNATIONAL
FAX NO.:
9194611371
68-27-81 82:33P P.01
URS
Boothe
August 27, 2001
3173.302.
Applicability
01-02244
FAX: (202) 366-3012
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing to you to request a written regulatory interpretation concering the most appropriate
noncorrosive material, but now empty of its fire extinguishing materials and at atmospheric
hazard classification for a fire extinguisher, previously charged with a nonflammable, nontoxic,
pressure. The fire extinguisher still retains its originally installed actuating cartridge that allowed
quick relcase of the firc extinguishing materials.
"''Actrestos?"
In association with the proper shipping name "Fire Extinguisher" listed in the Hazardous Materials
Table in 49 CFR 173.101, Special Provision 110 in column (7) states that:
110
Cartridges containing 3.2 grams or less of deflagrating (propellant) explosives
installed in a fire extinguisher are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter.
Even though the fire extinguishor is now empty of its fire extinguishing material and no longer
meets the hazard criteria for a Division 2.2 compressed gas, would the fire extinguisher still be able
to take advantage of the exception in Special Provision 110 and be shipped as not subject to the
HAZMAT rogulations?
I appreciate your consideration of this matter.
Date?
Regulatory Manager
URS Corporation
P.O. Box 13000
URS Corporation
Research Triengle Park, NC 27709
Morrisville, NC 27560
1600 Perimeter Park Drive
Fax: 919.461.1415
Tel: 919.461.1100
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