# Spray Chem Chemical Company, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 02-0310
- **title:** Spray Chem Chemical Company, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-04-03
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 02-0310 response to Spray Chem Chemical Company, Inc. concerning 177.848.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020310.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
Research and
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W
Washington, D.C. 2059C
pecial Program
idministratio
APR -3 2003
Mr. Clifford L. Jacobson
Spray Chem Chemical Company, Inc.
Ref. No.: 02-0310
705 Keenan Court
Durham, CA 95938
Dear Mr. Clifford:
This responds to your letter regarding the proper segregation and separation of a Division 5.1 (oxidizer)
and a Class 8 (corrosive) liquid under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts
171-180). Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows:
Q1.
specified in § 177.848 of the HMR.
What is the definition of the term "separation" in the segregation and separation requirements
Al.
The term "separation" as it relates to the segregation of hazardous materials on a transport
vehicle or freight container is not defined in the HMR. Section 177.848(e)(3) states that
accordingly during the course of transportation separation may be accomplished by some
means of physical separation, such as non-permeable barriers, non-reactive freight, or non-
separated.
combustible, non-reactive absorbents between packages of hazardous materials required to be
Q2.
You asked if the following scenario would be considered proper separation?
A 330 gallon Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) containing 35% hydrogen
peroxide (Division 5.1) is loaded onto a van with 55-gallon drums or an IBC
containing Class 8 (corrosive) liquid. The IBC containing the Division 5.1
floor and has fork lift cut outs for loading and unloading. The 55-gallon drums
are elevated above the floor and placed on wooden or plastic pallets.
A2.
The answer is yes. The provisions for separation can be met by placing barriers (i.e.,
impediments, obstructions, dividers, packages of non-hazardous materials, or intervening
space) between packages inside of the transport vehicle or freight container that prevent
commingling of materials in the event of leakage from the packages (See § 177.848(e)(3)).
020310
177.848
tripsiman.

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Whether the frame of the IBC is elevated above the floor of the van, or the 55 gallon drums are on
met.
plastic or wooden pallets are not relevant in determining that the requirement for "separation" is being
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Division
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

FROM : SPRAY-CHEM,FAX (916)896-0147
PHONE NO. : 5308953658
Dec. 842002 18:459M 18:459MP1
Spray Chem
Engrum
Chemical Company, Inc.
/530. 895-3658 Fax 530 896-0147
.705 Keenan Court, Durham, CA 95938
311. 848
www.spraychem.com
segreytion
-
52-0310
' Doc 4, 2002
Edward Mazzullo
US DOT/RSPA "DHM 10"
Director: Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 7th. Street SW
Washington DC 20590
FAX 202 366-3012
Dear Mr. Mazzullo
I would like a formal interpretation of the following
1. What is the exact definition of the term "SEPARATION"
This would be when the term is used in the context of describing the separation required
between an oxidizer class 5.1 and a corrosive liquid.
2. If an IBC container, for example, a 330 gallon Snyder tote were filled with 35%
identical Snyder poly totes that were filled with a corrosive liquid would the following be
Hydrogen Peroxide (class 5.1) and was loaded onto a van with 55 gallon poly drums or :
• considered proper separation?
A The BC containers liner is elevated above the floor by the poly structure that houses
the liner.. This is basically the frame of the Snyder that has the fork lift cut outs for loading
and unloading.
B. The 55 gallon poly drums are elevated above the floor of the van by placement on
standard wooden pallets.
G. The IBC containing the 5.1 oxidizer and the Corrosive liquid IBC's and drums are
separated by distance by poly drums or IBC's containing non hazardous material between
them and the IBC containing the 5.1 Oxidizer.
3. Would it make any difference if the pallets were plastic pallets and not wooden?
4. If the fact that the pallets were wooden (a combustible material) were not considered
proper separation then would the floor of the van (also wood) be considered not proper..:
separation ?
5. Would the poly frame around the IBC that holds the liner from contact with the wooden
foor be considered proper separation from the floor and the poly drums on pallets?
Would the IBC setting ontop of a plastic pallet be considered separation from the wooden.
floor?

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FROM : SPRAY-CHEM, FAX ‹916>896-0147
PHONE NO. : 5308953658
Dec. 04. 2002 10:46AM F2
If not, then is it possible to transport the IBC, containing a 5.1 oxidizer in the same van
with liquid corrosives in poly drums or for that matter in the same van with other IBC."
containers that contain liquid corrosive material? If so, what would be the specific
separation requirement ?
Thank You for your time
Clifford L. Jacobson
705 Keenan Court
Spray Chem Corp.
: Durham, CA 95938
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