# Design & Product Development IDEO Chicago — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 03-0131
- **title:** Design & Product Development IDEO Chicago — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-08-12
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 03-0131 response to Design & Product Development IDEO Chicago concerning 173.124.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0131.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0131.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0131
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030131.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Speciai Programs
Administration
AUG 1 2 2003
Mr. Iain Roberts
Reference No. 03-0131
Design & Product Development
IDEO Chicago
630 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Dear Mr. Roberts:
This is in response to your May 20, 2003 letter, and the subsequent material safety data sheet and
test data asking if your company's prototype product (article) would be subject to the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You stated the article releases fragrance
when placed in a dispensing device with water.
You described the article as a 2.5-inch square, porous, non-woven fabric pouch filled with not
more than 8 grams of a powdered fragrance-magnesium mixture identified by testing as a
Division 4.3, PG I material. The mixture is composed of 4 grams of magnesium alloys powder,
4 grams of sodium chloride, and 1 gram of fragrance absorbed into 2 grams of inert material.
You stated each pouch will be placed inside a heat-sealed mylar foil laminate bag or other similar
foil material that is impervious to water, 4-6 pouches will be placed in one carton, and an
undetermined number of cartons will be placed in one outer packaging.
Based on the information you provided, it is our determination that the heat-sealed bag
containing 8 grams or less of the fragrance-magnesium mixture in the manner described is in a
quantity and form that does not pose a hazard in transportation and is not subject to the HMR,
regardless of the number of articles in a package. This determination does not apply to articles
shipped in another type of packaging or those containing more than 8 grams of the fragrance-
magnesium mixture, which must be shipped in conformance with the applicable requirements of
the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.124
030131

<<<PAGE 2>>>

IDEO Chicago
Edmonson
630 Davis Street
Design & Product Development
Evanston, Illinois 60201
3173-124
Tel: 847.425-6000
Fax: 847.425-6001
Class.
03-0131
May 20, 2003
Director - Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Edward Mazzullo
400 7* Street. S.W.
US Department of Transportation
Washington D.C. 20590
Fax (202) 366-3012
Dear Mr. Mazzulo,
the requirements for shipping a product that we are currently designing for our client.
A member of your staff has suggested that we send this letter to request clarification of
The product is a device that disperses fragrance and steam in a controlled manner when
the consumer activates the device. The device is activated by the addition of water.
composition is contained in a 2.5" square permeable pouch similar to a tea bag.
The magnesium alloy generates hydrogen gas in addition to heat. The four grams of
malicial setie foil bags to carboard bond to ship 4-6 pouches (each in their
I would appreciate your determination as to whether the above product is considered
Icgulated. Thank you in advance for your help in clarifying the shipping requirements.
Sincerely,
IDEO Chicago
dark
DE
630 Davis Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
lain Roberts
IDEO Product Development
Fax: 847.425.6001
Tel: 847.425.6013
iroberts@ideo.com
Engineering
lain Roberts
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 3289
