# Ocenco Incorporated — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 04-0042
- **title:** Ocenco Incorporated — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2004-05-26
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 04-0042 response to Ocenco Incorporated concerning 173.29.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0042.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0042.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0042
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040042.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Special Programs
Research and
Washington, D.C. 20590
Administration
MAY 26 2004
Mr. Michael B. Kay
Ocenco Incorporated
Ref. No. 04-0042
LakeView Corporate Park
10225 82nd Avenue
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158-5801
Dear Mr. Kay:
This is in response to your February 26, 2004, letter regarding
CFR Parts 171-180) to a used breathing apparatus.
the applicability the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
information provided,
each apparatus contains a cylinder of
Based on the
compressed oxygen and
used, the pressure of the oxygen is less than 40 psia and the
a scrubber with lithium hydroxide.
Once
scrubber is filled with non-hazardous material.
you ask if your package containing the described used breathing
Specifically,
and therefore not subject to the HMR.
apparatus would be considered empty as specified in $ 173.29(b)
containing non-pressurized oxygen and a non-hazardous material
The answer is yes:
Your package of a used breathing apparatus
would be considered empty as specified in § 173.29 (b).
Therefore, it is not subject to the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Standards Development
040042
173.29

<<<PAGE 2>>>

LakeView Corporate Park
ocenco
10225 82nd Avenue
I CORP
Pleasant Prairie, WI
53158-5801
U.S.A.
Phone: (262) 947-9000
February 26, 2004
BAH
Fax: (262) 947-9020
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
3173.29
U.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Empty Packagings
400 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
04-0048
Dear Mr. Mazullo,
Ocenco Incorporated requests DOT interpretation of 49CFR, 173.29 (b) in regards to
transporting used breathing apparatus as non-hazardous material.
We manufacture an emergency escape breathing apparatus containing a cylinder of
9, Lifesaving Appliance, not self-inflating, UN3072. This breathing apparatus is used
compressed oxygen and a lithium hydroxide scrubber, and ship the apparatus as a Class
predominately onboard naval and commercial vessels:
The apparatus are routinely used by our customers for training exercises and then
returned to Ocenco for refurbishment; the apparatus cannot.be cleaned and refilled by
and the lithium hydroxide granules have been converted to lithium carbonate by the users
the user. Once the apparatus is used, the oxygen cylinder pressure is reduced to zero
exhaled breath. Residual lithium hydroxide is contained inside a shell of lithium
(b) (iii) in that the packaging (the scrubber) is refilled with non-hazardous lithium
It is our position that the used breathing apparatus meet the conditions of section 173.29
and therefore is not subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. This position is
carbonate to the extent that the remaining lithium hydroxide no longer poses a hazard,
supported by the construction of the packaging that further mitigates potential hazards.
The scrubbing material is secured in a metal container that cannot be opened without
destroying the apparatus. The metal container is sealed in a ploy bag and packed in a
fiberboard inner and outer box.
not subject to the HMR. I thank you for your time in this matter, and please contact me if
Please let me know if your office agrees with our position that these used apparatus are
you have any questions.
miloky
Michael B. Kay
mikekay@ocenco.com
Engineering Manager
www.ocenco.com
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