# Bécancour Silicon Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 04-0110
- **title:** Bécancour Silicon Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2004-06-10
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 04-0110 response to Bécancour Silicon Inc. concerning 173.124.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0110
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040110.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
JUN 1 O 2004
René Boisvert, Eng.
Reference No.: 04-0110
Vice President-Operations & Technology
6500, rue Yvon-Trudeau
Bécancour Silicon Inc.
Becancour (Québec)
G9H 2V8 Canada
Dear Mr. Boisvert:
This is in response to your letter regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to ferrosilicon with between 30 and 90 percent
silicon. You enclosed test results of a sample product with 75% ferrosilicon. The sample was
tested in accordance with the test method described in the United Nations Manual of Tests and
Criteria and found not to meet the definition of a Division 4.3 (Dangerous When Wet) material.
As provided in § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous
material. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this Office. However, if the
ferrosilicon produced by your company is the same material that was tested and determined not
to meet the Division 4.3 criteria, it is not subject to the HMR.
I trust this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Hothe z. nitthell
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
113.124
040110

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Corbin
$173,124
classification
04-0|10
April 14, 2004
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
400, Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Sir or Madam:
My company, Becancour Silicon Inc., is currently producing Ferrosilicon with between 30
and 90 percent silicon.
Andrew S. McCreath & Son Inc. tested our product in accordance with UN Manual of
Tests and Criteria 173.124 and found it does not meet the definition of a Division 4.3
(Dangerous When Wet) material.
Becancour Silicon Inc. requests that the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards grant
it a letter similar to those granted to its competitors which classifies Becancour Silicon Inc. 30%
to 90% silicon content ferrosilicon as not being subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Pané Bowent ay.
RB/jd
Vice-President - Operations & Technology
René Boisvert, Eng.
Attachment : Certificate of Assay
Phone: (819) 294-6000, poste 256
rboisvert@silbec.com
Fax: (819) 294-6227
500 c0= 2vc0:2d:*
292278

<<<PAGE 3>>>

04/14/2004 11:37
17172384843
MCCREATH
PAGE
04/05
610 Willow Street
Andrew S. Mebreath & Son, Ine.
P.D. Box 1453
Telephone: (717) 238-9331
Harrisburg, PA 17105-1453
ANALYTICAL AND CONSULTING CHEMISTS
Telex: 84-2321
Fax: (717) 238-4843
April 14, 2004
Silicium Becancour Inc.
6500 rue Yvon-Trudeau
Becancour (Quebec), Canada, G9H ZV8
Gentlemen:
•
The sample received from you on April 6, 2004, marked: FeSi 75% Si, Grade 5211, was
tested in accordance with UN Manual of Tests and Criteria 173.124 (Dangerous when
wet material). Results are as follows:
Spontaneous Ignition Test
Division 4.3 a (1)
No Spontaneous Ignition
Division 4.3 a (2)
No Spontaneous Ignition
Division 4.3 a (3)
No Spontaneous Ignition
Gas Eyolution Measurement
Total volume in Ml each hour.
Time Interval
Test 1
Test 2
Iest3
I Hour
1.50 MI
1.50 MI
1.25 MI
2 Hour
1.75 MI
1.50 MI
1.50 MI
3 Hour
2.00 MI
2.00 MI
2.10 MI
4 Hour
2.50 MI
2.75 Ml
3.10 MI
5 Hour
3.30 MI
3.80 MI
3.50 MI
6 Hour
3.60 MI
3.85 Ml
3.90 MI
7 Hour
3.80 MI
4.00 MI
4.10 MI
Total
3.80 MI
4.00 MI
4.10 MI

<<<PAGE 4>>>

. 84/14/2004
11:37
17172384843
MCCREATH
PAGE
05/05
Page No. 2
DOT Test
Grade 5211
..:
Maximum Rate - 0.060 liter/hour/kilogram
Average Rate - 0.023 liter/hour/kilogram
Yours very truly,
ANDREW S. MCCREATH & SON, INC.
Lenge Tingles
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