# Seacon Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0032
- **title:** Seacon Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-03-10
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0032 response to Seacon Corporation concerning 172.101.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050032.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and
Administration
Hazardous Materials Safety
MAR 10 2005
Mr. Sean E. Condren
President
Ref. No. 05-0032
Seacon Corporation
525 N. Tryon St., Suite 1600
Charlotte, NC 28202
Dear Mr. Condren:
This is in response to your request for clarification concerning the applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to the domestic
transportation of "Azodicarbonamide," UN3242. Specifically, you ask whether your
material is regulated under the HMR. You state that the material has a self-accelerated
decomposition temperature (SADT) above 75 °C and does not meet the definition of
Division 4.1 or any other hazard class under the HMR.
In the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table, "Azodicarbonamide," UN3242 is assigned
Special Provision 38, which states that when the SADT of the technically pure substance
is higher than 75°C, the substance and formulations derived from it are not self-reactive,
and provided the material does not meet any other hazard class, it is not regulated under
the HMR. If these conditions are met, you are correct that your azodicarbonamide is not
regulated under the H.MR and, therefore, is not regulated for domestic transportation.
However, as also contained in Special Provision 38, if the azodicarbonamide shows a
violent effect during testing involving heating under confinement, the material is
regulated for domestic transportation and must be packaged in accordance with Packing
Method OP6 in § 173.225 and meet the labeling requirements in Special Provision 53.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office if we can be of further
assistance.
Sincerely,
Hitle 7. Mithill
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
172.101
050032

<<<PAGE 2>>>

FEB 09 2005 11:47AM
SEACON CORP
704-331-3921
p.2
SEACON
MInture
525 N. Tryon St.
Seacon Corporation
Suite 1600
CORPORATION
$172.101
(704) 331-3920
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 331-3921 fax
scan@scaconcorp.com
Applicability
Akron, OH 44301
1145 Highbrook Sc.
February 9, 2005
(330) 376-505:
05-0032
(330) 376-2888 fe
Director, Office of Hazardous Material Standards
Mr. Edward Mazzullo •
400 7* Street S.W.
U.S. D.O.T. / RSPA (DHM-10)
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re:
Azodicarbonamide / UN3242
Dear Director Mazullo:
Seacon Corporation imports Azodicarbonamide and ships this material to customers throughout
the U.S. This chemical is regulated as a 4.1 flammable solid by the IMDGC, and is also listed in
the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table as a 4.1 flammable solid. Special Provision 38,
and formulations derived from it are not self-reactive materials."
assigned to this entry, states that "if the SADT is higher than 75°C, the technically pure substance
these grades do not meet the definition of "Readily Combustible Solid," are not forbidden
All grades of azodicarbonamide Seacon ships in the U.S. have SADT above 75°C. Furthermore,
materials, and do not meet the definition of any other hazard class as prescribed in
§172.101(a)(12)(iv).
chemical name is listed in the HMR table and each carton we ship has a 4.1 label because of
Though we do not describe azodicarbonamide as a hazardous material on our shipping papers, the
IMDGC regulations. As you can imaginc, this contradiction creates confusion with our
customers, trucking companies, and warehouses.
azodicarbonamide with SADT above 75°C are non-hazardous? We would then use this letter to
Would your office please send Seacon a brief letter of clarification stating that shipments of
resolve any disputes that might arise.
Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or require additional information.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Cubanke
President
Sean E. Condren
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