{"operation":"document","citation":"05-0281","title":"Shindaiwa, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2005-11-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"05-0281 response to Shindaiwa, Inc. concerning 173.220.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0281.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0281.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0281","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050281.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nPipeline and\nAdministration\nHazardous Materials Safety\nNOV 30 2005\nMr. Dennis Stauch\nRef. No.: 05-0281\nVice President of Engineering and Manufacturing\nShindaiwa, Inc.\nTualatin, OR 97062\n11975 S. W. Herman Road\nDear Mr. Stauch:\nThis is in response to your letter and subsequent telephone conversation with Ben Supko of\nmy staff concerning the regulation of outdoor power equipment containing two and four\ncycle single cylinder internal combustion engines under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nYou state that before these products are shipped, they are tested by starting the engines using\na fuel line directly inserted into the carburetor, bypassing the fuel tank. After confirmation\nthat the engine is operating properly, the fuel line is disconnected and the engine runs until\nall the fuel is consumed and the engine stops. You indicate that this method of emptying and\npurging the fuel system meets the requirements in § 173.220(a)(1).\nAn engine may be considered empty if the fuel tank, lines, and engine components have\nbeen drained, sufficiently cleaned of residue, and purged of vapors to remove any potential\nhazard. While it is the responsibility of the shipper to properly classify their materials for\ntransportation, it is the opinion of this Office that the methods you employ sufficiently clean\nand purge the engines and remove any potential hazards, thus meeting the requirements in\n§ 173.220(a)(1) to be considered empty.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n173:220 (a)(2)\n050281\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nNov. 3. 2005\n8: 38AM\nShindaiwa\nNo. 2758 P. 2\nShindaiwa Inc.\nTualatin, Oregon 97062\n11975 S.W. Herman Road\nFAX\nVoice 503 692-3070\nIntemet www.shindaiwa.com\n503 692-6696\nSupko\n$173.220 (a)(1)\nNovember 3, 2005\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nEngines\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\n15-0281\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n400 7' Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C., 20590-0001\nPhone: 1-800-467-4922\nFax: 1-202-366-3012\nshindaiwa\nRe: Air Transport of two cycle and single cylinder 4 stroke engines\nDear Sir:\nShindaiwa Inc. is a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, i.e., grass trimmers,\nbackpack & handheld leaf blowers, chain saws, hedge trimmers, etc. Cur products are\npowered by two-cycle and 4-cycle single cylinder internal combustion engines, which\nare fueled by 50:1 gas/oil mixture. We have been manufacturing and distributing these\nproducts for 25 years.\nWe have been given verbal opinions that our equipment is hazardous and should be\nclassified as a potential hazard for air shipment. We certainly wish to comply with all\ntransport regulations. It is our interpretation that Shindaiwa equipment is not a\npotential hazard and would appreciate your interpretation.\nOur manufacturing process includes testing/starting of each engine from the\nproduction line. At no time during these test procedures is any fuel/oil mix put into the\ngas tank. The engine testing is accomplished by:\n1. Inserting a fuel line directly to the engine carburetor or fuel line leading to the\ncarburetor bypassing the fuel tank.\n2.\nIntroducing fuel to the carburetor\n3. Pulling the starter cord, which starts the engine.\n4. Run the engine for less than 5 minutes.\n5. Stop the engine\n6. Disconnect the external fuel line to the carburetor.\n7. Pull the starter cord which starts the engine.\n8. Run the engine (less than 5 minutes) until all the fuel has been consumed and\nthe engine stops.\nWe have researched the federal regulations regarding shipment of hazardous materials,\nHMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180, section 173.220 (a) (1). This appears to be the current\npertinent regulation.\nFile: shipping classification 05_11_03\nPage 1 of 2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nNov. 3. 2005\n8:39 AM\nShindaiwa\nNo. 2758 P. 3\nShindaiwa Inc.\nTualatin, Oregon 97062\n11975 S.W. Herman Road\nVoice 50S 692-3070\nInternet\nFAX\nwww.shindaiwa.com\n503 692-6696\nWe have also researched the DOT web site and have noted that one of our competitors\nin this industry (Echo Inc.) communicated with DOT on this subject matter early in\n2000 (ref. No. 00-0030) and again in 2004 (ref. No. 04-0076). Finally, we have\nreviewed the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 2005 and our interpretation\nindicates that the federal and IATA regulation are similar in regards to this subject.\nWe would appreciate a written opinion regarding shipping classification and\nrequirements based on the information given above.\nshindaiwa\nThank you in advance for looking into this matter and for your response.\nRegards,\nDu Stamo\nDennis Stauch\nVice President of Engineering and Manufacturing\nCo: Sue Turner, Logistics Manager\nFile: shipping classification 05_11_03\nPago 2 of 2\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nNov. 3. 2005 8:38AM\nShindaiwa\nNo. 2758 P. 1\nShindaiwa Inc.\nTualatin, Oregon 97062\n11975 S.W. Herman Road\nVoice 503692-3070\nInternet www.shindaiwa.com\nFAX\n503 692-6696\nVIA FAX\nNovember 3, 2005\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nPhone: 1-800-467-4922\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nFax:1-202-366-3012\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n400 7' Street S.W.\nshindaiwa\nWashington, D.C., 20590-000\nRe: Shindaiwa request for interpretation, Air Transport of two cycle and\nsingle cylinder 4 stroke engines\nDear Sir:\nToday we had a brief phone conversation with Jessica in regards to how to submit\na request for interpretation. Per her suggestion please refer to the 2 page memo\nattached to this cover letter.\nIf there is any other information we can provide please do not hesitate to contact\nus. We look forward to your quick response.\nRegards,\nDi Stoo\nDennis Stauch\nVice President of Engineering\nAttachment: shipping classification OS_11_03\nFile: DOT fax cover letter OS_11_03\nPage 1 of 1","truncated":false,"body_characters":5753}