{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0218","title":"First Alert BRK Brands, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-10-23","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0218 response to First Alert BRK Brands, Inc. concerning 173.309.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0218.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0218.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0218","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080218.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMr. Brian J. Strasma\nFirst Alert BRK Brands, Inc.\n3901 Liberty Street Road\nAurora, IL 60504-8 122\nRef. No. 08-0218\nDear Mr. Strasma:\nThis responds to your August 14, 2008 letter and follow-up telephone discussions requesting\nclarification of the exceptions for non-specification cylinder fire extinguishers shipped in\nconformance with 4 173.309(a) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\nParts 17 1 - 180). You also request clarification of the marking requirements for different\npackaging configurations of these fire extinguishers.\nYou describe two packaging configurations in which fire extinguishers are packaged in\n4-color inner packagings (i.e., consumer packaging) and then placed in a master carton at 2-6\nfire extinguishers per carton or in a larger display pallet. You indicate the master cartons and\ndisplay pallet are marked \"Fire extinguishers, UN 1044, Limited Quantity\" and no labels are\napplied. You also provided us with pictures illustrating the packaging configurations. The\npictures included a packaging configuration consisting of the consumer packaging stacked\nand shrink-wrapped to a pallet without markings or labels.\nThe descriptions and pictures of packaging configurations are summarized as follows:\nConfi~uration 1: The fire extinguishers are placed in consumer packaging and\npackaged in a corrugated cardboard box shrink-wrapped to a pallet (i.e., a display\npallet). The consumer packaging is not marked and the display pallet is marked \"Fire\nextinguishers, UN1044, Limited Quantity.\" No label.\nConfiguration 2: The fire extinguishers are placed in consumer packaging, packaged\nin a \"master carton\" at 2-6 fire extinguishers per carton, and then shrink-wrapped to a\npallet. The consumer packaging is not marked and each carton is marked \"Fire\nextinguishers, W-1044, Limited Quantity.\" No labels.\nYour understanding of the exceptions provided in 4 173.309(a) is correct. Non-specification\ncylinders used as fire extinguishers and designed, manufactured, and filled in conformance\nwith 4 173.309(a) are not subject to the labeling or placarding requirements of Part 172 of the\nHMR. Therefore, no label is required on the outer packaging for either configuration.\n\n<<>>\n\nYour understanding of the marking requirements for the display pallet and master cartons is\nalso correct except that you are not required to mark the outer packagings with \"limited\nquantity.\" As a condition of the exceptions provided under 5 173.309(a), each fire\nextinguisher must be shipped as an inner packaging of a combination packaging. It is the\nopinion of this Office that for both configurations, the combination of the fire extinguisher\nand consumer packaging may be considered the \"inner packaging.\" Inner packagings of\ncombination packagings are not required to be marked. Therefore, the display pallet and\nmaster cartons are required to be marked with the proper shipping name \"Fire extinguishers\"\nand the identification number \"UN 1044\" and the \"inner\" consumer packagings are not\nrequired to be marked. Note that for the configuration of consumer packages shrink-wrapped\nto a pallet without an outer package, the fire extinguisher is the \"inner package\" and the\nconsumer packaging is the outer package and must be marked accordingly if intended for\nshipment.\nWith regard to whether your drivers need a commercial driver's license (CDL) with a\nhazardous materials endorsement, the answer is no. It is our understanding that, since fire\nextinguishers transported in conformance with !j 173.309(a) are not subject to placarding\nrequirements, a hazardous material endorsement is not required. Please consult the Federal\nMotor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 300-399) for more detailed information on\nCDL requirements.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\nSincerely,\n'A'\nSusan Gorsky\nActing chief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<>>\n\nBRK Brands, Inc. 3901 Liberty Street Rd. Aurora Illinois 60504-8122\nTel: 630.851.7330 Fax: 630.851.8205\nAugust 14,2008\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nDirector of Hazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. DOTIPHMSA (PHH- 10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nReference: Request for Interpretation of 49 CFR tj 173.309 Fire Extinguishers\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nBRK Brands, Inc. (\"BRK\") designs, manufactures, packages and distributes fire extinguishers\nthat meet each of the conditions in 49 CFR tj 173.309. Under this provision, such fire\nextinguishers,\n\"are excepted from labeling (except when offered for transportation by air) ... In addition,\nshipments are not subject to subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this\nsubchapter except Sec. 174.24 or to part 177 of this subchapter except Sec. 177.817.\"\nDespite the language contained in 49 CFR § 173.309 BRK has been requested to provide\nlabeling, placarding and CDL drivers with hazmat endorsements. In addition BRK has been told\nby a third party that it is required to mark the proper shipping name and \"limited quantity\"\nexception on each inner packaging as well as on the external shipping packaging. This appears\nto be contrary to the requirements of 49 CFR tj 172.30 1.\nBRK's fire extinguishers are packaged in 4-color inner packaging (as defined in 49 CFR 5 171.8)\nand shipped in master cartons of 2 -6 units each or larger displayer pallets. The master cartons\nand displayer pallets are marked as required by 49 CFR $ 172.301 with the proper shipping\nname, \"Fire extinguishers, UN 1044, Limited Quantity.'' Division 2.2 non-flammable gas labels\nare not applied.\nWe are requesting confirmation of our interpretation of the following issues:\nFire extinguishers that comply with 173.309 are excepted from labeling requirements in Part\n172;\nFire extinguishers that comply with 173.309 are not subject to subpart F of part 172 and\ntherefore do not require placards, and;\n\n<<>>\n\nSince fire extinguishers compliant with 173.309 do not require placards, CLD drivers, are not\nrequired to have hazardous materials endorsements on their CDL drivers licenses\nProvided that the proper shipping name and the \"limited quantity\" exception is marked on the\nexternal master package or displayer pallet, it is not required to be also marked on each\n\"inner packaging.\"\nSincerely,\nBrian J. Strasma\nVice President, Finance and Operations\n\n<<>>\n\nPALLET\nOF INNEK\n0008\nARE EXTiNGUISHERS,\nLIMITED QUANTITY.\n27 UH1044,\ndouble wal/outer carton\nPKOD FEIAIGIIS\n\n<<>>\n\nEXTINGUISHER\nFIRE\nFIrst Als\nMULA-PURPOSL\nFirst Alert\nMULTI-PURPOSE\nBA\nEXTINGUISHE\nFIRE\nFElA/OGIIS INNER\nFIRE\nEXTINGUISHER\nEXTINGUISHER\nFIRE\nEXTINCNSHER\n\n<<>>\n\n9988 9 09\nзWOH\nHOME\ntire Estinguishe\nHere to users\nFirst Ale\nFirst Alert\nFirst Aard\nHOME\nFor ferr\nFirst\nlien te est yo\nFirst Alert\nFine Ser'\nHon tause your\nFirst Alert\nFELOGO INNER\nFIRE ERTAGUISHER\nHOME\nFirst Alert\n\n<<>>\n\nFElOGO CASE\nBRANDSHING.\nSaranone\nLIMITED QUANTY\nFREEN GUISHER\nUNIC 4\ner. 6\nFE10GO\nFEJOGO\nPALLET\n\n<<>>\n\nFirst Aier\nEXTINGUISHER\nFIRE\nFirst Alert\nHOME","truncated":false,"body_characters":7228}