{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0243","title":"Lovelace Gas Service, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-12-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0243 response to Lovelace Gas Service, Inc. concerning 172.400, 172.406.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0243.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0243.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0243","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080243.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nDEC 2 2 2008\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMr. Bill Lovelace\nLovelace Gas Service, Inc.\n10606 East Colonia Drive\nOrlando, Florida 328 18\nRef. No.: 08-0243\nDear Mr. Lovelace:\nThis responds to your letter dated September 19,2008, regarding requirements under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80) that apply to the placement\nof hazard warning labels on propane cylinders.\nYou state that as a propane marketer and refiller of 20 pound cylinders, your company has\nplaced over 900 \"Flammable Gas\" labels on propane cylinders. The cylinders at issue have\nnever had the Flamm.able Gas label affixed to the cylinder (neck) for transportation, although\nthey had contained Propane prior to customers bringing them in for refilling. You ask if your\nunderstanding is correct that a cylinder containing Propane should have a Flammable Gas\nlabel permanently affixed to the cylinder (neck), rather than on a removable \"plastic sleeve\"\nplaced around the body of the cylinder that displays the Flammable gas label among\nadvertisements.\nIt is unclear whether you are addressing the placement of the Flammable Gas label on the\nneck of a cylinder that contains propane or cylinders that have been emptied and no longer\nrepresent a flammable gas hazard in transportation, but are brought to your company for\nrefilling. Generally, a hazard warning label must be printed on or affixed to a surface (other\nthan the bottom) of the package or containment device containing the hazardous material,\nand located on the same surface of the package and near the proper shipping name marking,\nif the package dimensions are adequate.\nAs prescribed in § 172.400a(a)(i) and (ii) of the HMR, a hazard warning label is not required\non a cylinder containing a Division 2.1,2.2 or 2.3 material that is not overpacked and durably\nand legibly marked in accordance with CGA Pamphlet C-7, Appendix A; that is, a neck ring,\nlabel may be used on a cylinder in place of a hazard warning label.\nA hazard warning label may be printed on or placed on a securely affixed tag, or may be\naffixed by other suitable means to a: 1) package that contains no radioactive material and that\nhas dimensions less than those of the required label; 2) cylinder; and 3) package with such an\nirregular surface that a label cannot be satisfactorily affixed. Therefore, a removable \"plastic\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nsleeve\" affixed to, or placed around the body of the cylinder that displays the Flammable Gas\nlabel for Propane is acceptable (See § 172.406).\nCylinders that are emptied and cleaned and purged of residue and that no longer pose a\nhazard in transportation must be shipped in accordance with the empty packagings\nrequirements prescribed in § 173.29.\nI hope this information is helpful. If we can be of fiuther assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nCharles E. Betts\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nEflgrur~l\n3 /72/ 406\nLOVELACE GAS SERVICE, INC. 3/72 n 4 0 0 4\nI0606 East Colonial Drive\nOrlando, Florida 32818 5 /72*+04\nh h c h y\nli&-oaqz\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nRef: Labeling of DOT 4BA, 20# Propane cylinders\nTo Whom It May Concern:\nWe are a Propane Marketer and refiller of 20# propane cylinders. In the last several\nmonths we have had to place over 900 DOT UN1075 Flammable gas labels on propane\ncylinders. Those cylinders have never had the label affixed to cylinders for transportation,\neven though they had contained propane prior to customers bringing them for a refill.\nIt is my understanding those labels should be permanently affixed to cylinders, so they\ncannot be easily removed and be readily visible to the consumer. However, others seem\nto believe it is not necessary to have the label affixed to cylinder, if plastic sleeves have\nprinting of a label among the advertisement on sleeves. Plastic sleeves are not durable\nand a hindrance for visual inspection of cylinders before refilling. Therefore, must be\nremoved for cylinder inspection. We have found when plastic sleeves have been added to\n20# cylinders containing propane, there is substantial evidence that rust can form on\ncylinders caused by the plastic sleeves. This does not occur to cylinders, when plastic\nsleeves have never been on them.\nIt would appear to me, the Hazardous Materials Regulations \"Transportation\" should be\ninterpreted as requiring a permanent type label affixed on 20# cylinders for transportation\nwhen containing propane. This is because a 20# cylinder can be refilled many times and\nlast several years. Therefore, I question, the logic of substituting permanent labels for\ntemporary labels on nondurable plastic sleeves. The \"transportation,\" label printed on\nplastic sleeve, is not visible from the front of cylinder where the consumer would\nnormally view it during use.\nI would appreciate your assistance helping me to properly interpret the regulations in this\nmatter.\nSincerely, 17\n,U/~-L\n\"Bill\" Lovelace, Sr.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nThis is one example, of why the \"cylinder exchange world\" would not end without plastic\nsleeves on cylinders. As you can see, the warning and label for \"Transportation,\" are\nvisible for consumer to see, no obstructions on cylinder, leaves it easy for a visual\ninspection and it has no plastic sleeve on it to result in rust.\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nstate, ai califomia to causoc\ninders that do not C\ncan almacene;\npropane, Slustedo,\nunless tamper ovident cap or\nane: Que so\na bombora no se ha rellens\ncalentadores, rad adores o hut\n3 recreacionalesty en ouos it\nlame al servicio de bomberos No Intente hacer rep\noLP Gas pesa más que elairo y uede deposiasa en\nol contacto conci contenido en estado iguido cab\no No pernita que los ninos se acerquen O jueguen cor\no Solo para uso en extenores.\" Not\n• Familiancese con el olor del cas\na Do not\nwil\n• Chemicats knot\no Do not purchese or use\n/ADVERTENCIA\nQue egaseguro de que\npropane:\no Advieno asup\nFLAMMABLE\nGAS\nPAILURE TO DBEY DANGERS, WORINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS CAN\n• CONTACT LP-GAS SUPPLIER FOR REPAIAS OR DISPOSAL OF THIS CYLINDER\n• DO NOT STORE A SPARE LP CYLINDER UNDER OR NEAR A BARBECUE GRILLS\nOR OTHER HEAT SOURCES, NEVER FILL AN LP CYLINDER BEYOTD 80% FULLE\nSINO RESPETAN LOS MENSAJES DeSLIUnO Y DE ADUCIDA NOIA\n• LEAKING LP-GAS MAY CAUSE FIRE OR EXPLOSION IF IGNITED\nY LAS INSTRUCCIONES PUEDEN OCURRIR LESIONES DANOS OF\nOIGAS PROPANO QUE ESCAPE PUEDE CAUSAR FEUGO O EXPLOSION SI ESTA\n• PONERSE EN CONTACTO CON EL PROVEEDOR DEL GAS PROPANO PARA\nREPARAR O DISPONER ESTE CILINDRO O EL GAS PROPANO ZADO\n• NO ALMACENE CILINDROS DE PROPANO INUINOINE REPLIESTO DEBAJO\n* FIRE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY MAY OCCUR\nRESULT IN DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH.\n• CO NOT REMOVE, DEFACE OR OBLITERATE THIS LABEL\nFOR OUTDOOR USE ONLY•\n•EXCEPTAS AUTORIZEO BY ANSIEDA SE ORGANICGA B1492\nLIQUEFIED\nPETROLEUM GAS\nUN 1075\nSOLAMENTE PARA USO AL AIRE LIBRE*\n• FLAMMABLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE\nOR UNUSED LP-GAS\n• GAS INFLAMABLE BAJO PRESION\nPELIGRO\nMUERTE.\nS ENCENDIDO\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nlabel\nWHEN CONNECTIN\nUse only in com\nReadsand follow\n• Consult manufa\ncylinder connect\nBeasure regulato\nTurn off all valve\nTo Connect: Ser\nAttach Applianc\nIf Connector ()\nwrench. If Conn\nTest for leaks:\nto all areas ma\nthere is a leak.\ntest again for le\nNever check for\n• Light appliance\n• When appliance\nFOR ASSISTAI\nè odor of LP Gas. If you hear, see or smell leaking\n• LEAKING LP-GAS MAY CAUSE FIRE OR EXPLOSION\nDISPOSAL OF THIS CYLINDER OR UNUSED LP•GAS\nLP Gas, immediately get everyone away from the cylinder\nand call the Fire Department. Do not attempt repairs.\n• CONTACT LP GAS SUPPLIER FOR REPAIRS OR\n• DO NOT STORE THIS CYLINDER IN A BUILDINGT\nBe certain cylinder is purged of trapped air prior\nGARAGE OR ENCLOSED AREA\n• Be certain not to overfill the cylinder.\nLIQUEFIED\nPETROLEUM GAS\nUN 1075\n• Caution your LP Gas supplier 10:\nIF IGNITED\nto first filling.\n• Know-\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nI\nUSDOT LABELS FOR \"TRANSPORTATION\"\nARE NOT AFFIXED TO CYLINDERS","truncated":false,"body_characters":8118}