{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0255","title":"Tyco Safety Products — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2009-05-20","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0255 response to Tyco Safety Products concerning 173.309.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0255.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0255.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0255","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2008/080255.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMr. Richard Seaburg\nQuality Assurance Manager\nTyco Safety Products\nOne Stanton Street\nMarinette, WI 54143-2542\nRef. No. 08-0255\nDear Mr. Seaburg:\nThis responds to your October 6,2008 letter requesting clarification of the fire extinguisher\nrequirements in 5 173.309 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-\n180). You state your company manufactures cylinders under the exception in 5 173.309 for\nfire extinguishers and provided data sheets and drawings. The cylinders are filled with a\npressurized wet chemical extinguishing agent (potassium carbonate solution). You ask if the\ncylinders meet the requirements in 6 173.309 for fire extinguishers.\nThe answer is no. The requirements in !j 173.309 are applicable to cylinders used as portable\nfire extinguishers. According to the data sheets and drawings you submitted, your non-DOT\nspecification cylinders are fitted with fusible links, have no nozzles, and are designed for use\nas fixed fire suppression systems. When transported, each cylinder must be described with\nthe name of its compressed gas contents followed by the qualifying word \"mixture\" or\n\"solution\" as appropriate. See 172.101(b)(l). The potassium carbonate extinguishing\nagent is not a regulated material and, therefore, not subject to the HMR. The outside package\nmust be properly marked and labeled in accordance with Part 172. Your company may be\ninterested in applying for a special permit under the procedures in 49 CFR 107.105.\nWe apologize for the earlier misinformation regarding the transportation of these cylinders.\nPlease contact us if you require additional assistance.\nSincerely, d\nHattie L. Mitchell\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nFire Suppression\n& Building Products\nAnsul Inc.\n1 Stanton St.\nMarineffe, WI 54 143\nTele: 715-735-741 1\nFax: 7 15- 732-34 72\nInteroffice Memorandum\nThis correspondence may contain confidential information intended for the use of Lhe ind~idual or entity to whom it is addressed. If me reader is not me\nintended recbient or the em~lovee or aaentres~onsible tu deliver m me inrendedreciDienc you are hereby nofifiedmat w y dissemination for co~yine is\n. - . ~. .- -\nstr/ctly prohibited.\nDate Oct. 6, 2008\nTo Edward Mauullo\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards, Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety\nAdministration, Attn: PH-10, U.S. Dept. Washington, DC 20590-0001\nFrom\nCopy Subject Richard Seaberg\nBrad Goldapske, Lyne Demers, Eric Bretl\nInterpretation of 49 CFR 173.309\nEdward\nYour name was given to us when we called DOT for information on 173.309. We\nwould like to have an interpretation on the subject par 173.309(a) of 49 CFR.\nWe manufacture a couple cylinders under this exception for Fire Extinguishers and\nare getting confiding reviews.\nWe contacted Don Hilts with DOT in May of 2005 and his statement was as long as\nthe cylinder meets the requirements of 173.309(a) we were in compliance with the\nexception.\nWe have since contracted with a consultant ,that is stating we are not in compliance\nwith the standard. I have attached the data sheet and drawings for your review as we\nwould like clarification.\nPlease let me know if you need any additional information.\nThank you, /\nRichard Seaberg\nQuality Assurance Manager","truncated":false,"body_characters":3428}