{"operation":"document","citation":"10-0040","title":"University of Wisconsin Radiation Calibration Laboratory — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2011-01-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"10-0040 response to University of Wisconsin Radiation Calibration Laboratory concerning 173.302, 173.306, 173.310.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0040.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0040.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0040","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/61806/100040.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nJAN 2 8 2011\nMs. Wendy S. Kennan\nRadiation Safety Officer\nBrachytherapy Calibrations\nUniversity of Wisconsin Radiation Calibration Laboratory\nAccredited Dosimetry and Calibration Laboratory\nB 1 002 Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research\n1111 Highland Avenue\nMadison, WI 53705-2275\nReference No. 10-0040\nDear Ms. Kennan:\nThis is in response to your letter and subsequent telephone conversation with a member of my\nstaff concerning radiation detectors your organization receives annually for recalibration from a\nnumber of clients and returns back to them. You state the detectors, some of which are\npermanently sealed, contain air or \"UN 1008, Argon, compressed, 2.2 (non-flammable)\" gas in\nan internal chamber or cylinder at a pressure that meets or exceeds 40.6 psia (25.9 psig or 1.8\natm) with no release device. You also state some clients ask if these detectors are unregulated\nwhen transported by motor vehicle or rail transport. You further ask at what pressure the\ndetectors are regulated as a non-flammable compressed gas under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nThis agency previously authorized radiation detectors containing pressurized gas to be\ntransported in Department of Transportation (DOT) specification and non-specification cylinders\nunder the terms of a special pennit and in conformance with §§ 173.302 or 173.306. We revised\nthe HMR, effective October 1,2010, to permit radiation detectors that contain Division 2.2 gas\nto be transported in non-specification packagings and, unless transported by aircraft, excepted\nfrom the hazard communication labeling and placarding requirements provided the devices are\ndesigned, packaged, and transported in accordance with the provisions prescribed in new\n§ 173.310. (See Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0289 (HM-233A; 75 FR 27205)). Specifically,\n§ 173.310 requires the radiation detectors to: 1) be single-trip, hennetically-sealed, welded,\nmetal inside containers that will not fragment upon impact; 2) have a design pressure of4.83\nMPa (700 psig) or less and a capacity of 641 cubic inches (355 fluid ounces) or less; 3) have a\nburst pressure that is three times the design pressure or more if equipped with a pressure relief\ndevice and four times the design pressure or more if not equipped with a pressure relief device;\n4) be shipped in a strong outer packaging capable ofwithstanding a 1.2 meter (4 foot) drop test\nwithout breaking the radiation detector or rupturing the outer package; and 5) be packed in a\nstrong outer packaging or in equipment that provides a level ofprotection equivalent to that of a\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nstrong outer packaging when shipped as part of other equipment. In addition, § 173.310 requires\nthat each shipment of radiation detectors must be accompanied by emergency response\ninformation, and respondents at each emergency response telephone number for these devices\nmust identifY the receptacles that are not fitted with a pressure relief device and provide\nappropriate guidance on how to manage these devices when exposed to fire.\nIf the provisions of § 173.310 are not appropriate for the radiation detectors, the detectors must\nmeet the DOT specification packaging requirements for the hazardous material they contain or\nmeeting the Division 2.2 hazard class must be properly described, packaged in DOT\nspecification packagings authorized for the hazardous material they contain, and marked and\nlabeled in conformance with the requirements prescribed in the HMR for a non-flammable gas\nwhen intended or offered for transportation in commerce. Section 173 .1IS(b) defines a Division\n2.2, non-flammable, non-poisonous compressed gas as a liquefied or cryogenic gas that exerts in\na packaging a gauge pressure of200 kPa (29.0 psig/43.8 psia) or greater at 20°C (68 OF).\nRadiation detectors that do not meet the definition of a DOT hazard class under the HMR are not\nregulated as a hazardous material.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nr4/~\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMEDICAL RADIATION RESEARCH CENTER\n6100Z WIMR 1111 HIGHLAND AVE MADISON, WI 53705-2275\nTEL: 608.262.6320 FAX: 608.262.5012 uwmrrc.wisc.edu\nJanuary 29,2010\nU.S. DOT PHMSA\nOffice ofHazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-lO East Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-001\nI just finished the FedEx Dangerous Goods Shipper's Seminar. While there, I asked for\nclarification on a shipping issue, and the instructor suggested I contact Patrick Oppenheimer,\nSenior Manager-Safety Programs at FedEx Express.\nHe delegated my question to a Senior Federal Express Hazardous Materials Manager,\nThomas Leech.\nHis interpretation follows with a caveat:\n\"In accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 CFR\nPart 173.22), it is the shippets responsibility to properly. classify and\ndescribe. haz~dous_ I)lat~n$.ls7d.~g~.rous gp94s... ff9~eve.t, based on the\ninformation provided, your interPretation is correct. Radiation' detectors\nare subject to Class 2, Division 2.2 requirements when the pressure in the\ntube or chamber exceeds 300kPa (43.5 psia). \"\nI am asking for your interpretation on this matter.\n\" , , . ,,~\n. Our\nlaboratory receives8;I).clships ou~ i~~~~ents u~e4~~ detect and measure radiation.\nSome ofthese instruments aieperinaiiently sealed ahd cdntain either airor Argon under\npressure.\nWe have followed 49CFR173.115 to define which instruments must be shipped as dangerous\ngoods. As we understand it, an instrument which contains air or Argon under a pressure of\n40.6 psia (25.9 psig or 1.8 atm) or more should be shipped as a dangerous good. [I have\nincluded the conversion to atmospheres because most ofthe manufacturers ofthese devices\nreport pressure in atmospheres. We follow the information we can obtain from\nmanufacturers regarding the pressure ofthese instruments.]\nUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN • RADIATION CALIBRATION LABORATORY\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nAgain. these instruments are designed to hold the gas they contain-there is no release device.\nCould you please help either confirm that we are shipping these devices correctly, or explain\nwhat we should be doing?\nThank you very much,\nWendy\nWendy S. Kennan\nBrachytherapy Calibrations\nUniversity of Wisconsin Radiation Calibration Laboratory\nAccredited Dosimetry and Calibration Laboratory\nB1002 Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research\n1111 Highland Avenue\nMadison WI 53705-2275\nPH 608/265-9748\nFAX 6081262-5012\nwskennan@wisc.edu\nUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN","truncated":false,"body_characters":6674}