# Conax Florida Corporation Cobham Life Support — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0134
- **title:** Conax Florida Corporation Cobham Life Support — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-08-30
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0134 response to Conax Florida Corporation Cobham Life Support concerning 173.219.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0134.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0134.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0134
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100134.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590
1200 New Jersey Ave .. S.E.
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration AUG 3 02011
Mr. Thanh Seybold
Contracts Administrator
Conax Florida Corporation
Cobham Life Support
2801 75th Street
Petersburg, FL 33710
Ref:. No.: 10-0134
Dear Mr. Seybold:
This responds to your letter requesting guidance on re-classifying an "inflator" device packaged
and shipped under Competent Authority (CA) Approval Number "EX-9ll 0087", in accordance
with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You enclosed
drawings of the device. According to your letter, this device is a water-activated automatic life
preserver "inflator" which attaches to a life preserver. The "inflator" automatically actuates
when immersed in water, assuming the human user is unconscious. These "inflator" devices
are packaged with life preservers and are also packaged and shipped separately. Your
company's primary customer is the U.S. military: the Navy, Marines, and Air Force. The
device is classed and described as "Cartridges, power device, I.4S, UN0323, PG II" under CA
"EX-9110087." You ask ifthis device should be classified as "Hazard Class 9, Life-saving
appliances, UN3072."
The answer is no. The description "Life-saving appliances, not self-inflating containing
dangerous goods as equipment (UN3072)" applies to the overall appliance rather than
individual hazardous material used to supplement the appliance, such as those listed in
§ l73.219(b). The exception is intended to provide relief for a small quantity of a hazardous
material that is integrated into a life-saving appliance. The "inflator" itself, classed and
described as "Cartridges, power device, l.4S, UN0323, PG II" under CA "EX-911 0087," may
not be reclassed and described as "Life-saving appliances, not self-inflating containing
dangerous goods as equipment (UN3072)." The inflator must be integrated into a life-saving
appliance.
I hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
'nc ely, _
~~S~6e~-
en Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

CDElHRm
Cobham Life Support
2801 75th Street North
St. Petersburg, Fl 33710 USA
T: +1 (727) 345 8000
F: +1 (727) 3454217
June 22,2010 £ngrarYl
Approvals Branch
Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001
Attn: PHH-32, Room 8102
~113 .2J't
Lire -.5a.viV1j Applt o.YJce S
, b-ol3j
Subject: Guidance Regarding Reclassification of PIN 1812-173-01
Dear Sir/Madam,
Conax Florida Corporation is requesting guidance regarding the reclassification of our
Part Number 1812-173-01 under § 173.219 of 49CFR. This is an "inflator".
This device is water-activated automatic life preserver "inflator" which attaches to a life
preserver. They automatically actuate when immersed in water when the human user is
unconscious, the life preserver shelf inflates. These devices are packaged with life
preservers; however, we also ship them separately. Our main customer is the U.S.
military: US Navy, Marines, and Air Force.
The item was previously classified as Cartridges, Power Device, UN0323, 1.4S, EX9110087.
However, we feel this may be a misclassification.
As opposed to the UN0323 classification in 49CFR § 173.219 (b)(6), it describes "For
self-inflating life saving appliances only, cartridge power device of Division 1.4S, for
purposes of the self-inflating mechanism provide that the quantity of explosives per
appliance does not exceed 3.2g". We feel our device fits this definition; therefore,
whenever they are not directly connected to the life preserver, are we able to ship this
item and others similar to them as a Hazard Class 9, Life-Saving Appliance, UN3072?
Our military customers would prefer this.
This new class under 173.219 (b)(6) allows air transport without a Competent Authority
an aid to normal packing. This is due to the extremely small explosive, self-contained
gas cartridge and associated with life preserves generally.
Enclosed are the drawings of these parts listed below:
Part Number 1812-173-01
Sub-assembly 1612-051-02
Sub-assembly 1612-011-02
Conax Florida Corporation doing business as Cobham Ufe Support. www.cobham.com

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Cylinder CC-S01-01
Primer CC-114-01, 6Smgbase charge, 20Smg ignition charge
At this time, we would appreciate your efforts to review the enclosed reports and
drawings and defining the intent of the regulations for classifying Life-Saving Appliances
and our device/cartridge under that category.
Thank you,
rrtianli Sey60U
Contracts Administrator
Conax Florida Corporation
727 -346-2709
thanh.seybold@cobham.com
COnax Florida COrporation doing business as CObham Ufe Support. www.cobham.com
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 4811
