# DGM USA Atlanta — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0214
- **title:** DGM USA Atlanta — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2010-12-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0214 response to DGM USA Atlanta concerning 173.27.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0214.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0214.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0214
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100214.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
DEC 1 7 20iO
Mr. Jim Shimko
General Manager
DGM USA Atlanta
2000 Sullivan Road, Suite D
College Park, GA 30337
Reference No. 10-0214
Dear Mr. Shimko:
This is in response to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to packagings. Specifically, you ask whether inner
packagings of combination UN standard packagings designed to retain liquids must comply with
the internal test pressure requirements prescribed in § 173.27(c)(2)(i) when they contain nonhazardous
materials. You state the completed packages will also contain inner packagings of
hazardous materials and are intended for transportation by aircraft.
While the inner packaging of a combination packaging that contains a non-hazardous material is
not subject to the performance requirements for hazardous materials packagings under the HMR,
including § 173.27(c)(2)(i), the completed packaging that contains inner packagings for
hazardous and non-hazardous materials must meet a\l performance design tests for which it is
certified (see § 178.3(a)). In addition, inner packagihgs of non-hazardous materials placed in a
packaging with hazardous materials must not be capable of reacting dangerously with the
packaging or its contents, or weaken the protective properties of the packaging. See
§§ 173.21(e) and (g), 173.24(b) and (e), and 173.24a(a)(3).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
~~~$
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemakings Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Experts on International Rules & Regulations for Training, Packing, Storage & Transport of Hazardous Goods
DGM USA Atlanta
September 22, 2010
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
East Building
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Sirs:
SUBJECT: Interpretation of pressure test requirements (173.27(c)(2)(i» for combination packagings
containing hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
We are in need of a clarification on whether internal test pressure requirements as specified in
173.27(c)(2)(i) are required for an inner packaging that contains non-hazardous material.
173.27(c)(2)(i) states;
(c) Pressure requirements. (1) Packagings must be designed and constructed to prevent leakage that may be caused by
changes in altitude and temperature during transportation aboard aircraft.
(2) Packagings for which retention ofliquid is a basic function must be capable of withstanding without leakage the greater
of(i)
An internal pressure which produces a gauge pressure of not less than 75 kPa (11 psig) for liquids in Packing Group III
of Class 3 or Division 6.1; or 95 kPa (14 psig) for other liquids; ....... .... .
Specifically, when performing a test in accordance with Performance Oriented Packaging Standards a
combination packaging consisting of two (2) inner packagings; where the Part A inner package contains a
non-hazardous material (liquid) and Part B contains a hazardous material (liquid), is the Part A inner
package required to pass the pressure differential test as stated in 173.27(c)(2)(i)? All other packaging
elements and the completed package are tested in accordance with the applicable requirements to meet the
design qualification.
We believe the Part A package is not subject to pressure differential testing. This Interpretation is based
on the premise that the inner package does not contain a substance classified as a hazardous material
and therefore is not subject to the regulations. The non-hazardous material is in compliance with
173.24(e)(4).
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Office: 678.228.2235, ext 106 0"\
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2000 Sullivan Road, Suite D, College Park, GA 30337
~."'I Strategic Office: 678.228.2235
lATA Partner Fax: 864.234.7521 lATA
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Tali Free: 877.289.8588
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