# Dive Xtras, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0267
- **title:** Dive Xtras, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-03-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0267 response to Dive Xtras, Inc. concerning 175.10.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0267.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0267.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0267
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100267.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department ofTransportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration MAR 28 2011
1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE
Washington, DC 20590'
Mr. Ben McGeever
Dive Xtras, Inc.
4433 Russell Rd., Ste 106
Mukilteo,WA 98275
Ref. No. 10-0267
Dear Mr. McGeever:
This responds to your December 20, 2010 email regarding exceptions for passengers,
crewmembers, and air operators under § 175.10 ofthe Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). According to your letter, your company produces an
LED diving light (diving lamp) designed and constructed to not produce significant heat.
The diving lamp does not allow access to internal components ofthe article to remove the
light bulb or the energy source (a lithium-ion battery). Additionally, you indicate
extensive testing to demonstrate your product is not a source ofa significant amount of
heat. You are concerned that § 175.1O(a)(14) implies all diving lamps are heat-producing
which presents problems for customers who want to carry your product aboard a
passenger aircraft because the design does not allow removal ofthe light bulb or the
battery. You request clarification of what defines a heat-producing article as well as the
applicability of § 175.l0(a)(14) ifthe diving lamp is not a heat-producing article.
A passenger, in collaboration with available resources including product manufacturers, is
responsible for ensuring that a hazardous article carried aboard a passenger aircraft is in
compliance with § 175.10. This Office does not certify articles for conformance with
§ 175.10. Section 175.1O(a)(l4) specifically applies to the carriage of heat-producing
articles that are electrically-powered (e.g., battery-powered articles). The example of
diving lamps as a heat-:-producing article provided in the regulatory text does not infer that
all diving lamps are heat-producing. Ifthe results oftesting on your diving lamp are
accurate and the design and construction ofthe diving lamp are such that, if
unintentionally activated during transport, it would not generate an amount of heat
sufficient to be a source of ignition, then the article may be considered as not being a heatproducing
article and would not be subject to the conditions and limitations of
§ 175.l0(a)(14). Note, however, that a battery-powered article not considered to be heatproducing
is still subject to § 175.1O(a)(18) related to portable electronic devices,
including the size limitations for lithium batteries.
I hope this information is helpful. Ifyou have further questions, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
~S~
BenSupko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Drakeford, Carol
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From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Air / L/+-hILJm Uerie,:;
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:34 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) /0 -0:2 "7
Subject: FW: Request for letter of interpretation.
Hi Carolyn,
We received the following request for a formal letter of interpretation at the Info Center.
In his conversation with Info Center staff, Mr. McGeever noted that the lamp contains an
installed, factory-sealed lithium battery.
Thanks,
Victoria Lehman
202-366-1035
From: ben McGeever [mailto:ben@dive-xtras.com]
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 4:46 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Cc: Dave Heiss
Subject: Request for letter of interpretation.
Dear Sir/Madam
I would like to request a letter of interpretation on 49CFR175.10 (a) 14
Electrically powered heat-producing articles (e.g.,
operated equipment such as diving lamps and soldering equipment) as
carry-on baggage only and with the approval of the operator of the
aircraft. The heat-producing component, or the energy source, must be
removed to unintentional functioning during transport.
My company, Dive Xtras, is producing an new LED diving light. I would like clarification on what exactly defines a heat
producing article and what happens if a diving lamp is not a significant source of heat
We have designed our new light to not be a significant heat producing device, yet the text implies all diving lamps are.
Unlike soldering irons which inherently have to generate heat to melt solder and perform their primary function, diving
lights only produce heat as a byproduct, waste of inefficient light production, and as technology advances and
efficiencies improve, less heat is generated.
Diving lights are constantly developing and, in the past, halogen and high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs were
predominant in products. These bulb technologies potentially generate huge amounts of heat and do warrant the above
rules. However, in the last few years LED bulbs are becoming more common and do not generate the same amounts of
heat.
My concern is that if we release our new LED dive light in the current form, it will potentially be a problem for customers
who would like to travel by air. It is a diving lamp, as described, but they will not be able to comply with the above
mentioned exception. Our new dive light is designed for high reliability and to achieve this the user has no access to any
of the internal components and there are no connectors, this increases reliability as user error and connectors are a
major source of failures. This means they have no ability to remove any part.
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We have extensively tested our product and can demonstrate it does not generate significant amounts of heat nor is a
ignition risk for ordinary combustibles or flammable liquids. If you could give further interpretation of 49CFR175.10 (a)
14 with these considerations I would be very grateful.
Your Sincerely
Ben McGeever
President
Dive Xtras Inc.
4433 Russell Rd, STE 106
Mukilteo
WA, 98275, USA
Tel: + {1} 4252966570
www.dive-xtras.com
DISCLAIMER:
This correspondence contains proprietary information some or all of which may be legally privileged. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error
has misdirected this correspondence, please notify the author. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely on this
correspondence. The contents, comments and views contained or expressed within this correspondence do not necessarily reflect those of Dive Xtras Inc. and are not intended
to create legal relations with the recipient.
Please ~onsider the environment before printing Ihls email
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