# TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0041
- **title:** TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-03-01
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0041 response to TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc. concerning 178.503, 178.508, 178.523, 178.601.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110041.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
MAR 0 1 2011
Mr. Robert J. Ten Eyck
Director, Technical Services
TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc.
1666 County Road 74
Newport, MN 55055
Ref. No. 11-0041
Dear Mr. Ten Eyck:
This responds to your February 16, 2011 letter regarding the proper marking of an approved
packaging design having different specifications than those prescribed in the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether the letter
"W" should immediately follow the packaging identification code" 1 G" marked on a fiber drum
packaging approved under the provisions in § 178.601(h). You state the approval was issued.
l;>ecause the fiber drum design did not meet the construction standards prescribed in § 178.508
and did not specifically direct the packaging manufacturer to apply the "W" mark as part of the
UN marking.
The answer is yes. A packaging having specifications different from those prescribed in
§§ 178.504-178.523 may be used if approved by the Associate Administrator. Such packagings
must be shown to be equally effective as those prescribed. See § 178.601(h). Furthermore, as
specified in § 178.503(a)(2), the letter "W" must follow the packaging identification code on
such packagings when required by an approval under the provisions of § 178.601(h). Although
your client's approval does not specifically mandate the "W" mark be applied, nothing in the
HMR prohibits indicating it in the appropriate position as part of its UN marking.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

IFebruary 16, 2011
,
I Charles Betts
IU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
! Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
I Standards &Rulemaking PHH-10
I 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S. E.
! Washington, D.C. 20590
IDear Charles:
I,' TEN-E Packaging Services is writing to request a clarification as to when it is appropriate to apply the "W" mark to a UN
packaging. We recently assisted a client with obtaining a competent authority approval to manufacture a drum that did not
Imeet the construction standards for fiber drums found in Section 178.508 of Title 49 CFR. The competent authority
I approval did not specifically direct the container manufacturer to apply the "W" mark as a part of the UN marking; however
I it is our understanding that based on the wording of Sections 178.601 (h) Approval of equivalent packagings and
i 178.503(a)(2) Marking of packagings that the "W" mark should be employed even though it is not being called for in the
I competent authority approval.
!
I i Your guidance on this container marking issue is greatly appreciated.
ISincerely,
I
I I OirecluT,'f'.,..... "._.
I Tp,.F; Pudlll~nA s"n·ic... "" 1m'.
li j
TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc.
I 1666 County Road 74
! Newport. MN 55055
I Phone: 651-459-0671 Email: info@ten-e.com
i Fax: 651-459-1430 Web: www.ten-e.com
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