{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0048","title":"Container-Quinn Testing Laboratories, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2011-06-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0048 response to Container-Quinn Testing Laboratories, Inc. concerning 178.601, 178.603.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0048.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0048.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0048","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110048.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nof Transportation JUN 30 2011\nWashington. DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nMr. Stephen C. Powell\nLab Director\nContainer-Quinn Testing Laboratories, Inc.\n170 Shepard Avenue\nWheeling, IL 60090\nRef. No. 11-0048\nDear Mr. Powell:\nThis responds to your February 22, 2011 request for clarification of package variation testing\nrequirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You\ndescribe a combination packaging where a 4G box is the outer packaging and the inner\npackaging is a sealed bag containing vermiculite and 1 or more glass receptacles evenly spaced\nwithin the vermiculite for the testing. You add weight to the bag to satisfy the gross mass\nrequirements for drop testing in accordance with § 178.601(g)(2)(ii). Specifically, you ask ifthe\npackage described in your letter is properly prepared and tested in accordance with the\nrequirements for selective testing under variation 2 in § 178.601(g)(2).\nThe answer is no. The selective testing requirements in § I 78.601(g)(2) (Variation 2) permit\narticles or inner packagings of any type, for solids or liquids, to be assembled and transported\nwithout testing in an outer packaging provided certain conditions are met. One condition in\n§ 178.603(g)(2)(i) requires the outer packaging to successfully pass the drop test in § 178.603\nwith fragile inner packagings containing liquids at the Packing Group I drop height. In the\nscenario described in your letter, the glass receptacles are the \"fragile inner packagings\" and the\nbag is a secondary means of containment required in accordance with § 178.601(g)(2)(vi). The\ncombined gross mass of inner packagings may not exceed Yz of the gross mass of the inner\npackagings used for the drop test. Thus, in the scenario described in your letter, any mass added\nto the inner packagings must be placed inside the glass receptacles for the drop test.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this office at\n(202) 366-8553.\nSincerely,\n~5~\nBenSupko\nChief, Standards Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nCONTAINER-QUINN\nTESTING LABORATORIES, INC.\nA division ofH.H. Holmes Testing Laboratories, Inc. 170 Shepard Avenue Wheeling, IL 60090 Phone: 847-537-9470 Fax: 847-537-9098\ne-mail: spowell@container-quinn.com\nS,(CrhO\\[attb\n~ 17 S· J\n~ Il~. bOl, Cj)\nbefin i+ Ions\n\\l- OotfB\n22 February 2011\nMr. Charles Betts\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nUS DOT I PHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nEast Building, 2nCl Floor (PH)\nWashington, DC 20590\nMr. Betts;\nRe: Definition, Combination package for testing purposes\nI am requesting clarification of the definition of a Combination Package per the 49CFR as it pertains\nto a 4GV package.\nPer 178.8, Definitions and Abbreviations:\nCombination packaging means a combination of packaging, for transport purposes, consisting of one\nor more inner packagings secured in a non-bulk outer packaging ......\nInner packaging means a packaging for which an outer packaging is required for transport ......\nIn relation to a 4GV package and it's testing, I have defined the package and successfully tested it as\nfollows:\nI am utilizing a 4G corrugated shipper as the outer packaging. My inner packaging is a sealed\npolybag containillg vermiculite and 1 or 'more glass receptacles evenly spaced within the vermiculite\nfor the testing (178.601 (g)(i) The outer packaging must have been successfully tested in accordance\nwith §178,603 with fragile (e.g. glass) inner packagings containing liquids at the Packing Group I drop\nheight). For the drop testing, additional weight is added to the polybag to attain the required double\nweight requirement.\nI believe that this package meets the requirements for the 4GV package and the testing requirements\nbut this has come into question as different labs use different methods. Can you please give me\nclarification and let me know if my interpretation is a valid one or if I am on the wrong track, Any\nguidance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.\nThank you for your assistance in this matter.\nSincerely\n/\nStephen C. Powell\nLab Director\nContainer-Quinn Testing Laboratories, Inc.","truncated":false,"body_characters":4272}