{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0053","title":"Department of the Army — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2011-07-07","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0053 response to Department of the Army concerning 172.504, 172.512.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0053.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0053.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0053","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110053.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJUL '7 2011\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington. DC 20590\nMr. Joseph Dugan\nMilitary Surface Deployment and Distribution Command\nDepartment ofthe Army\nScott Air Force Base, IL 62225\nRef. No. 11-0053\nDear Mr. Dugan:\nThis'responds to Mr. Maham's March 3, 2011 letter regarding placarding requirements for\na freight container system under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\nParts 171-180) and under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.\nThe letter describes a freight container system (\"container\") consisting of three or four\nindividual units assembled together for ease ofhandling during intermodal transportation\ncommonly referred to as tricons or quadcons, respectively. The assembled containers\n(Le., the tricon or quadcon) form approved containers in accordance with the International\nConvention on Safe Containers (CSC) as referenced in the definition of a freight container\nin the Intern~tional Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the United States Coast\nGuard (USCG) regulations (see 49 CFR Part 450). Specifically, the letter includes a\nrequest for clarification ofthe placarding requirement for a tricon or quadcon when the\nindividual units contain a mix of hazardous material classes or when the end units contain\na mix of hazardous material classes and an interior unit(s) contains no hazardous material.\nThe general placarding requirements under the HMR require the individual units\ncontaining hazardous material to display placards on each side and each end (see\n§ 172.504(a)). In lieu of placarding on all four sides, the HMR authorizes freight\ncontainers less than 640 fe to display one placard (or label) on the freight container (see\n§ 172.512(b)). As described in Mr. Maham's letter, each individual unit of a tricon or\nquadcon has a capacity less than 640 fe, thus, under the HMR, each individual unit\ncontaining hazardous material must display a placard (or label) representative of the\nhazardous material it contains. With regard to IMDG placarding requirements, it is our\nopinion that the CSC-approved containers (Le., the assembled tricon or quadcon)\ndescribed in your letter are essentially compartmented containers, and thus, may be\nplacarded in the same manner as a multiple-compartment tank containing more than one\nhazardous material. Such a tank must display placards along each side at the positions of\nthe relevant compartments containing a hazardous material (see 5.3.1.1.4.1.3 of the IMDG\nCode).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nAccordingly, a tricon or quadcon displaying placard(s) on each side of an individual unit\ncontaining hazardous material satisfies the placarding requirements ofboth the HMR and\nthe IMDG Code.\nI hope this information is helpfuL If you have further questions, please contact this office.\nSincerely,\n~S~\nBen Supko\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nber Klncleren\n9 17z. 5Ql/ lQ)\nDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY n rei\nMILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND 'r'tea t~\n1 SOLDIER WAY I\nscon AFB, IL 62225·5006 I - 0 0\nDirectorate of Safety (AMSSD·SA)\nMarch 3,2011\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nOffice ofHazardous Materials Safety\nOffice ofHazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nEast Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nATTN: Office ofHazardous Materials Standards (PHH-IO)\nDear Sir:\nIn accordance with the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 105, Section\n105.20, the Department of Defense (DOD) hereby requests an Interpretation ofthe Hazardous Materials Regulations\nas outlined below. DOD petitions for a clarification of 49 CFR 172.504(a), General Placarding Requirements, in\nparticular \"Assembled TriconiQuadcon containers shipped as a single unit)\". The following file number is assigned:\nFile Number: 25-11 (0303)\nRe: Request Interpretation of 49 eFR 172.504 (a), General Phlcarding Requirements\nProponent: Department ofDefense (DoD)\nDoD shippers are encountering difficulty in the preparation and transportation ofapproved Internlodal\nPackagings; the problem is current domestic and international regulatory standards are in conflict regarding the\ndefinition ofa container. DoD chooses to use alternate container systems known as a Tricon, which are comprised\nof three individually constructed units possessing interrnodal fittings that can be assembled into a single\n20'container unit; another similar system is in USe known as a Quadcon, which is comprised offour individually\nconstructed units when assembled into a signle 20' container unit fitting the same description as a Tricon. Please\nsee attachments I and 2 respectively for specification descriptions for each.\nAn individual Tricon unit is approx. 96m H x 96\"'W x 72S\"L with a cubic capacity of356 eu ft. and an\narea of < 52 sq ft (attachment 3); further an individual Quadcon unit is approx 82\" H x 57.375\" W x 96\"L. with a\ncubic capacity of258 eu ft, (attac1unent 4). 49 CFR 171,8 defines a Freight Container as a reusable unit of> 64 cu.\nft. Domestically, the 49 CFR 171.8 defmition conflicts with the standard proscribed in 49 CFR 450.3 which applies\nto containers used in international transport. 49 CFR 450.3 defines a container as meeting the requirement for size\nbeing at least 75 sq. ft. Internationally the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code implements the\nConvention for Safe Containers (esC) describing a container as of a size of at least 75 sq. ft..\nTherefore an individual TriconlQuadcon unit may be considered a container if oftered only for domestic\ntransport. Consequently, an individual TriconlQuadcon unit would not be considered a container or CSC approved\nto be offered for international transport by vessel.\n49 CFR 172.504 proscribes each packaging containing any haZlnat must be placarded on each side and\neach end. IMDG 5.3.1.1.4.1 states a freight container shall clearly display placards on each side and each end.\nOnce DoD assembles a TriconiQuadcon coupling the individual units together to now fonn a single 20' CSC\napproved freight container, 49 CFR 172.502 (a)(1)(ii) would not apply because the placard on the end\nTricon/Quadcon unit accurately represents the hazards within the 20' CSC container.\nPflnled an G)Recycled Paper\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n-2When\nTricon/Quadcoll unit containers are coupled together to fonn a single esc approved 20' container\nthey must be a placard on each end and each side of the 20' container. Since the act ofcoupling the TriconiQuadcon\nunit together wiIl obscure at least one side or end, a placard(s) will need to be placed on the opposite end of the\nTricol1/Quadcon unit. This will mean that an individual TriconiQuadcon ullit which may not contain any hazmat will\nhave a placard on it. When the TriconlQuadcon assembled unit is decoupled the placard on the non-hazmat Tncon\ncomponent must be removed immediately; for those remaining component units the appropriate HAZMAT placards\nmust be placed on all four sides of each compent unit.\nQuestion: What are the placarding requirements when three/four TriconlQuadcon containrs are assembled\ninto a signJe 20' container unit and loaded on a vehicle or vessel?\n1. When all four containers have a mixed Hazard Classification/Division (Hc/D) materials?\n2. When the end container units have a mixed HClD and there is 110 HZZMAT in the middJe\ncontainer of a Tricon or in positions 2 or 3 of a Quadcon?\nMy point of contact for this matter is Mr. Joseph P. Dugan, (618) 220-5040, e-mail sd4c.safb.safety@us\n.amly.mil or ioseph.dugan@us.army.mil Safety Team, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command,\nATTN: AMSSD-SA, One Soldier Way, Scott AFB, IL 62225.\nDaniel A Maham\nDirector ofSafety\nEncl(s)\nAttl T ricon description\nAtt2 Quadcon description\nAtt 3 TriCOIl characteristics\nAtt4 Quadcon characteristics\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nTRICON\nThe Tricon modular container is used extensively by the United States Armed forces\nfor its unique and versatile deployability. The Tricon is configured so that when three\nunits are secured together, using the exclusive SeaLock connectors, the\nresulting package has the same footprint and increased mobility as a standard\n20' ISO intermodal container.\nThe Tricon is available I, II, III, IV &Vvariants, providing multiple door locations\nfor increased mission flexibility. Intended for use as atransport/storage unit,\nthe Trieon offers aWide range of options for storage, equipment integrations,\nspecialized security containers, and office modules. The Tricon's all-steel\nconstruction and unique versatility make this an ideal new option for military\nand commercial logistics challenges.\nCharleston Marine Containers, Inc., a Kratos company, is aleading design, engineering,\nmanufacturer and integrator of modular intermodal, and specialty container systems.\nCMCI offers high levels of clJstom in-house integration for increased solutions to mission\nrequirements. Strategically located in Charleston SC, CMCI can meet your needs\nby land, sea or air. Charleston Morine Containers. Inc.\nAKRitTOS Company\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nqUADCON\nThe Quadcon is aunique and versatile mini-container originally developed for\nuse by the United States Armed Forces. The unit is configured to enable four\ncontainers to be secured together using the exclusive Sealock connector. The\nresulting package has the same footprint as.a standard 20' ISO intermodal container.\nAlternatively, two Quadcons may be connected together to create a10' ISO container.\nThis four-into-one concept offers the advantages of asegregated loading pattern\nwith the ease of handling of a standard 20' container. Intended for use as a\ntransport/storage unit, the Quadcon's double-door access offers awide range of\noptions for on-site storage sheds, mobile lockers, capital equipment housings, etc.\nQuadcon's all-steel construction and unique versatility makes It an ideal new option\nfor both commercial and military operations.\nCharleston Marine Containers, Inc., aKratos company, is aleading design, engineering,\nmanufacturer and integrator of modular intermodal, and specialty container systems.\nCMCI offers high levels of custom in-house integration for increased solutions to mission\nrequirements. Strategically located in Charleston SC, CMCI can meet your needs\nCharleston Marine Containers. Inc.\n,.._\"_,~_.~~tf~~,_~\"\".\"\"._•...~\"~.\nby land, sea or air. AKRitTOS Company\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nSEABO\nSTANDARD FEATURES:\n• Corrugated steel sides, roof, & swing doors\non one side\n- Heavy duty steel floor\n• (4) way fork 11ft pockets\n• Wall tie down steel lashing rings, 4,000 Ibs. cap,\neach, (28) total\n- Front corner post tie downs, (10) total\n• Door corner post tie downs, (10) total = restraint\nsystem, shoring slot will support 2\" x 6\" lumber\n• Adjustable shelving brackets:\n(5) sets =(10) Vertical E-Track sections total\n- Vents, (2) each\nOPTIONAL FEATURES:\n• Manifest Box, (2) each\n- Connectlng couplers, (3) per Tricon\n• Connecting coupler storage bracket, (1) each\n• DeCking and Shoring Beams, (15) each\n• 383 Green exterior CARC paint\n(3) Trlcon Containers coupled together to form one\n20' ISO module\nALL NEW CONTAINERS ARE MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST ISO STANDARDS\nLength Height Width Door Opening\nTRICON\nExt. Int. Ext. Int. Ext. Int. Height Width\nFt. / In. 6' 51/2\" 6' 35116\" 8'0' 7' 51/64\" 8'0\" 7'723132' 7' 1 3/64\" 6\" 45/64\"\nMetric 1.969 1.913 2.438 2,261 2,438 2.330 2.160 1,872\nTRICON Tare Weight Payload Gross Weight Cubic Capacity\nLbs. 2.5BO 12,320 14,900 356 Cu. FI.\nKg. 1.170 5,590 6,760 10.0 Cu. M.\nALL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS ARE NOMINAL AND SUBJECT TO MINOR VARIATIONS THAT MAY OCCUR DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS","truncated":false,"body_characters":11751}