# DuPont Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0062
- **title:** DuPont Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-09-14
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0062 response to DuPont Company concerning 173.301, 173.304, 173.304a.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0062.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0062.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0062
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110062.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration SEP 1 ~ 2011
Mr. Randolph Martin
Hazardous Materials Distribution Consultant
DuPont Company
4417 Lancaster Pike, BMP22/2222
Wilmington, DE 19375
Reference No. 11-0062
Dear Mr. Martin:
This is in response to your March 4, 2011 e-mail and March 23, 2011 telephone
conversation with a member of my staff concerning "UN 3161, Liquefied gas, flammable,
n.o.s. (2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene), 2.1 (flammable gas)" and Specification DOT 39 steel
cylinders. Specifically, you ask if this refrigerant gas is permitted in a DOT 39 cylinder
under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-1BO).
The answer is yes. The Column BB entry for "UN 3161, Liquetied gas, flammable, n.o.s."
under the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT; § 172.101) permits "2,3,3,3Tetrafluoropropene"
Division 2.1 gas to be placed in a non-bulk cylinder prescribed in
§ 173.304. Under the HMR, DOT specification cylinders must meet the requirements
prescribed in §§ 173.301, 173.301a, 173.304a, and 173.305, as applicable (see
§ 173.304(a)). Section 173.304a(a)(I) permits liquefied gases, except gas in solution, to be
placed in a DOT 39 steel cylinder provided the cylinders are not filled and shipped with a
mixture that contains a pyrophoric liquid, carbon bisulfide (disulfide), ethyl chloride,
ethylene oxide, nickel carbonyl, spirits of nitroglycerin, or toxic material (Division 2.3 (gas
poisonous by inhalation) or Division 6.1 (poisonous materials)), unless specifically
authorized in 49 CFR Part 173. Based on the information provided in your letter, the gas
you described does not contain these materials.
You also ask if § 173.304( d) prohibits "2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene" refrigerant gas from
being placed in a DOT 39 steel cylinder because this section states non-toxic and nonflammable
gases must be offered for transportation in cylinders prescribed in § 173.304a.
The answer is no. Section 173.304( d) does not apply to your material because it prescribes
packaging requirements for non-toxic and non-flammable refrigerant or dispersant gases
only.
Further, you ask if the maximum permitted filling density limitations for "NA 1954,
Refrigerant gases, n.o.s., 2.1 (flammable gas)" prescribed in the § 173.304a(a)(2) Table
apply to "2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene" refrigerant gas. If"2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene" is
being shipped under the proper shipping name "Liquefied gas, flammable, n.o.s.," the
answer is no. If "2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene" is being shipped under the proper shipping

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description "NA 1954, Refrigerant gases, n.o.s., 2.1," the answer is yes. The filling limits
prescribed in § 173.304(b) only apply to refrigerant gases being shipped as "NA 1954,
Refrigerant gas, n.o.s." Section 173.304(b) states the liquid portion of a liquefied gas may
not completely fill the packaging at any temperature up to and including 55°C (131°F). In
addition, the filling density can be determined using the formula provided in "Note 1" to the
Table in § 173.304a( a )(2). The filling density for any cylinder containing your material,
including a DOT specification 39 cylinder, can be determined by calculating the percent
ratio of the weight of the gas in the cylinder to the weight of the water the cylinder will hold
at 16°C (60 OF).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
~r#~~
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
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Edmon~()fJ
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Drakeford, Carol
From: Lehman, Victoria (PHMSA) lirders
Sent: Thursday, March 10,2011 3:42 PM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) I{- OD(ol.
Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation
From: Randolph Martin [mailto:Randolph.Martin@USA.dupont.com]
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 1:22 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Cc: Mark H Christman; Michael E McCord
Subject: Request for Interpretation
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Attn: PHH-10
U.S. Department of Transportation
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
We are requesting a written confirmation from PHMSA that DOT 39 cylinders are authorized for the transport of product
properly classified as follows:
UN3161
2.1
Liquefied Gas, Flammable, N.O.S. (2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene)
Non-bulk shipments of UN3161 are governed by 49CFR 173.304, 173.301, and in addition, 173.301a, 173.304a and
173.305, as applicable. In our interpretation, none of these references specifically limit or prohibit the use of DOT 39
cylinders for UN3161, and in fact clearly allow this product to be shipped in DOT 39 cylinders.
This was discussed and confirmed verbally by Scott in the Hazardous Materials Information Center on Mar 4, 2011.
Please call me if you have any questions.
Looking forward to your reply.
Randolph Martin
DuPont Company
Hazardous Materials Distribution Consultant
4417 Lancaster Pike
BMP22/2222
Wilmington, DE 19375
Phone: 302-992-3443
e-mail: randolph.martin@usa.dupont.com
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