# Thermofisher — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 11-0165 - **title:** Thermofisher — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2011-10-18 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 11-0165 response to Thermofisher concerning 173.27, 173.4a. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0165.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0165.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0165 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110165.pdf **body:** <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washinglon. DC 20590 OCT 182011 Ms. Melissa Russell Thermofisher 4481 Campus Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Reference No. 11-0165 Dear Ms. Russell: This is in response to your e-mail requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the term "positive means of closure." Specifically, you ask what is the additional "positive means" of closure requirement to the tape, wire and shrink-wrap as specified in the HMR (e.g., §§ 173.4a( e )(2) and 173.27( d» for a cap that has a tamper-evident seal ("non-backoff' cap). You state that the tamper-evident cap has a break-away ring such as the cap on a 20-ounce bottle of soda or on a gallon of milk. You also state that the non-backoff cap locks the closure to a container to avoid unwanted loosening. In addition to tape, wire and shrink-wrap, the HMR does not specify other methods of a positive means of closure. However, it is the opinion of this Office that the tamper-evident cap you reference does not meet the HMR positive means of closure requirement. To ensure that the closures are held securely in place during transportation, you may wish to contact the packaging manufacturer for additional methods to those given as examples in the HMR. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office should you have additional questions. T. Glenn Foster Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) 11- 01 bS' Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 1:40 PM To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) Subject: FW: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: Shippers-General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings (Sections 173.1 – 173.476) Hi Carolyn, This caller requested her e-mail be submitted as a letter of interpretation after speaking with me in the HMIC and being referred to interp letters 84-8811 and 89-8299, Thanks, Victoria Victoria Lehman Hazmat Information Center (HMIC) http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center (282) 366-1835 -----Original Message----From: PHMSA-Feedback [mailto:PHMSA-Feedback] sent: Thursday, July 14, 2811 4:84 PM To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter; PHMSA Webmaster Subject: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: Shippers-General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings (Sections 173.1 &ndashj 173.476) Good afternoon Mr. Charles E. Betts, We are trying to make a determination in regards to 'postive means of closure', I understand that all closures (mine specifically is a screw-type/threaded) need to be secured is such a way to prevent loosening due to vibration or change in temperature. This can be done w/ tape, wire, shrink wrap, etc. What is the additional 'positive closure' requirement for a cap that has a tamper evident seal or a cap that is classified as 'non-backoff'. The tamper evident cap has a break-away ring like the cap on a 280z bottle of soda or on a gallon of milk. The non-backoff cap locks the closure to a container to avoid unwanted loosening. Please let me know. Thanks in advancel! Name: Melissa Russell Email: melissa.russell@thermofisher.com Phone: 269-544-5632 1 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 3235