# Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0197
- **title:** Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-12-21
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0197 response to Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. concerning 171.1, 171.23.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0197.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0197.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0197
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110197.pdf
**body:**

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1200 New Jersey Ave" SE
U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
DEC; 7
Mr. Joe DiGirolamo
Dangerous Goods Specialist
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
7201 Hamilton Blvd.
Allentown, P A 18195
Ref. No.: 11-0197
Dear Mr. DiGirolamo:
This responds to your August 15,2011 email seeking clarification ofthe placarding requirements
ofthe Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask
what markings and placards are required for certain shipments ofmaterials that are poisonous by
inhalation that are loaded at one facility and prepared in accordance with the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and DOT SP-7835. You provided two examples of
common shipments, which I have paraphrased in the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1:
What are the marking and placarding requirements for a motor vehicle containing 3,000 pounds
of a Division 2.3, PIH Hazard Zone A material with a subsidiary Division 2.1 hazard; 8,000
pounds of a Division 6.1, PIH Hazard Zone B material with a subsidiary Class 8 hazard; and 500 '
pounds of a Class 8 material with a subsidiary Class 6.1, PIH Hazard Zone B hazard? You
indicated that under the IMDG Code, the Class 8 material does not have a subsidiary hazard.
Scenario 2:
What are the marking and placarding requirements for a motor vehicle containing 1,000 pounds
ofa Division 2.3, PIH Hazard Zone A material with a subsidiary Division 2.1 hazard; 3,000
pounds ofa Division 6.1, PIH Hazard Zone B material with a subsidiary Class 8 hazard; and 500
pounds ofa Class 8 material with a subsidiary Class 6.1, PIH Hazard Zone B hazard? You
indicated that under the IMDG Code, the Class 8 material does not have a subsidiary hazard.
Section 171.23(b)( 1 O)(iv)(A) specifies the marking, labeling, and placarding requirements for
materials poisonous by inhalation transported in accordance with the IMDG Code in a closed
transport vehicle or freight container. The section states that a label or placard conforming to the
IMDG Code specifications for a "Class 2.3" or "Class 6.1" label or placard may be substituted
for the POISON GAS or POISON INHALATION HAZARD label or placard, as appropriate. It
further states that a freight container must be marked with the ID number, regardless ofthe total

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quantity in the freight container, as specified in § 172.313( c) and placarded as required by
subpart F of part 172 ofthe HMR.
With respect to placarding in both scenarios, the transport vehicle or freight container must be
placarded with the POISON GAS, FLAMABLE GAS, POISON INHALATION HAZARD and
CORROSIVE placards in accordance with subpart F ofpart 172. However, a "Class 2.3" or
"Class 6.1" placard may be substituted for the POISON GAS or POISON INHALATION
HAZARD placard, as appropriate. Also, for domestic transportation, it should be noted, in
accordance with §172.504(f)(8), a POISON INHALATION HAZARD placard is not required on
a transport vehicle or freight container that is already placarded with a POISON GAS placard.
With respect to marking for non-bulk packagings, § 171.23(b )(1 O)(iv)(A) requires that the
transport vehicle or freight container in both scenarios must be marked on each side and each end
as stated in § 172.332 or § 172.336, with the identification number specified for the hazardous
material in the § 172.1 0 1 table for all three hazardous materials in the shipment, despite the
provisions and limitations stated in § 172.3 13(c).
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Standards
and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553.
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:23 PM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: General Information, Regulations, and Definitions
(Sections 171.1 &ndash; 171.26)
Hi Carolyn}
Ms. Sandler requested the following e-mail be submitted as a formal letter of interpretation
in her 8/17/11 phone call with the Info Center.
Thanks,
Victoria
-----Original Message----From:
PHMSA-Feedback [mailto:PHMSA-Feedback]
Sent: Monday, August 1S} 2e11 3:22 PM
To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter; PHMSA Webmaster
Subject: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: General Information, Regulations, and
Definitions (Sections 171.1 &ndash; 171.26)
To whom it may concern.
RE: 49CFR 171.23 & 172.313
Air Products and Chemicals} Inc ships several combinations of PIH substances. It is common
for us to ship similar loads via road domestically and also as a preliminary road leg for an
ocean shipment. Our practice is to prepare ocean shipments in accordance with the IMDG code
as outlined in 49CFR part 171 subpart C. We have encountered numerous occasions where there
is confusion and disagreement over the marking and placarding requirements of the transport
vehicle or freight container.
Our shipments may include a combination of PIH gases and liquids. Domestic shipments of
these combinations are transported under the terms and conditions of DOT SP-783S. These
consignments would be loaded at one facility and shipped in closed freight containers.
Two examples of common shipments are outlined below.
Load A
• 3}eee lbs Division 2.3 (2.1) PIH Hazard Zone A / One UN number
• 8}eee lbs Division 6.1 (8) PIH Hazard Zone B / One UN number
• see lbs Class 8 (6.1) PIH Hazard Zone B / One UN number
&#616e7; Note: Material 3 has no subrisk per IMDG
Load B
• 1eee lbs Division 2.3 (2.1) PIH Hazard Zone A / Two UN numbers
o One UN number 8ee lbs} the other 2ee lbs
• 3eee lbs Division 6.1 (8) PIH Hazard Zone B / Two UN numbers
o One UN number 2eee lbs, the other 1eee lbs
• see lbs Class 8 (6.1) PIH Hazard Zone B / One UN number
&#616e7; Note: Material 3 has no subrisk per IMDG
We respectfully request PHMSA's input and guidance on the minimum marking and placarding
requirements for each of these scenarios, both domestic road and preliminary road for ocean
shipment.
Most Sincerely
1

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Air Products &Chemicals Inc.
Name: Hope Sandler
Organization: Air Products & Chemicals Inc
Email: Sandleh@airproducts.com
Address: 7201 Hamilton Blvd
City: Allentown
Zip Code: 18195
Phone: 610 481 7713
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