{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0210","title":"Patterson Companies, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2011-11-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0210 response to Patterson Companies, Inc. concerning 173.306.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0210.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0210.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0210","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110210.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nNOV 1 0 2011\n1200 New Jersey Ave. SE\nWashington. D.C. 20590\nMr. Robb Boros\nPatterson Companies, Inc.\n1905 Lakewood Drive\nBoone, Iowa 50036\nReference No.: 11-0210\nDear Mr. Boros:\nThis responds to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR~ 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the capability requirements for aerosol containers\nspecified throughout § 173.306. Specifically, you seek clarification of the following language\nreferenced in § 173.306(a)(S)(ii) with concern to aerosol capability.\n\"All nOll-DOT specification and specification DOT 2S containers must be capable of\nwithstanding, without bursting, a pressure of one and one-half times the equilibrium\npressure of the contents at 130 OF.\"\nYou ask if the temperature reference in § 173.306(a)(S)(ii) is referring to the equilibrium pressure,\nor the capability requirement, itself.\nThe temperature reference in § 173.306(a)(5)(ii) is intended to refer to the equilibrium pressure of\nthe contents. Therefore, as specified in § 173.306(a)(5)(ii), all non-DOT specification and\nspecification DOT 2S containers must be capable of withstanding, without bursting, a pressure of\none and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents, whatever this may be. Section\nI 78.33b-7 addresses performance of DOT 2S containers at high temperatures.\nI hope this satisfies your inquiry.\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nCorporate Office\n1031 Mendota Heights Road\nPXI'IIERSON Main 800.328.5536\nSaint Paul, Minnesota 55120\nFax 651.686.9331\nOMPANIES~ iNC. www.pattersondental.com\nSeptember 7, 2011\n13enedlC}­Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: PHH-lO, ~ 173- 30(,\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey A venue, SE, East Building ~~lu'1ders\nWashington, DC 20590-0001 ,,- ozJD\nI am requesting clarification regarding the capability testing of aerosol containers as prescribed in several parts of\n173.306. I am familiar with a previous letter requesting clarification regarding capability testing procedures and the\nDOT response that no testing method is specified for determining capability. This letter seeks clarification of the\nlanguage used in referring to the capability of the aerosol container at the 1.5x equilibrium pressure.\nAlbeit, the one and one-half capability is referenced in several parts of 173.306, please refer to l73.306(a)(5)(ii):\n\"Pressure in the container must not exceed 160 psig at 130 oF. Ifthe pressure in the container is less than 140 psig at 130 oF, a\nnon-DOT specification container may be used. If the pressure in the container exceeds 140 psig at 130 OF but does not exceed\n160 psig at 130 OF, the container must cO'!form to specification DOT 2S. All non-DOT specification and specification DOT 2S\ncontainers must be capable of withstanding, without bursting, a pressure of one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of\nthe contents at 130 oF. \"\nThis entry is clear until the last sentence that presents an ambiguity regarding the temperature reference as explained in\nthe following interpretations:\nInterpretation 1: All non-DOT specification and specification DOT 2S containers must be capable of withstanding,\nwithout bursting, a pressure ofone and one-ha?ftimes the [equilibrium pressure ofthe contents at 130 OF).\nInterpretation 2: All non-DOT specification and specification DOT 2S containers must be capable of withstanding,\nwithout bursting, a pressure ofone and one-halftimes the [equilibrium pressure ofthe contents] at 130 OF.\nThe first interpretation would simply include the temperature as part of the reference to the equilibrium pressure\nindicating that temperature is irrelevant when verifying capability, whereas the second provides that temperature is\npertinent to the capability of the container to withstanding the one and one-half the equilibrium pressure and that the\ncapability must be considered at the 130F temperature.\nIt would seem that whenever the HMR is looking for data to substantiate performance, there is mandate for consistency.\nThe properties of the materials used to make containers whether metal or plastic - change when subjected to different\ntemperatures and it would seem prudent they remain consistent throughout testing when the results reflect the containers\nability to perform, whether specified or implied.\nI have addressed this with Mr. Mark Toughiry of the DOT. After explaining this issue and my concerns regarding\nplastic aerosol containers, he agreed that capability testing should be conducted at the same temperature as the\nequilibrium pressure.\nSincerely,\nRobb Boros\nCompliance Coordinator\nPatterson Companies, Inc.c/o Patterson Logistics :servlc:es,ln;c.\n1905 Lakewood Drive\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 2:48 PM\nTo: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: Letter requesting interpretation of aerosol container capability temperatures\nAttachments: Aerosol Capability Temp Letter.pdf\nHi Carolyn,\nWe received the following request for a letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nVictoria Lehman\nHazmat Information Center (HMIC)\nhttp://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center\n(202) 366-1035\nFrom: robb.boros@pattersoncompanies.com [mailto: robb. boros@pattersoncompanies.coml\nsent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 2:06 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubject: Letter requesting interpretation of aerosol container capability temperatures\nPlease find a letter requesting interpretation regarding aerosol container capability and testing.\nThanks\nRobb Boros\nCompliance Coordinator\nPatterson Companies, Inc.\n515.433.1700 (Fax 1701)\nWhat would the world be like if Pandora had used UN Packaging?\nNOTICE: This email transmission and any attachments that accompany it may contain information that is confidential or\nothefWise exempt from disclosure under applicable law and is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it\nwas intended to be addressed. 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