{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0290","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":"2012-02-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0290 response to Department of the Army concerning 173.168, 173.302, 178.602.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0290.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0290.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0290","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110290.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration FEB 082012\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington. DC 20590\nMs. Sarah Gedrich\nChief, LOGSA Packaging, Storage, and Containerization\nCenter (AMXLS-AT-L)\nDepartment of the Anny\n11 Hap Arnold Boulevard\nTobyhanna, PA 18466-5097\nRef. No. 11-0290\nDear Ms. Gedrich:\nThis responds to your October 12, 2011 letter requesting clarification of the preparation of\ncomposite or combination packaging containing compressed oxygen and other oxidizing gases\nin cylinders or chemical oxygen generators for testing under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Part 171-180). In general terms, these articles are required to be\nplaced in a rigid outer packaging that conforms to the testing provisions in Part 178, Subpart M\nofthe HMR or the performance criteria of Airlines for America (A4A), formerly the Air\nTransport Association of America, Inc. (AT A) , Specification No. 300 for a Category I shipping\ncontainer. See §§ 173.168(d)and 173.302(f)(3). You specifically request clarification ofthe\npreparation ofpackaging for testing.\nYour questions are paraphrased and answered in a single response as follows, however, we note\nthat the guidance offered relative to A4A Specification No. 300 is the opinion of this Office\nand we recommend that you contact A4A for further guidance:\nQ. Should the testing be conducted with the cylinder and chemical oxygen generator empty?\nIf so, how are we to account for the weight ofthe material in a filled cylinder or chemical\noxygen generator?\nA. Yes. Additives similar to the instruction provided in § 178 .602( c) ofthe HMR can be used\nto compensate for the weight ofthe hazardous contents.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. Ifyou need additional assistance, please contact this Office at\n(202) 366-8553.\nS~'~~\nBen Supko\nActing Chief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nber kin cJ-eren\nDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY SIll. g\nUSAMC LOGISTICS SUPPORT ACTIVITY\nREDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA 35898-7466 S175.lfog\n25 }7<6 . idJz-\nOctober 12, 2011 eM WI ica ( 0}(J~ ~ n (b~r1tra.1oo\n{t-D2/10\nLogistics Testing and Applications Division\nMr. Charles E. Betts\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. DOTIPHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue\nSE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Mr. Betts:\nThis letter of inquiry for interpretation is written on behalf of the US Army Materiel\nCommand Logistics Support Activity Packaging, Storage, and Containerization Center (USAMC\nLOGSA PSCC), Tobyhanna, PA. It is being written for clarificat,ioniinterpretation ofthe HM224B,\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR): Transportation ,of Compressed Oxygen, Other\nOxidizing Gases and Chemical Oxygen Generators on Aircraft. '\nThe Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §17L~ defines all o~ter packaging as \"the\noutermost enclosure of a composite or combination packaging together with any absorbent\nmaterials, cushioning and any other components necessary to contain and protect inner\nreceptacles or inner packagings.\" In order to meet the \"integrity standards,\" the HM-224B\nrequires that the cylinder or the generator\n\"must be placed in a rigid outer packaging that (1)\nConforms to the requirements of either:\n(i) Part 178, subparts L and M, ofthis subchapter at the Packing Group I\nor II performance level; or\n(ii) The performance criteria in Air Transport Association (AT A)\nSpecification No. 300 for a Category I shipping container.\" (49 CFR\n§ 173.168 and § 173. 304)\nAs written, subparts L and M do not address the preparation of packagings for testing\nif one was to designate the cylinder or generator as the inner packaging and the HM224B\nspecification packaging as the outer packaging. Typically, the package would be\nrequired to be closed \"in the same manner as if prepared for transportation\" (49 CFR\n§ 178.602). For the packaging being discussed, this could be 115 cubic feet of oxygen\ncompressed to pressures greater than 3,000 pounds per square lnch <psi) (for tests other\nthan the drop and stack tests). The 49 CFR addresses filling procedures for packages\nsubjected to the drop and stack tests, and in relation'to liquids and solids only. .\nCompressed gas has a behavior different' from either a liquid or a..~olid~@d the safety\nrisks involved with testing pressurized cylinders are extreme. '.'''3'[' ';< . .. .\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n-2•\nShould the cylinder or generator be tested empty? If empty, how do we\naccount for the extra weight once filled (2 lbs to greater than 20 Ibs depending\non the size ofthe cylinder)?\nATA Specification No. 300 Category I does not address the preparation for packaging.\n• Should the cylinder or generator be tested empty under these requirements as\nwell?\nPoint of contact for this matter is Miss Sarah R. Gedrich, DSN 795-7649, (570) 615-7649,\nFAX (570) 615-7823, or e-mail sarah.gedrich@us.arrny.mil. All correspondence responding to\nthis memorandum should be sent to Chief, LOGSA Packaging, Storage, and Containerization\nCenter (AMXLS-AT-LiSarah Gedrich), 11 Hap Arnold Boulevard, Tobyhanna, PA 18466-5097.\nSincerely,\njf1 d·JL~~\nsh~~rnith\"VVV ­ Chief, Logistics Testing and\nand Applications Division","truncated":false,"body_characters":5217}