{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0162","title":"Kiddie Fenwal Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-08-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0162 response to Kiddie Fenwal Inc. concerning 172.101, 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0162.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0162.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0162","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120162.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAUG 2 2 2012\nMr. Gil Walton\nSr. Trade Analyst\nKiddie Fenwal Inc.\n400 Main Street\nAshland, MA 01721\nRef. No. 12-0162\nDear Mr. Walton:\nThis responds to your August 1, 2012 letter regarding determination of the proper shipping\nname for your product under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts\n171-180). In your incoming letter, you describe a 4BW steel cylinder containing a mixture\nof Heptafluoropropane (95-98%) a fire extinguishing agent, and nitrogen (2-5%) an\nexpellant. Specifically, you ask if the concentration of 95-98% Heptafluoropropane would\nbe considered technically pure, and therefore, be classified under the proper shipping\nname, \"Heptafluoropropane, UN 3296, 2.2\", as listed in the Hazardous Materials Table\n(HMT) in 172.101.\nSection 173.22 states that it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous\nmaterial. This office does not perform that function. However, upon review of the\ninformation you supplied, it is the opinion of this office, that the most appropriate proper\nshipping description for the fire extinguishing system you described is \"Fire extinguishers\ncontaining compressed or liquefied gas, UN 1044, 2.2.\"\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this\noffice at (202) 366-8553. ·\nSincerely,\nRobert Benedict\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA UTC Fire & Security Company\n400 Main Stre,'t\n/\\shlcnd, M/\\Oi/?1\nrei.: 508.88UOOO\nFax: 508 .. 881.8920\n'/\\/WW. kidde-fenvva I. corn\n1Joe;~~e\n~172· /0 J\nShrpp /113 Nam~\nfZ = u l Co~\nDear Mr. Betts,\nI am requesting a ruling on behalf of Kidde Fenwal Inc. regarding the UN number and proper\nshipping name for 4BW steel cylinders containing Heptafluoropropane and charged with\nnitrogen. These cylinders are part of a fixed fire suppression system. The concentrations by\nweight are as follows:\nHeptafluoropropane- 95-98% and Nitrogen 2-5%\nHeptafluoropropane is a fire extinguishing agent and the nitrogen is added to super pressurize the\nassembly and act as the expellant gas during discharge. The purpose of the nitrogen is to enable a\nrapid discharge of the Heptafluoropropane to suppress the fire.\nAccording to 172.101(c) 10 B the shipping description indicates that the proper shipping name\napplies only to the pure or technically pure hazardous material. Since Heptafluoropropane is the\npredominant hazard, it is called out by name in the Hazardous Materials Table, and is technically\na pure substance due to concentration, would the UN number and proper shipping name be\nUN3296 and Heptafluoropropane?\nI appreciate your consideration in this matter.\nSincerely,\nGil Walton\nSr. Trade Analyst\nKidde Fenwal Inc.\n508-231-2758","truncated":false,"body_characters":2879}