{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0174","title":"Process Technology Optimization, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-10-03","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0174 response to Process Technology Optimization, Inc. concerning 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0174.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0174.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0174","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120174.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\nOCT 0 3 2012\nDr. Tilak Bommaraju\nVice President\nProcess Technology Optimization, Inc.\n2801 Long Road\nGrand Island, NY 14072\nReference No.: 12-0174\nDear Dr. Bommaraju:\nThis is in response to your July 31, 2012letter requesting confirmation that two new\nformulations for Flameless Ration Heaters (FRHs) developed by your company for usc by\nthe U.S. Department of Defense are not subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nAs provided in § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous\nmaterial. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this office. However, based\non the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and test results you provided for each\nformulation, it is the opinion of this office that the described FRH formulations do not meet\nthe definition of a Division 4.1, Division 4.3, Division 5.1, or Division 6.1 material and,\nprovided they do not meet the criteria for any other hazard class, neither formulation is\nsubject to the HMR.\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nPi.~\nSenior Regulatory Advisor\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n-~-·----···-~--------~---~----·-~------------\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n~OPTIMIZATION\n2801 Long Road, Grand Island, NY 14072\nPhone: (716) 773-8106 Fax: (716) 773-8107\nE-mail: tilak@ptoinc.com\nCharles E.Betts\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice ofHazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nDear Dr. Betts,\nThe Department of Defense (DOD) transports Unitized Group Ration- Express, UGR-E, for\nproviding hot meals to soldiers in the field. This unit is capable of heating a meal that feeds 18\nsoldiers. There are four sealed, high density polyethylene polymeric trays in a full UGR-E, the\nheating element being a Flameless Ration Heater, FRH, housed in a polypropylene bag and\nsealed in each tray with a 4.2 mil lid-stock which is a composite made of a bottom layer of 3 mil\nthick low density polyethylene, middle layer of 0.0003 mil aluminum foil, and a top layer of\n0.0006 mil Nylon. The present FRHs use magnesium-iron alloy powders that are activated by\naqueous sodium chloride to generate sufficient thermal energy to heat the food rations to ~ 140 -\n150°F. The Mg/Fe based FRH generates substantial amounts of flammable gases when tested\nwith distiiled water in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, to meet the\ndefinition of Packing Group I or II in class 4, Division 4.3.\nProcess Technology Optimization, Inc. has successfully developed two new formulations for the\nFRH that are packaged in a polypropylene bag and housed in the polymeric trays. These\nformulations were tested by an accredited laboratory, Stresau Laboratory Inc., following the\nprocedures in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. These results show that these ration heater\ncompositions are not Division 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Materials. A copy of the Stresau report\nis attached with this document along with the MSDS for these formulations.\nWe understand as described in sec 173.22 of HMR: CFR Parts 171-180, that it is the obligation\nof the shipper to properly classify a material. Given the supporting documentations attached, we\nrequest your approval for shipping this material as unregulated under HMR.\nIfthere are any questions concerning our request, please let us know to allow us to provide\nadditional details and clarifications.\nRegards,\nT:Y.d,'-- V. ~~\nTilak V. Bommaraju\nVice President","truncated":false,"body_characters":3675}