{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0211","title":"HAZMATEAM — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2013-02-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0211 response to HAZMATEAM concerning 172.202, 173.301.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0211.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0211.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0211","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/120211.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\nFEB 0 8 2013\nMr. Paul Dambek\nHazardous Materials Trainer and Consultant\nHAZMATEAM\n12 Kimball Hill Rd.\nHudson, NH 03051\nReference No.: 12-0211\nDear Mr. Dambek:\nThis is in response to your September 21, 2012 letter requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You ask several\nquestions concerning shipments of a DOT Specification 4BA cylinder in non-specification\nstrong outer fiberboard boxes. Your questions are paraphrased and answered below:\nQl. When shipping a specification 4BA cylinder in a strong outer packaging (fiberboard\nbox), please indicate which of the following package marking and labeling scenarios is, or\nare, correct:\n#1. Cylinder- No hazard communication labels or marks Box- 2.2label, UN 1044, FIRE\nEXTINGUISHERS, and OVERPACK markings\n#2. Cylinder- 2.2label, UN 1044 and FIRE EXTINGUISHERS markings Box- 2.2label,\nUN 1044 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, and OVERPACK markings\n#3. Cylinder- No hazard communication labels or marks Box- 2.2 label, UN 1044, FIRE\nEXTINGUISHERS markings\n#4. Cylinder- No hazard communication labels or marks Box- 2.2label (Air Transport\nOnly), and Limited Quantity Marking described in § 172.315\nA 1. The labeling and marking configuration in #2 above would be correct if the box was\nmarked with an indication that the inner packagings conform to the prescribed specifications\ninstead ofthe \"OVERPACK\" marking. Please note HM 215-K [Docket No. PHMSA-\n2009-0126 (HM-215K)] 78 FR 1116 clarified the requirements for limited quantity\nshipments of fire extinguishers.\nQ2. When describing the cylinder in a box on a shipping paper, to comply with the\nrequirement in§ 172.202(a)(7) to indicate the number and type of package; which ofthe\nfollowing packaging descriptions is, or are correct; cylinder, carton, or box.\nA2. It is the opinion of this office that either box, or carton are the most appropriate\ndescriptions ofthe number and kind of packages for describing cylinder shipped as inner\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\npackages of fiberboard boxes. The definition of a package in § 171.8 is a packaging plus its\ncontents. The use of a term like cylinder to comply with the requirements in § 172.202(a)(7)\nwould indicate cylinders shipped without outer packaging. As several fire extinguishers\nmay be shipped in one outer package, the use of the term cylinder and a corresponding\nnumber of cylinders offered for transport to comply with the requirements in\n§ 172.202(a)(7) is not recommended.\nQ3. May a 4BA cylinder ever be shipped by itself, without an outer packaging?\nA3. No. The general requirements in§ 173.30l(a)(9) require 4BA cylinders to be packed\nin strong non-bulk outer packagings.\nQ4. Section 173.301(a)(9) states that cylinders must be placed in an outer packaging and\nmarked \"inner packages conform to prescribed specifications\". Is the use of the word\n\"OVERPACK\" allowed and equivalent to \"inner packages conform to prescribed\nspecifications\"?\nA4. No. The outer fiberboard box you mention in your letter is considered an outer\npackage when transporting your 4BA cylinder and not an overpack. The package must be\nmarked with a specific indication that the inner packagings conform to the prescribed\nspecifications in accordance with§ 173.301(a)(9).\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us ifwe can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n~il~·\nSenior Regulatory Advisor\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nHAZMATEAM\n'tAle ~b\n~ {13· 301\n~ 17A-./ Ol\nt:\"iv-G f,)(·l-i':j ui sher.s\nlA. .. O:L-.11\n~\\\n12 Kimball Hill Road\nHudson, NH 03051-3915\nTelephone: (603) 882-1112\nFax: (603) 882-6512\nWeb site:\nSeptember 21, 2012\nMr. Charles Betts\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: PHH-10\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nEast Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nDear Mr. Betts:\nI am requesting a letter of interpretation on shipping a DOT Specification 4BA cylinder in a non-\nspecification strong outer fibreboard box. Please consider the following package:\nProper Shipping Name: UN 1044, Fire Extinguisher, 2.2. classified. The requirements of 49 CFR 172.102, SP 18 have been met.\nThis materially is properly\nCylinder: Specification DOT 4BA cylinder, charged with 176 psig. Cylinder meets the\napplicable requirements of 49 CFR 178.51\nQuestions:\n1) When shipping the specification 4BA cylinder in a strong outer packaging (fibreboard\nbox), please indicate which of the following package mark and labels scenarios is (are)\ncorrect:\nScenario #1\nCylinder: No DOT hazard marks or labels;\nBox: 2.2 label; \"UN 1044, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, OVERPACK\"\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nScenario #2\nCylinder: 2.21abel; \"UN 1044, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS\"\nBox: 2.21abel; \"UN 1044, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, OVERPACK\"\nScenario #3\nCylinder: No DOT hazard marks or labels;\nBox: 2.2 label; \"UN 1044, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS\"\nScenario #4\nCylinder: No DOT hazard marks or labels;\nBox: 2.2 label (AIR ONLY); Limited Quantity Marking described in 172.315.\n2) When describing the cylinder in a box on the shipping paper, to meet the requirements\nof 49 CFR 172.202 (a)(?), which of the following packaging description is (are) are\ncorrect: \"Cylinder'', \"Carton\" or \"Box\"?\n3) May the 4BA cylinder ever be shipped by itself, without an outer packaging? 49 CFR\n173.301 (a)(9) states that the cylinder must be placed in an outer packaging. However,\n49 CFR 173.309 (b) does not reference 49 CFR 173.301.\n4) 173.301 (a)(9) states that the cylinder must be placed in an outer packaging and marked\n\"inner packages conform to prescribed specifications\" Is the use of the word \"overpack\"\nallowed and equivalent to \"inner packages conform to prescribed specifications\"\nIf you have questions, do not hesitate to send e-mail to\n8395. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.\nSincerely,\nPaul Dambek, CET\nHazardous Materials Trainer and Consultant","truncated":false,"body_characters":6024}