# CHART-SeQual Technologies, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 12-0252
- **title:** CHART-SeQual Technologies, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-01-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 12-0252 response to CHART-SeQual Technologies, Inc. concerning 173.185, 175.10.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0252.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0252.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0252
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120252.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
JAN 0 7 2013
Mr. Ben Kadrlik
CHART -SeQual Technologies, Inc.
2200 Airport industrial Drive, Suite 500
Ball Ground, GA 30107 USA
Ref. No.: 12-0252
Dear Mr. Kadrlik:
This responds to your November 2, 2012letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to a portable oxygen
concentrator (POC). Specifically, you inquire about obtaining Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) approval to allow a passenger to carry the POC aboard an aircraft.
According to your letter, the POC (trade name EQUINOX Oxygen System™) is a device
that is for use by patients requiring high concentrations of oxygen on a supplemental basis.
The maximum operating pressure of the EQUINOX Oxygen System™ is 23.7 pounds per
square inch (psia). The EQUINOX Oxygen System™ is powered by multiple sources,
including AC or DC power, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. For the
EQUINOX Oxygen System™ powered by the rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, the
lithium-ion cells have a lithium content of 0.45 grams per cell, or 7.20 grams of aggregate
equivalent lithium content for the battery pack. The lithium-ion battery packs are types
designed to meet the appropriate tests in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria,
and the battery packs are packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits when offered for
transport or carried onboard passenger aircraft. You ask whether this device is regulated
under the HMR.
Based on the information provided in your letter, the EQUINOX Oxygen System™ is not
subject to the HMR as a Division 2.2 non-flammable gas. The lithium-ion battery pack
appears to conform to § 172.102( c )(1 ), Special Provision 188 for the transportation of small
lithium cells and batteries and the POC contains no other hazardous materials. Therefore,
the EQUINOX Oxygen System™ is not subject to any other requirements in the HMR.
Please note that notwithstanding the passenger exception in § 175.10(a)(18) of the HMR,
Special Federal Aviation Regulation 106 (SFAR 106) "Rules for Use of Portable Oxygen
Concentrator Systems on Board Aircraft" apply and are under the purview of the FAA, not
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. This response letter satisfies

<<<PAGE 2>>>

only one requirement in the FAA approval process before a POC may be operated onboard
an aircraft. You may contact Ms. DK Deaderick in FAA's Flight Standards Service at
(202) 267-7 480 for questions regarding FAA's approval process.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
~--P~~--·
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
2

<<<PAGE 3>>>

~
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CH.!JRT-Se(Jlu~:l
Tecltnoloaies Inc.
Suite 500
2200 Airport Industrial Drive
Ball Ground, GA 30 107
Phone: 770.721.7700 Fax: 770.721.7701
www.chart-ind.com
November 2, 2012
Mr. Charles Betts
U.S. DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attention: PHH-1 0
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: Classification of Chart SeQual Technologies Inc. EQUINOX Oxygen System
Dear Mr. Betts,
I am writing to request written confirmation from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) that Chart SeQual Technologies Inc. new portable oxygen concentrator
(POC) device known as the "EQUINOX Oxygen System" is not subject to the U.S. hazardous
materials regulations (HMR).
Background
The EQUINOX Oxygen System is a device that separates oxygen from ambient air through a
process called Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). The EQUINOX provides a solution to address
both stationary and portable requirements for oxygen patients needing up to 3 LPM full flow
operation and up to 192 ml flow in a pulse mode operation. It consists of a lightweight, portable
oxygen concentrator with an integrated oxygen delivery valve for continuous flow or pulse
delivery and is capable of being operated directly from an AC or DC power source or from
rechargeable lithium ion batteries. It can be recharged and/or powered by a separate AC Power
Adapter or where standard AC line power is available. A 12-Volt DC cable allows power to be
provided by a DC auxiliary power outlet, such as in a motor vehicle during transportation.
Changeable and rechargeable battery packs are available to provide a range of ambulatory
operational time.
The EQUINOX Oxygen System achieves its performance through SeQual's patented Advanced
Technology Fractionator (ATF®) technology and patented variable speed compressor and
compressor drive, advanced molecular sieve materials and rechargeable batteries. This system
will expand an oxygen patient's ability to travel via aircraft and improve the patient's quality of
life.

<<<PAGE 4>>>

~
C A I R E<, SEQ~:
' .~ ;;,· -<,-f -' 1 ~ ·~,._ ~,;
CH.JlRT-SeQlutl
Tecknolooies Inc.
Suite 500
2200 Airport Industrial Drive
Ball Ground, GA 30 107
Phone: 770.721.7700 Fax: 770.721.7701
www.chart-ind.com
Class 2, Division 2.2 Gas - 49 CFR 173.115
The maximum pressure of the oxygen exerted within the EQUINOX Oxygen System packaging
currently is 23.7 psia during normal operation at 20° C. This is substantially less than the 43.8
psia at 20° C referenced in 49 CFR 173 .115(b )(1) for defining a Division 2.2 gas. Therefore, it is
our opinion that the oxygen exerted within the EQUINOX Oxygen System is not a Division 2.2
gas and thus is not subject to the U.S. HMR.
Lithium ion Batteries- 49 CFR 173.185
The EQUINOX Oxygen System is powered by a lithium ion battery pack designed to be
compliant with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. The batteries are housed in a single, sturdily
constructed plastic enclosure. The entire battery pack consists of 16, 1,500 milli-ampere-hour
lithium ion cells. Therefore, the pack contains an aggregate equivalent lithium content of 7.20
grams.
Based on the requirements contained in 49 CFR 173.185, it is our opinion that the lithium ion
battery pack is not subject to the HMR since the cells contain not more than 5 grams of equivalent
lithium content, the battery pack contains not more than 25 grams of equivalent lithium content,
the battery pack is of the type proven to be non-dangerous by testing in accordance with tests in
the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, and it will be packed in such a way to prevent short circuits
when offered for transport or carried on board passenger aircraft.
We also would like to point out that the U.S. HMR contain the following exception in 49 CFR
175.IO(a)(27) (as amended by PHMSA's Interim Final Rule HM-224E) for passengers and crew
members:
" ... consumer electronic and medical devices (watches, calculators, cameras, cellular
phones, lap-top computers, camcorders, and hearing aids, etc.) containing lithium cells
or batteries, and spare lithium batteries and cells for these devices, when carried by
passengers or crew members in carry-on or checked baggage for personal use. In
addition, each installed or spare battery must conform to the following: (i) The lithium
content of the anode of each cell, when fully charged, is not more than 5 g; and (ii) The
aggregate lithium content of the anodes of each battery, when fully charged, is not more
than 25 g."
This provision is generally consistent with one found in the ICAO Technical Instructions that
authorizes consumer electronic devices containing lithium ion batteries with up to 25 grams of
equivalent lithium content to be carried onboard passenger aircraft.
* * * *

<<<PAGE 5>>>

CH.JlRT-SeQuctl
Teclmolooies Inc.
Suite 500
2200 Airport Industrial Drive
Ball Ground, GA30107
Phone: 770.721.7700 Fax: 770.721.7701
www.chart:-ind.com
I trust the information contained herein is sufficient for PHMSA to provide a written
determination that the EQUINOX Oxygen System is not subject to the U.S. HMR. Should you
need additional information or have any questions regarding our product, please do not hesitate to
contact me at the information below.
Our complete contact information is as follows:
Chart SeQual Technologies fuc.
2200 Airport fudustrial Drive, Suite 500
Ball Ground, GA 30107 USA
Attn: Ben Kadrlik - Regulatory Specialist
Phone: 770-721-7700
FAX: 770-721-7701
Email: Ben.Kadrlik@chart-ind.com
Best Regards,
Ben Kadrlik
Regulatory Specialist
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