# PTP Consulting, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 13-0179
- **title:** PTP Consulting, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-10-21
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 13-0179 response to PTP Consulting, Inc concerning 173.185.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0179.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0179.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0179
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130179.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
OCT 2 1 2013
Carol Brozosky, CHMM, CET
President
PTP Consulting, Inc.
1531 Kings Highway
Swedesboro, NJ 08085
Reference No. 13-0179
Dear Ms. Brozosky:
This is in response to your August 26, 2013 letter concerning how to transpmi "UN 3091,
Lithium batteries, contained in equipment, Class 9, Packing Group (PG) II" by motor
vehicle under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 1 71-180).
Specifically, you present a transportation scenario and ask if the actions you propose for
transpmiing these batteries are permitted under Special Provision 188 of§ 172.102 of the
HMR. We paraphrased the scenario and decisions you provided, and the question you
posed, and answered it below.
Transportation Scenario
You state the shipper will:
• Transport used desktop and laptop computers and cellular (cell) phones that contain
lithium batteries by motor vehicle within the United States from the equipment
manufacturer's location to a central location the manufacturer owns and operates.
• Assume each lithium cell and battery contained in these computers and cell phones is
a small rechargeable lithium battery that meets the conditions prescribed in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of§ 172.102, Special Provision 188. For example, lithium
metal cells contain less than 1 gram of lithium, lithium ion cells contain less than 1.5
grams of lithium, and lithium batteries contain less than 2 grams of lithium metal or
8 grams of lithium ion metal.
• Assume no primary lithium batteries and no batteries free from their equipment will
be included in the shipments.
• ·whenever possible, remove lithium batteries from their equipment, tape their
electrical connectors to help prevent any potential for generating heat or short
circuits, and then secure these batteries within their equipment.
• Surround the computers and cell phones with sufficient cushioning to prevent their
movement during normal highway transportation and place them inside a large heavy
duty corrugated box (e.g., a Gaylord box).

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Proposed Transportation Scenario Decisions
It is your understanding that:
• Each completed package that contains the above-described computers and cell
phones is excepted from HMR labels and markings.
• The fiberboard box used to consolidate these devices may be a non-specification
packaging.
• Special Provision 188, specifically paragraph (e), that requires these cells or batteries
to be separated to prevent short circuits, does not require each computer or piece of
equipment that contains a lithium battery to be individually packed.
• Shipping papers are not required for packagings that meet the transportation scenario
and decisions you describe.
• Large heavy duty corrugated boxes containing these materials are not subject to a
weight limit.
• Persons preparing and offering these materials for transportation are not required to
be hazmat trained in conformance with 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart H (Training).
Q 1. · Have we correctly interpreted how to transport small UN 3 091 batteries under the
HMR?
AI. The answer is yes. Class 9, UN 3091, Lithium batteries that comply with all
applicable provisions in § 172.102, Special Provision 188, are not subject to any
other requirements under the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
2
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<<<PAGE 3>>>

CONSULTING INC.
Prcgess 11TC411 p;formn::e
PTP Consulting, Inc. + 1531 Kings Highway + Swedesboro, NJ 08085
856-467-5400 + www.ehsprogress.com + info@ehsprogress.com tdmovt~n
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August 26, 2013
U.S. DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: PHH-10
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Ll!fQgntr@DOT:EQY
Request for a Letter of Interpretation: Shipping Lithium Batteries, Contained in Equipment- by
Highway
To Whom it May Concern:
We would like to have clarification with regard to shipping lithium batteries, contained in
equipment, UN3091, Hazard Class 9. We would like to use Special Provision 188 for "small"
batteries, and we believe the following scenario is not subject to any other requirements of the
subchapter.
Here is the scenario:
• The Shipper would like to transport "used" desktop computers, lap tops and cellular
phones by highway from their manufacturing locations to a central location owned and
operated by the same company within the United States.
• The assumption is every cell and battery meets the definition of small under paragraph b
and c of this Special Provision 188. (CELL: less than 1 gram for lithium metal, or 1.5 grams
for lithium ion. BATTERY: less than 2 grams for lithium metal or 8 grams for lithium ion).
These will all be rechargeable lithium batteries, and no primary lithium batteries will be
included in these shipments.
• The batteries would remain in the equipment, and there will be no free batteries
transported in this same box. In accordance with 49CFR §173.21 all batteries will be
taped at their electrical connectors and secured back in equipment to prevent any
potential for the generation of heat or short circuiting.
• The electronic equipment would be placed in large heavy duty corrugated boxes (i.e.
Gaylord box), and cushioned to prevent movement during normal transportation by
highway.
Under this scenario, are we correct in our interpretation that these are non-regulated shipments
when shipped by highway?
In other words do you agree that:
• DOT HAZMAT Labels and Markings are not required,
lfPage

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• The large box used to consolidate this shipment is not required to be a UN performance
package,
• Special Provision 188 does not require each computer device to be individually packaged
(paragraph e),
• DOT certified shipping papers are not required,
• There is no weight limit of the large container,
• Offerors of these shipments do not need to be HAZMAT certified employees.
Please advise us with regard to this interpretation at your earliest convenience. A reply may be
sent by email to ,<;~JQ1@~J:!~Q[QJ5fg?_~!,c;:Qm or to the address shown.
Thank-you very much.
Very truly yours,
PTP Consulting~ Inc.
Carol Brozosky, CHMM, CET
President
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