{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0039","title":"ARC Process, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2014-08-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0039 response to ARC Process, Inc. concerning 173.181, 178.50.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0039.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0039.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0039","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140039.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nAUG 2 1 2014\nMr. Steve M. Reed\nPresident\nARC Process, Inc.\n3921 Steck Avenue, Suite A-120\nAustin, Texas 78759\nRef. No. 14-0039\nDear Mr. Reed:\nThis responds to your initial March 5, 2014 email request, your April 17, 2014 email request,\nand follow-up telephone conversation and email correspondence with a member of our staff\nseeking clarification on the non-bulk packaging requirements for pyrophoric materials and the\nmanufacturing of DOT Specification 4B cylinders with bolted tops under the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask about authorized\ninner packaging for transporting high purity metal organic materials used in the chemical and\nsemi-conductor industries. These high purity metal organic materials are classified as a\nhazardous material and described as \"UN 3394, Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric,\nwater-reactive, 4.2 (4.3), PG I.\" Your questions are paraphrased and answered below.\nQ1. For liquid pyrophoric materials, do the HMR prohibit openings on inner\npackagings from exceeding one inch diameter?\nAl. The answer to your question is yes. The final rule HM-215L [78 FR 987], issued\nJanuary 7, 2013, removed subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) from § 173.181(c) which\nsets forth the non-bulk packaging requirements for pyrophoric materials (liquid).\nPrior to publication of HM-215L, § 173.181(c)(1) stated \"inner packagings must have\nno opening exceeding 25 mm (1 inch) diameter.\" We intended to only revise the\nintroductory paragraph (C), with paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of § 173.181(c) remaining\nunchanged. However, an incorrect amendatory instruction led to the deletion of\nparagraphs (c)(1) through (3). The deleted text will be reinstated in a future\nrulemaking. It is our intent that individuals packaging and offering these materials\ncontinue to offer shipments of liquid pyrophoric materials in compliance with the\nrequirements of § 173.181 (c)(1) through (3) effective prior to publication of HM-\n215L\nQ2. Do the HMR authorize the modification of 4B cylinders by drilling holes in the\ncylinder tops to receive valve protection rings instead of welding valve protection\nrings to the cylinder tops?\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA2. The answer to your question is no. Section 178.50 provides the specifications for\n4B welded and brazed steel cylinders. Paragraph (e) of this section states that only the\nattachment of neckrings, footrings, handles, bosses, pads, and valve protection rings to\nthe tops and bottoms of cylinders by welding or brazing is authorized.\nQ3. How would one apply for a special permit to manufacture modified 4B steel\ncylinders that are not in compliance with § 178.50?\nA3. Instructions for applying for a special permit are located in 49 CFR, Part 107,\nSubpart B, Special Permits, § 107.105. For further questions about special permitting,\ncontact the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of\nHazardous Materials Safety, Approvals and Permits Divisions at 202-366-4535.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this office\nat (202) 366-8553.\nSincerely,\nTh+ Dalet\nRobert Benedict\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nBoothe\n$173.181\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nSent:\nFrom:\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA)\nSubject:\nTo:\nWednesday, March 05, 2014 1:12 PM\nCylinders\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nAttachments:\nScan.pdf\nFW: 4B Cylinders RFI\n14-0039\nCarolyn-\nPlease log and assign for response.\nFrom: Steve M. Reed [mailto:stever@arcprocess.com]\nSent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 12:57 PM\nTo: Betts, Charles (PHMSA)\nCc: 'Mark Reed'; Cassidy, Duane (PHMSA); Paquet, Ryan (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: 4B Cylinders RFI\nDear Mr. Betts:\nARC Process, Inc. is a manufacturer of 4-B Bubbler canisters for the chemical and semiconductor industries in\nAustin, Texas. When referencing the Hazardous Materials Table, 172.101, under 'Orgometallic Substance,\nbulk packaging instruction is 173.181.\nLiquid, Pyroforic, Water-Reactive, Class 4.2 (4.3), PG I' (the classification for our customer's products) the non-\nOur customers basically use two types of packages for their High Purity Metal Organics (HPMO) products, DOT\nSpecification Cylinders and 'inner metal cans' which are the inner package of a combination package (non-\nDOT spec). In the past the 173.181 (c) had a statement for no openings to exceed 1\" but this has been\nremoved. I do not see this 1\" opening limitation for 173.181 (a) regarding DOT Specification Cylinders, or in\n178.35 or 178.50.\n§173.181 Pyrophoric materials (liquids).\n(a) Specification steel or nickel cylinders prescribed for any compressed gas except acetylene having a minimum\ndesign pressure of 1206 kPa (175 psig). Cylinders with valves must be:\n(1) Equipped with steel valve protection caps or collars, unless overpacked; or\n(2) Overpacked in a wooden box (4C1, 4C2, 4D or 4F); fiberboard box (4G), or plastic box (4H1 or 4H2). Cylinders\nmust be secured to prevent shifting in the box and, when offered for transportation or transported, must be so\nloaded that pressure relief devices remain in the vapor space of the cylinder. (See §177.838(h) of this subchapter.)\n(b) Steel boxes (4A), aluminum boxes (4B), metal boxes, other than steel or aluminum (4N), wooden boxes (4C1, 4C2,\n4D, or 4F) or fiberboard boxes (4G); steel drums (1A1 or 1A2), aluminum drums (1B1 or 1B2), metal drums, other than\nsteel or aluminum (1N1 or 1N2), plywood drums (1D), or fiber drums (1G); or steel jerricans (3A1 or 3A2) or aluminum\njerricans (3B1 or 3B2) enclosing not more than four strong, tight metal cans with inner receptacles of glass or metal, not\ncushioned on all sides with dry, absorbent, incombustible material in a quantity sufficient to absorb the entire contents.\nover 1 L (0.3 gallon) capacity each, having positive screwcap closures adequately gasketed. Inner packagings must be\nThe strong, tight metal cans must be closed by positive means, not by friction.\n(c) Steel drums (1A1 or 1A2), aluminum drums (1B1 or 1B2), metal drums, other than steel or aluminum(1N1 or 1N2) or\n(4B) or metal boxes, other than steel or aluminum (4N) not exceeding 220 L (58 gallons) capacity each with strong, tight\nfiber drums (1G); steel jerricans (3A1 or 3A2) or aluminum jerricans (3B1 or 3B2); or steel boxes (4A), aluminum boxes\ninner metal cans not over 4.0 L (1 gallon) capacity each. The strong, tight metal cans must be closed by positive means,\nnot friction.\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n45380, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 24660, May 8, 2003; 68 FR 61941, Oct. 30, 2003; 78 FR 1087, Jan. 7, 2013]\n[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52643, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66270, Dec. 20, 1991; 65 FR 58629, Sept. 29, 2000; 66 FR 45183;\nPlease see attached, older regulation showing a max opening size of 25mm for the 'inner metal can'.\nWe would appreciate your comments and/or ruling on whether we can now manufacture 4B cylinders with bolted tops, in\naddition to welded cylinders, for the above applications. Your consideration and help would be greatly appreciated.\nYours truly,\nShinen\nSteve M. Reed\nPresident\n3921 Steck Avenue, Ste. A-120\nAustin, Texas 78759\nTEL: (512) 807-3670 X3\nCELL: (512) 423-8071\nFAX: (512) 372-1066\nWebsite: www.arcprocess.com\nEmail: stever@arcprocess.com\n\"Laissez les bons temp rouler\"\nNOTICE: This email message, including any attachments hereto, may contain PRIVELEDGED and CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, and is the\nexclusive property of ARC Process, Inc. only and is intended for the above addressed recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient, then\n(d) please notify us of the error by return email, and finally, (e) delete this email from your computer. If you are not the indended recipient, you\nplease refrain from (a) reading this email, (b) do not distribute or forward this email, (c) do not print, copy, or otherwise disseminate this email,\nstrictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly\nare hereby notified that you may not derive any rights from the information contained herein; and any use, dissemination, or reproduction is\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":8276}