# ARC Process, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **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:** Not available - **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:** <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration AUG 2 1 2014 Mr. Steve M. Reed President ARC Process, Inc. 3921 Steck Avenue, Suite A-120 Austin, Texas 78759 Ref. No. 14-0039 Dear Mr. Reed: This responds to your initial March 5, 2014 email request, your April 17, 2014 email request, and follow-up telephone conversation and email correspondence with a member of our staff seeking clarification on the non-bulk packaging requirements for pyrophoric materials and the manufacturing of DOT Specification 4B cylinders with bolted tops under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask about authorized inner packaging for transporting high purity metal organic materials used in the chemical and semi-conductor industries. These high purity metal organic materials are classified as a hazardous material and described as "UN 3394, Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive, 4.2 (4.3), PG I." Your questions are paraphrased and answered below. Q1. For liquid pyrophoric materials, do the HMR prohibit openings on inner packagings from exceeding one inch diameter? Al. The answer to your question is yes. The final rule HM-215L [78 FR 987], issued January 7, 2013, removed subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) from § 173.181(c) which sets forth the non-bulk packaging requirements for pyrophoric materials (liquid). Prior to publication of HM-215L, § 173.181(c)(1) stated "inner packagings must have no opening exceeding 25 mm (1 inch) diameter." We intended to only revise the introductory paragraph (C), with paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of § 173.181(c) remaining unchanged. However, an incorrect amendatory instruction led to the deletion of paragraphs (c)(1) through (3). The deleted text will be reinstated in a future rulemaking. It is our intent that individuals packaging and offering these materials continue to offer shipments of liquid pyrophoric materials in compliance with the requirements of § 173.181 (c)(1) through (3) effective prior to publication of HM- 215L Q2. Do the HMR authorize the modification of 4B cylinders by drilling holes in the cylinder tops to receive valve protection rings instead of welding valve protection rings to the cylinder tops? <<>> A2. The answer to your question is no. Section 178.50 provides the specifications for 4B welded and brazed steel cylinders. Paragraph (e) of this section states that only the attachment of neckrings, footrings, handles, bosses, pads, and valve protection rings to the tops and bottoms of cylinders by welding or brazing is authorized. Q3. How would one apply for a special permit to manufacture modified 4B steel cylinders that are not in compliance with § 178.50? A3. Instructions for applying for a special permit are located in 49 CFR, Part 107, Subpart B, Special Permits, § 107.105. For further questions about special permitting, contact the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Approvals and Permits Divisions at 202-366-4535. I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this office at (202) 366-8553. Sincerely, Th+ Dalet Robert Benedict Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Boothe $173.181 Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) Sent: From: Betts, Charles (PHMSA) Subject: To: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 1:12 PM Cylinders Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) Attachments: Scan.pdf FW: 4B Cylinders RFI 14-0039 Carolyn- Please log and assign for response. From: Steve M. Reed [mailto:stever@arcprocess.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 12:57 PM To: Betts, Charles (PHMSA) Cc: 'Mark Reed'; Cassidy, Duane (PHMSA); Paquet, Ryan (PHMSA) Subject: FW: 4B Cylinders RFI Dear Mr. Betts: ARC Process, Inc. is a manufacturer of 4-B Bubbler canisters for the chemical and semiconductor industries in Austin, Texas. When referencing the Hazardous Materials Table, 172.101, under 'Orgometallic Substance, bulk packaging instruction is 173.181. Liquid, Pyroforic, Water-Reactive, Class 4.2 (4.3), PG I' (the classification for our customer's products) the non- Our customers basically use two types of packages for their High Purity Metal Organics (HPMO) products, DOT Specification Cylinders and 'inner metal cans' which are the inner package of a combination package (non- DOT spec). In the past the 173.181 (c) had a statement for no openings to exceed 1" but this has been removed. I do not see this 1" opening limitation for 173.181 (a) regarding DOT Specification Cylinders, or in 178.35 or 178.50. §173.181 Pyrophoric materials (liquids). (a) Specification steel or nickel cylinders prescribed for any compressed gas except acetylene having a minimum design pressure of 1206 kPa (175 psig). Cylinders with valves must be: (1) Equipped with steel valve protection caps or collars, unless overpacked; or (2) Overpacked in a wooden box (4C1, 4C2, 4D or 4F); fiberboard box (4G), or plastic box (4H1 or 4H2). Cylinders must be secured to prevent shifting in the box and, when offered for transportation or transported, must be so loaded that pressure relief devices remain in the vapor space of the cylinder. (See §177.838(h) of this subchapter.) (b) Steel boxes (4A), aluminum boxes (4B), metal boxes, other than steel or aluminum (4N), wooden boxes (4C1, 4C2, 4D, or 4F) or fiberboard boxes (4G); steel drums (1A1 or 1A2), aluminum drums (1B1 or 1B2), metal drums, other than steel or aluminum (1N1 or 1N2), plywood drums (1D), or fiber drums (1G); or steel jerricans (3A1 or 3A2) or aluminum jerricans (3B1 or 3B2) enclosing not more than four strong, tight metal cans with inner receptacles of glass or metal, not cushioned on all sides with dry, absorbent, incombustible material in a quantity sufficient to absorb the entire contents. over 1 L (0.3 gallon) capacity each, having positive screwcap closures adequately gasketed. Inner packagings must be The strong, tight metal cans must be closed by positive means, not by friction. (c) Steel drums (1A1 or 1A2), aluminum drums (1B1 or 1B2), metal drums, other than steel or aluminum(1N1 or 1N2) or (4B) or metal boxes, other than steel or aluminum (4N) not exceeding 220 L (58 gallons) capacity each with strong, tight fiber drums (1G); steel jerricans (3A1 or 3A2) or aluminum jerricans (3B1 or 3B2); or steel boxes (4A), aluminum boxes inner metal cans not over 4.0 L (1 gallon) capacity each. The strong, tight metal cans must be closed by positive means, not friction. 1 <<>> 45380, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 24660, May 8, 2003; 68 FR 61941, Oct. 30, 2003; 78 FR 1087, Jan. 7, 2013] [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; Please see attached, older regulation showing a max opening size of 25mm for the 'inner metal can'. We would appreciate your comments and/or ruling on whether we can now manufacture 4B cylinders with bolted tops, in addition to welded cylinders, for the above applications. Your consideration and help would be greatly appreciated. Yours truly, Shinen Steve M. Reed President 3921 Steck Avenue, Ste. A-120 Austin, Texas 78759 TEL: (512) 807-3670 X3 CELL: (512) 423-8071 FAX: (512) 372-1066 Website: www.arcprocess.com Email: stever@arcprocess.com "Laissez les bons temp rouler" NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments hereto, may contain PRIVELEDGED and CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, and is the exclusive property of ARC Process, Inc. only and is intended for the above addressed recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient, then (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 please refrain from (a) reading this email, (b) do not distribute or forward this email, (c) do not print, copy, or otherwise disseminate this email, strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly are hereby notified that you may not derive any rights from the information contained herein; and any use, dissemination, or reproduction is 2 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 8276