{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0233","title":"Inmark Packaging — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-08-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0233 response to Inmark Packaging concerning 178.601.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0233.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0233.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0233","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/150233.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nAUG 1 0 2016\nMr. Jay Johnson, DGSA\nRegulatory Compliance Manager\nInmark Packaging\n675 Hartman Road, Suite 100\nAustell, GA 30168\nReference No. 15-0233\nDear Mr. Johnson:\nThis letter is in response to your email and subsequent telephone conversations requesting\nclarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180)\napplicable to the selective testing of a combination package. Specifically, you request\nclarification of the application of Variation 4 in combination with Variation 1 found under\n§ 178.601(g) of the HMR.\nIn your email, you state that you have a United Nations (UN) 4G combination packaging\ndesign successfully tested by an approved third party lab consisting of 4 x 1 gallon bottles in\nan outer fiberboard box. You intend to reduce the number of bottles by half and the size of\nthe fiberboard box as authorized under Variations 1 and 4 of the selective testing provisions\nin § 178.601(g)(1) and (g)(4), respectively. You ask whether the marked gross mass on\nthe packaging design should remain as originally certified or whether it should be reduced in\nproportion to the reduction in the number of inner packagings and the reduction in outer\npackaging dimensions.\nAs prescribed in § 178.601(g), variations that differ only in minor respects of a tested design-\ntype are permitted without further testing. However, unlike Variation 3 in § 178.601(g)(3),\nwhen using Variations 1 or 4, or a combination of both, reducing the marked gross mass is\nnot necessary provided an equivalent level of performance is maintained in accordance with\nthe original design, i.e., the packaging must be capable of passing the Part 178, Subpart M\nperformance tests commensurate with the marked gross mass.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n1:18.401\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nYestin Genert Rig\nFrom:\n15-0233\nSent:\nJay Johnson < jayj@inmarkinc.com>\nMonday, November 30, 2015 8:42 AM\nTo:\nCc:\nFoster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA); Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Goodall, Shante\nCTR (PHMSA); Frank Orvino; Heneghan, John (PHMSA); Leary, Kevin (PHMSA)\nSubject:\nRE: Questions about using selective testing Variation 4\nHello Glenn,\nHere is my question on how to properly apply the UN Specification marking when using Variation 4.\nI have a 1x4 gallon industrial round shipper certified by a DOT approved Third Party Lab as a 4G combination\npackaging. Variation 4 in combination with Variation 1 would allow me reduce the number of bottles and the\nsize of the packaging to produce a 1x2 gallon shipper and a 1x1 gallon shipper without testing if I kept\neverything else the same.\nWhat should the UN specification marking look like on the smaller selective testing packages?\nShould I leave the Gross Mass in Kilograms the same as the originally certified package or is there some\nmechanism or formula to reduce the maximum gross mass in kilograms as the package reduces in size?\nKind Regards,\nJay Johnson, DGSA | Regulatory Compliance Manager\nSAF\\PAK™\nInmark\nAN Inmark COMPANY\nEXAKT PAK®\nDG SUPPLIES\nAN LET IN COMPANY\nAN INMARK BRAND\n675 Hartman Road, Suite 100 Austell GA 30168\n+ 770-373-3300 | : 770-373-3356 | m770-377-0205 | / 770-373-3357 | : jayi@inmarkpackaqing.com\nFollow us at:\nin\nVisit our website or InmarkPackaging.com to learn more about our products and services.\nPlease consider the environment before printing this e-mail\nThis communication constitutes an electronic communication within the meaning of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. Section\nConfidentiality Notice:\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nconfidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or\nand its disclosure is strictly limited to the recipient intended by the sender of this message. This transmission, and any attachments, may contain\nattached to this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Please contact us immediately by return e-mail or at +1-770-373-3300 and destroy the original\ntransmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner.","truncated":false,"body_characters":4402}