{"operation":"document","citation":"18-0161","title":"MSC Industrial Direct — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-05-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"18-0161 response to MSC Industrial Direct concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0161.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0161.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0161","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71381/180161.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMay 2, 2019\nDavid Cox\nSenior Regulatory Compliance Specialist\nMSC Industrial Direct\n75 Maxess Road\nMelville, NY. 11747\nReference No. 18-0161\nDear Mr. Cox:\nThis letter is in response to your December 21, 2018, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to lithium batteries.\nSpecifically, you ask if clothing that contains lithium cells or batteries ( e.g., heated jackets/vests,\npromotional flashing LED hats, flashing LED sneakers, etc.) meets the definition of \"equipment\"\nin § 173 .185. You provide specific information on a heated jacket with removable sleeves for\nreference.\nThe answer is yes. Section 173 .185 defines \"equipment\" as the device or apparatus for which\nthe lithium cells or batteries will provide electrical power for its operation. In the examples\nprovided, the lithium cells or batteries provide power to the heating element or LED in the\njackets/vests, hats, sneakers, etc. Therefore, the piece of clothing containing the lithium cells or\nbatteries would be considered \"equipment\" for the purposes of the HMR.\nSection 173 .185(b )( 4) provides the general packaging requirements for lithium batteries\ncontained in equipment. Paragraph (i) states that, when used, the outer packaging must be\nconstructed of suitable material of adequate strength and design in relation to the capacity and\nintended use of the packaging, unless the lithium cells or batteries are afforded equivalent\nprotection by the equipment in which they are contained. It is the opinion of this Office that the\nclothing in the examples from your email may not provide equivalent protection for the lithium\ncells and batteries that they contain and therefore may require rigid outer packaging. Please note\nthat when equipment containing lithium cells or batteries is placed in an outer package,\n§ 173.185(b)(4)(ii) requires the equipment to be secured against movement and packed to\nprevent accidental operation during transport.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n~~~~\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nJanuary, lkeya CTR (PHMSA)\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nFriday, December 21, 2018 2:53 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Request for Letter of Interpretation\nHeated Jacket with Lithium ion Batteries.pdf\nImportance: High\nHello Alice and lkeya,\nPlease see the letter of interpretation request below and the attached document. We did not find an existing letter that\naddressed David's questions.\nThanks,\nLynsie Patschke\nTransportation Regulatory Specialist\nHazardous Materials Information Center (HMIC)\nFrom: David Cox [mailto:coxd@mscdirect.com]\nSent: Friday, December 21, 2018 12:29 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: Request for Interpretation - detailed explanation of Equipment, Device or Apparatus\nImportance: High\nGood Morning,\nIn 49 CFR 173.185, \"Equipment means the device or apparatus for which the lithium\ncells or batteries will provide electrical power for its operation.\"\nAttached is an example of an item (Heated Jacket with Lithium ion battery):\nDoes Clothing such as Heated Jackets, Heated Vests, Promotional Flashing LED Hats\n(Lithium metal coin cells), Flashing LED Children's Sneakers (Lithium metal coin cells)\nmeet the definition of \"Equipment\" or are these considered to be \"Accessories\" or\nsomething else ?\nIf they are considered to be \"Accessories\" and NOT \"Equipmenf', what is the PHMSA\ndefinition of \"Accessories\" with regard to Lithium Batteries in 49 CFR 173.185 and how\ndo these items get classified and shipped (for example, as UN3090 Lithium metal cells\n/ batteries or UN3480 Lithium ion cells/ batteries by themselves)?\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nPlease provide detailed information and guidance.\nThank you,\nDavid Cox\nSr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist, CHMM, CDGP\nTel: 516-812-1218\nFax: 516-812-1568\nE-mail: Coxd@mscdirect.com\nThis message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual(s)\nnamed. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy\nthis e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately if you have received this e-mail in error\nand delete this e-mail from your system.\nDISCLAIMER:\nThis e-mail is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only and may contain privileged. confidential, or proprietary infom1ation that is\nexempt from disclosure under law. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose the contents of this\ncommunication to others. Please notify the sender that you have received this e-mail in error by replying to the e-mail. Please then\ndelete the e-mail and destroy any copies of it. Thank you.\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nErgodyne, Div of Tenacious Holdings, Inc.\n1021 Bandana Boulevard East Suite 220\nSt Paul, MN 55108\nPhone: 800-225-8238 or +1 (651 )642-9889\nwww.ergodyne.com\nCoordinates\n44°58'15.5\"N\n93°9'8.9\"W\nALT: 930Ft\nN-Ferno® 6490 Heated Jacket WI Removable Sleeves\nItem Number - Color - Size\n• 41403- Black- M\n• 41407 - Black - 3XL\n• 41406 - Black- 2XL\n• 41404-Black-L\n• 41405 - Black - XL\nOrder in Multiples of: 1\nOuter Layer/ Heated Jacket WI Removable Sleeves\nIncludes the 6490J Heated Jacket W/Removable\nSleeves (includes adapter extension wire), the 6490B\nRechargeable 7.4V Lithium Ion Battery, and 6490W\nBattery Wall Charger.\nFeatures\n• 2 heat zones distribute heat to core body regions: front\nchest and back\n• 3 heat settings: high, medium, low\n• Preheat mode option for increased warm up time\n• Adapter extension wire allows user to heat jacket from\nalternative power source\n• Easy touch controller button to navigate through heat\nsettings and pre-heat option\n• Up to 9 hours of continuous heat on low setting, 5 hours\non medium setting, and 3 hours on high setting\n• Water and wind resistant outer shell\n• Soft, warm fleece lining.\n• 3 external pockets\n• Convenient battery holder pocket inside jacket with zipper\nclosure\n• Rechargeable Battery: 7.4V, 5200 MAH Lithium Ion\nBattery\n• Replaceable parts available: 6490B battery, 6490W\nbattery wall charger\n• Optional accessory: 6490C cigarette converter allows\nuser to heat jacket without battery\n• Removable sleeves zip off for vest option\n• Wall Charger, compatible with 7.4V Lithium Ion battery\nApplication\n• Road Construction\n• Heavy Construction\n• Building Construction\n• Iron/Steel Work\n• Oil/Gas Refining\n• Drilling/Mining\n• FreighUBaggage\n• Warehousing/Distribution\n• Landscaping/Grounds\nFor more information, visit https://www.~ne.com/warming/heated-clothing-\naccessories/n-ferno-6490-heated-iacket-removable-sleeves.html\n_dmSetDomain(\"ergodyne.com\"); •","truncated":false,"body_characters":6853}