{"operation":"document","citation":"21-0011","title":"Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2021-04-13","effective_on":null,"summary":"21-0011 response to Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) concerning 173.307.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0011.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0011.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0011","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/74901/210011.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nApril 13, 2021\nHelen Walter-Terrinoni\nVP Regulatory Affairs\nAir-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)\n2311 Wilson Boulevard Suite 400\nArlington, VA 22201\nReference No. 21-0011\nDear Ms. Walter-Terrinoni:\nThis letter is in response to your February 4, 2021, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to exceptions for\ncompressed gases in refrigerating machines and their components. Specifically, you ask\nquestions regarding the exceptions provided in §§ 173.307(a)(4)(iii) and (v).\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1. You ask whether the exception provided in § 173.307(a)(4)(iii) would apply to\nrefrigerating machines containing 12 kg or less of a flammable, non-toxic liquefied gas,\nsuch as “UN3252, Difluoromethane, 2.1” or “UN3161, Liquefied gas, flammable, n.o.s.,\n2.1,” so long as such units are not offered or transported by air.\nA1. The answer is yes. Refrigerating machines and components thereof, containing 12 kg or\nless of a flammable, non-toxic gas, including a liquefied gas, are not subject to the\nrequirements of the HMR provided they are not offered or transported by aircraft.\nQ2. You ask whether the exception provided in § 173.307(a)(4)(v) would apply to\nrefrigerating machines containing 100 g or less of a flammable, non-toxic liquefied gas,\nsuch as “UN3252, Difluoromethane, 2.1” or “UN3161, Liquefied gas, flammable, n.o.s.,\n2.1,\n” regardless of the mode of transportation.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA2. The answer is yes. Refrigerating machines and components thereof, containing 100 g or\nless of a flammable, non-toxic liquefied gas, are not subject to the requirements of the\nHMR, regardless of the mode of transportation.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nPatrick\n21-0011\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Subject: Date: Attachments: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Hazmat Interps\nFW: AHRI Request for PHMCSA Letter of Interpretation\nFriday, February 5, 2021 1:56:22 PM\nAHRI Request for PHMSA Letter of Interpretation CFR 49 173.pdf\nimage002.png\nimage004.png\nGood afternoon Alice,\nPlease see the attached request for a letter of interpretation. Please contact our office with any\nquestions.\nThank you,\nSarah (HMIC)\nFrom: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA)\nSent: Thursday, February 4, 2021 12:03 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>; Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\n<Alice.Dodd@dot.gov>\nCc: DerKinderen, Dirk (PHMSA) <Dirk.DerKinderen@dot.gov>; Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\n<Glenn.Foster@dot.gov>; Nickels, Matthew (PHMSA) <Matthew.Nickels@dot.gov>; Constantino,\nLindsey (PHMSA) <l.constantino@dot.gov>; Pfund, Duane (PHMSA) <Duane.Pfund@dot.gov>\nSubject: FW: AHRI Request for PHMCSA Letter of Interpretation\nFolks.\nPlease process as a formal interp request.\nManagement Team – let me know who is assigned please, and include me in the concurrence chain.\nLet’s include our international team on this one as well please. Thank you\nFrom: Walter-Terrinoni, Helen <HWalter-Terrinoni@ahrinet.org>\nSent: Thursday, February 04, 2021 11:47 AM\nTo: Constantino, Lindsey (PHMSA) <l.constantino@dot.gov>\nCc: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA) <shane.kelley@dot.gov>; Koban, Mary <MKoban@ahrinet.org>; Carpizo,\nMarie <MCarpizo@ahrinet.org>; Maureen Beatty (mbeatty@refrigerants.com)\n<mbeatty@refrigerants.com>\nSubject: AHRI Request for PHMCSA Letter of Interpretation\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or\nopen attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.\nShane (PHMSA) <shane.kelley@dot.gov>\nConstantino, Lindsey (PHMSA) <l.constantino@dot.gov>\nDear Lindsey,\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nThank-you for taking the time to discuss our questions regarding a potential request for a letter of\ninterpretation late last year. Please see our request attached to this email. We look forward to\ncontinuing to work with you on this question.\nPlease contact me if you have any questions.\nI hope that you and your family are doing well.\nBest Regards,\nHelen\nHelen Walter-Terrinoni\nAir Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)\nVP Regulatory Affairs\n302-598-4608\nHwalter-terrinoni@ahrinet.org","truncated":false,"body_characters":4473}