{"operation":"document","citation":"25-0157","title":"Ashimori — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2026-07-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"25-0157 response to Ashimori concerning 172.102, 173.166.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0157.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0157.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0157","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2026-07/25-0157.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJuly 8, 2026\nSoon-Ae Shim\nSenior Manager\nAshimori\n(Sinpyeong-ri) 134 Dowon-ro, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si\nGangwon-do, Korea 26351\nReference No. 25-0157\nDear Ms. Shim:\nThis letter is in response to your December 3, 2025 email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to safety devices.\nSpecifically, you ask whether the testing exception in 49 CFR 172.102, Special Provision 160\napplies to seatbelt pretensioners that contain a tested airbag inflator.\nNo. Special Provision 160 states that “if the airbag inflator unit satisfactorily passes the series\n6(c) test, it is not necessary to repeat the test on the airbag module.” This exception is not\nextended to seatbelt pretensioners even if they use a tested inflator. For a hazardous material\nassigned Special Provision 160, the series 6(c) test must be repeated for other devices, except on\nthe airbag module when the airbag inflator has already passed the test.\nFurther, 49 CFR 173.166(d)(2) specifies an additional requirement, in that the airbag modules\nstill must be examined for situations where the airbag inflator was approved as Class 9 but\ndepended upon packaging or other special means specified by the authorized testing agency to\nobtain this classification. This regulatory requirement is necessary to separately assess the\nhazards of the module and whether it also requires a specific packaging configuration to meet the\ncriteria for Class 9.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nAlexander Wolcott\nActing Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nJacobson, N.\n25-0157\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Baker, Yul (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Request for Clarification on Special Provision 160 - Test Series 6(c)\nDate: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 12:23:41\nHi Yul,\nPlease see the below interpretation request.\nLet us know if you need anything,\n-Breanna\nFrom: PHMSA Pipelinesafety \nSent: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 9:27 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nSubject: FW: Request for Clarification on Special Provision 160 - Test Series 6(c)\nGood morning,\nPlease find the inquiry below.\nThank you!\nJessica\nFrom: Soonae.Shim \nSent: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 4:19 AM\nTo: PHMSA Pipelinesafety ; hmregs@dot.gov; phmsa-info@dot.gov\nSubject: Request for Clarification on Special Provision 160 - Test Series 6(c)\nsoonae_shim@ashimori.co.kr에게서 전자 메일을 받지 못하는 경우가 많습니다. 이 문제가 중요한 이유\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.\nDear PHMSA Hazardous Materials Information Center,\nI hope this message finds you well.\nWe are a manufacturer of airbag and seatbelt modules in South Korea.\nI am writing to request an official interpretation regarding 49 CFR 172.102, Special Provision 160.\nAccording to the regulation, safety devices such as air bag inflators, air bag modules, seat-belt pretensioners, and p\nyromechanical devices containing Class 1 (explosive) materials must be tested in accordance with Test Series 6(c) of\nPart I of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.\nThe provision further states that if the air bag inflator unit satisfactorily passes the Series 6(c) test, it is not necessar\ny to repeat the test on the air bag module.\nI have the following questions regarding this provision:\nl If an air bag inflator has successfully passed the Series 6(c) test, does this exemption apply only to the air ba\ng module, or does it also extend to seat-belt pretensioners use the same inflator?\nl In other words, must the airbag module that utilizes the inflator undergo the Series 6(c) test again?\n\n<<>>\n\nl Do seatbelt pretensioners need to undergo a separate Series 6(c) test, or can they be exempted if the inflato\nr has already passed the test?\nYour clarification on this matter would be greatly appreciated to ensure our compliance with the Hazardous Materi\nals Regulations.\nThank you for your assistance.\n~eou ~~DHLP~i\nSOON-AE SHIM SENIOR MANAGER\nE£~~~2.rn1 I Project Management Team\n070-7004 -5584(241) 033-7 4 2-6624 010-3198-8698 soonae\nshim@.ashim ori.c o.kr\n_\n26351 Yf!£ f,!-:,..q XI~~ £fl~ 134 <~'l!i!.ll\n(Sinpyeong-n) 134 Dowon-ro, J11eon9-myeon, Won1u-si, Gangwon-do, 26351, Korea\nThe FOCUS\nMethod\nW11h a Fundamental m ndset, we Overcome ourselves\n71~~~2.£ , AA§!- ~ -St.'.il\nChallenge\nti~~OI £~3!-01\nano Upgrade .\n~~~t;i;t,\nLet's Start now I\nXl ~ A l~~:q,","truncated":false,"body_characters":4809}