# International Fibre Drum Institute — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 98-0213
- **title:** International Fibre Drum Institute — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1998-08-27
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 98-0213 response to International Fibre Drum Institute concerning 178.601.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0213.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0213.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0213
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980213.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
•
AUG 2 7 1998
Mr. Gordon Rousseau
International Fibre Drum Institute
Ref. No. 98-0213
1850 k Street, N.W.,
Suite 200
Washington, DC
20006-3511
Dear Mr. Rousseau:
This is in response to your letter dated July 24, 1998, regarding
the gross mass marking on packagings that are shorter than their
original design type.
mark a packaging that is shorter than its original design type
Specifically, you ask if it is proper to
with the gross mass of the tested design type under the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Section 178.601 (c) (4) provides that packagings "which differ from
the design type only in their lesser design height" are not, by
definition, different packagings.
that a packaging must be marked with a "designation of the
Section 178.503 (a) (4) states
specific gravity or mass for which the packaging design type has
been tested..."
There is no requirement in the HMR to reduce the
in design height.
gross mass marking on shorter packagings because of a reduction
Therefore, it is proper to mark shorter
packagings with the gross mass marking of the tested design type.
I hope this satisfies your request.
:
Sincerely,
The
omI. Allen
for Edward I. Mazzulio
Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards
178-601

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•
INTERNATIONAL
FIBRE DRUM INSTITUTE
1850 K Street, N.W.
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20006-3500
Phone (202) 463-3511
Gale
Fax (202) 463-3512
§178.601
Friday, July 24, 1998
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
98-0213
Research & Special Programs Admn.
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
Some purchasers of fiber drums for shipment of hazardous solids request shorter drums
than those tested as the original design types. All other components of the drums remain
unchanged, that is, diameter, material thickness, gasket type, closing ring style and size, location
height of the drum.
and number of closures, etc. The only variation from the tested type is the reduction in the
Given the provisions of 49 CFR § 178.503(a)(4) which requires the performance marking
and
to be that of the packaging design type tested
given § 178.601 (c)(4)(v) which states that reductions in the height of the packaging do
not constitute a "different" packaging,
we conclude that it is proper to mark the shorter packaging with the full performance marking
being that of the tested design type.
paper" that provides our analysis of these DOT requirements.
As background to the issue, and because of questions that have arisen, I attach a "white
incerel
Lordon tara
Gordon Rousseau
Technical Advisor
Enclosure
CC:
D. Core, SSCI
P. Rankin, ACR
C. Garrison, PDI

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•
Marking of shorter drums for solids which are of the same design type
A. Problem
Recently, IFDI has received several inquiries which we have discussed with other drum
industry representatives. The regulation in question, 49 CFR § 178.601(c)(1) and (4), states that
"Ipjackagings which differ from the design type only in their lesser design height" are not
testing" as required for "each new or different packaging, at the start of production of that
considered to be a "different packaging", when determining the application of "design qualificatior
packaging". Inasmuch as these drums do not constitute "different packaging", the industry often
chooses to apply the same markings to packaging qualifying under § 178.601 (c).
a shorter drum, e.g., 52 kilos for a taller unit tested to 75 kilos. I understand from a member that
An inspector has noted to a member that a manufacturer must mark a lesser quantity on
at least one DOT inspector is informally advising a company that drums differing only from tested
drums by a lesser height, must be re-marked to reflect a lower gross mass. I am told that this is
to note that this latter regulation has nothing to do with establishing the identicalness of
being based on the language in a different, non-related section, § 178.601(g)(3). (It is important
packaging from the design type test perspective.) My initial reaction is that the inspector is
commenters that this clearly could be seen by a customer as indicative of a different packaging,
stating something that is in contradiction to the regulations. Furthermore, I agree with some
i.e., one that it is less capable under the regulations than is indicated by the original design type
test report purported to cover it.
B. Background
DOT has stated in correspondence that, without testing, shorter packaging must not be
qualified for any higher packing group or capability such as might be inferred by greater gross
have been advised by DOT representatives in the past that a packaging may be marked to a
mass markings than as noted in the design type test reports. On the other hand, manufacturer's
lesser packing group, specific gravity or gross mass than that at which tested, but this reduction
in marking has always been at the discretion of the manufacturer. We are not aware, however,
that reductions in volume have required changes in markings on shorter packaging when the
design type remains unchanged.
to account for usage when the design type report that originally covered drums cited a higher
I further understand that reconditioners, for example, may change specification markings
capability (SS 178.503(c)(2) and 173.28(c)(4)). But DOT has not required a reduced mark of
them unless it has been shown that a shorter packaging does not meet the applicable
performance requirements. The original design test report is the manufacturer's averment that
consistent.
the shorter packaging is covered by and meets the design type test report. This DOT action is
1

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C. Explanation of the regulation, § 178.601(c)
1. Intent of the regulation. The nature of § 178.601(c) is to indicate that DOT believes
required tests as the originally tested container. Under the UN Recommendations, Chapter 6.1,
that this packaging, i.e., reduced only in its height, has the same capacity for passing the
the same provision is stated in 6.1.5.1.2. From the perspective of its ability to pass the various
be identical. It follows that DOT would not be expected to state that a taller drum, tested to e.g.,
design tests (drop, leakproofness, hydrostatic, stacking), the shorter packaging is considered to
at 75 kilos, may not be marked as meeting a 75 kilo test at the same packing group level in its
shortened configuration. Otherwise, one would have to conclude that while accepting a
would simultaneously be finding the manufacturer of the identically performing shorter container
performance test report supporting the container's capability at a given capacity, the agency
in violation for not marking it differently than what appears in the report. This would not be
logical.
regulations supports the above fact that the gross mass marking on drums for solids is intended
2. The specific requirement of the regulation. Further, a careful reading of the
to reflect the actual tested weight for the design type. See § 178.503(a)(4) which in part reads as
(a) *** A packaging conforming to a UN standard must be marked as follows:
(1)*****
(2)*****
(3)*****
(4) A designation of the specific gravity or mass for which the packaging design type
has been tested, as follows:
(i) For packagings without inner packagings intended to contain liquids, the
be omitted when the specific gravity does not exceed 1.2; and
designation shall be the specific gravity rounded down to the first decimal but may
(ii) For packagings intended to contain solids or inner packagings, the
designation shall be the maximum gross mass in kilograms; (Emphasis mine.)
Thus, it is clear that without the DOT's authorization to reduce the marking from the
design type test, there is actually a requirement to mark the maximum gross mass found in the
applicable design type test report.
D. Applicability and relationship of the regulation § 178.601(g)
Paragraph § 178.601(g) is written to recognize some "minor" but potentially consequential
variations from the tested design type so DOT has required "selective testing" of a previously
tested design type. The degree of change is controlled by the variation percentage limitation.
Thus, it follows that such packaging having more than just a lesser height variation, would need
to be marked to reflect this reduction presumably because it is considered potentially less strong.
The only means to avoid this would be to put it through a complete new design test cycle at the
original gross mass. In other words, this type of packaging is not included under § 178.601(c)
where packaging is considered to be identical. If the only variation is a lesser height, then
§ 178.601(c) would apply and testing is not required.
2

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E. Conclusion
Variation 3 is a conditional, permissive regulation because it recognizes that although
there have been minor changes, full-scope design type testing need not be applied. Thus, the
selective testing concept is applied, in contrast to § 178.601(c) where no additional testing
applies. This is because in making other changes than lessening the height alone which is
permitted by § 178.601(g), the capability of the packaging has possibly been changed. It is
be applied.
consistent then to find that selective testing is conditioned on the fact that a reduced mark must
In contrast, the packaging under §178.601(c)(4)(v) is regarded as capable of passing the
original design type tests without further verification, and hence it is not considered by DOT to be
a different packaging by virtue of a reduction in height alone.
F. Summary
packagings which are considered identical. This obviously is based on their capability under the
in summary, as noted above, the goal of § 178.601(c) is to identify under the regulations
UN performance tests. Thus, § 178.601(c) is to recognize that these packagings are not of a
different capability and that the design type test report may be accepted as evidence of that fact.
It is clear that a shorter drum of the same design type that was tested to the mass in the
design report, when filled to this weight, has been deemed capable of passing the same drop
lest. This is the very essence or concept of the "lesser height" regulation, § 178.601(c)(4)(v)
The marked gross mass cannot indicate a greater allowable mass for the filled unit than tha
tested but the rule does not require that a lesser mark must be applied.
IFDI
Washington, DC
July 23, 1998
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