[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR173.2a]

[Page 404-405]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 173--SHIPPERS--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 173.2a  Classification of a material having more than one hazard.

    (a) Classification of a material having more than one hazard. Except 
as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a material not 
specifically listed in the Sec. 172.101 table that meets the definition 
of more than one hazard class or division as defined in this part, shall 
be classed according to the highest applicable hazard class of the 
following hazard classes, which are listed in descending order of 
hazard:
    (1) Class 7 (radioactive materials, other than limited quantities).
    (2) Division 2.3 (poisonous gases).
    (3) Division 2.1 (flammable gases).
    (4) Division 2.2 (nonflammable gases).
    (5) Division 6.1 (poisonous liquids), Packing Group I, poisonous-by-
inhalation only.
    (6) A material that meets the definition of a pyrophoric material in 
Sec. 173.124(b)(1) of this subchapter (Division 4.2).
    (7) A material that meets the definition of a self-reactive material 
in Sec. 173.124(a)(2) of this subchapter (Division 4.1).
    (8) Class 3 (flammable liquids), Class 8 (corrosive materials), 
Division 4.1 (flammable solids), Division 4.2 (spontaneously combustible 
materials), Division 4.3 (dangerous when wet materials), Division 5.1 
(oxidizers) or Division 6.1 (poisonous liquids or solids other than 
Packing Group I, poisonous-by-inhalation). The hazard class and packing 
group for a material meeting more than one of these hazards shall be 
determined using the precedence table in paragraph (b) of this section.
    (9) Combustible liquids.
    (10) Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous materials).
    (b) Precedence of hazard table for Classes 3 and 8 and Divisions 
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 and 6.1. The following table ranks those materials 
that meet the definition of Classes 3 and 8 and Divisions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 
5.1 and 6.1:

                                                               Precedence of Hazard Table
                                                            [Hazard class and packing group]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            6.1,                                                     8,
                                                 4.2  4.3  5.1 I  5.1 II  5.1 III   6.1, I    I   6.1   6.1   8, I    8, I   8, II  8, II  8, III   III
                                                            \1\     \1\     \1\     dermal  oral   II   III  liquid  solid  liquid  solid  liquid  solid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    I(\2\)....................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      3     3    3     3       3    (\3\)     3    (\3\)     3    (\3\)
3    II(\2\)...................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      3     3    3     3       8    (\3\)     3    (\3\)     3    (\3\)
3    III(\2\)..................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      6.1   6.1  6.1  34       8    (\3\)     8    (\3\)     3    (\3\)
4.1  II \2\....................................  4.2  4.3   5.1     4.1     4.1        6.1   6.1  4.1   4.1  (\3\)     8    (\3\)     4.1  (\3\)     4.1
4.1  III \2\...................................  4.2  4.3   5.1     4.1     4.1        6.1   6.1  6.1   4.1  (\3\)     8    (\3\)     8    (\3\)     4.1
4.2  II........................................  ...  4.3   5.1     4.2     4.2        6.1   6.1  4.2   4.2     8      8       4.2    4.2     4.2    4.2
4.2  III.......................................  ...  4.3   5.1     5.1     4.2        6.1   6.1  6.1   4.2     8      8       8      8       4.2    4.2
4.3  I.........................................  ...  ...   5.1     4.3     4.3        6.1   4.3  4.3   4.3     4.3    4.3     4.3    4.3     4.3    4.3
4.3  II........................................  ...  ...   5.1     4.3     4.3        6.1   4.3  4.3   4.3     8      8       4.3    4.3     4.3    4.3
4.3  III.......................................  ...  ...   5.1     5.1     4.3        6.1   6.1  6.1   4.3     8      8       8      8       4.3    4.3
5.1  I \1\.....................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      5.1   5.1  5.1   5.1     5.1    5.1     5.1    5.1     5.1    5.1
5.1  II \1\....................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      6.1   5.1  5.1   5.1     8      8       5.1    5.1     5.1    5.1
5.1  III \1\...................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......      6.1   6.1  6.1   5.1     8      8       8      8       5.1    5.1
6.1  I, Dermal.................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      6.1     6.1    6.1     6.1    6.1
6.1  I, Oral...................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      6.1     6.1    6.1     6.1    6.1
6.1  II, Inhalation............................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      6.1     6.1    6.1     6.1    6.1
6.1  II, Dermal................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      6.1     8      6.1     6.1    6.1
6.1  II, Oral..................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      8       8      6.1     6.1    6.1

[[Page 405]]


6.1  III.......................................  ...  ...  .....  ......  .......  .......  ....  ...  ....     8      8       8      8       8      8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Sec.  173.127.
\2\ Materials of Division 4.1 other than self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives, and materials of Class 3 other than liquid
  desensitized explosives.
\3\ Denotes an impossible combination.
\4\ For pesticides only, where a material has the hazards of Class 3, Packing Group III, and Division 6.1, Packing Group III, the primary hazard is
  Division 6.1, Packing Group III.

    Note 1: The most stringent packing group assigned to a hazard of the 
material takes precedence over other packing groups; for example, a 
material meeting Class 3 PG II and Division 6.1 PG I (oral toxicity) is 
classified as Class 3 PG I.
    Note 2: A material which meets the definition of Class 8 and has an 
inhalation toxicity by dusts and mists which meets criteria for Packing 
Group I specified in Sec. 173.133(a)(1) must be classed as Division 6.1 
if the oral or dermal toxicity meets criteria for Packing Group I or II. 
If the oral or dermal toxicity meets criteria for Packing Group III or 
less, the material must be classed as Class 8.

    (c) The following materials are not subject to the provisions of 
paragraph (a) of this section because of their unique properties:
    (1) A Class 1 (explosive) material that meets any other hazard class 
or division as defined in this part shall be assigned a division in 
Class 1. Class 1 materials shall be classed and approved in accordance 
with Sec. 173.56 of this part;
    (2) A Division 5.2 (organic peroxide) material that meets the 
definition of any other hazard class or division as defined in this 
part, shall be classed as Division 5.2;
    (3) A Division 6.2 (infectious substance) material that also meets 
the definition of another hazard class or division, other than Class 7, 
or that also is a limited quantity Class 7 material, shall be classed as 
Division 6.2;
    (4) A material that meets the definition of a wetted explosive in 
Sec. 173.124(a)(1) of this subchapter (Division 4.1). Wetted explosives 
are either specifically listed in the Sec. 172.101 table or are approved 
by the Associate Administrator (see Sec. 173.124(a)(1) of this 
subchapter); and
    (5) A limited quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material that 
meets the definition for more than one hazard class or division shall be 
classed in accordance with Sec. 173.423.

[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52606, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66264, 
Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 173-241, 59 FR 67490, Dec. 29, 1994; Amdt. 173-247, 
60 FR 48787, Sept. 20, 1995; Amdt. 173-244, 60 FR 50307, Sept. 28, 1995; 
64 FR 10776, Mar. 5, 1999; 66 FR 33426, June 21, 2001; 66 FR 45182, 
45379, Aug. 28, 2001]