[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR174.101]

[Page 671-673]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 174_CARRIAGE BY RAIL--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart E_Class I (Explosive) Materials
 
Sec. 174.101  Loading Class 1 (explosive) materials.


    (a) Boxes containing Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials must 
be loaded so that the ends of wooden boxes will not bear against sides 
of any fiberboard boxes and so that the ends of any box will not cause a 
pressure point on a small area of another box.
    (b) Explosive bombs, unfuzed projectiles, rocket ammunition and 
rocket motors, Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 (explosive) materials, which 
are not packed in wooden boxes, or large metal packages of incendiary 
bombs, each weighing 226 kg (500 pounds) or more, may be loaded in stock 
cars or in flat bottom gondola cars only if they are adequately braced. 
Boxed bombs, rocket ammunition and rocket motors, Division 1.1, 1.2, or 
1.3 (explosive) materials, which due to their size cannot be loaded in 
closed cars, may be loaded in open-top cars or on flatcars, provided 
they are protected from the weather and accidental ignition.
    (c) Boxes of Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials packed in 
long cartridges, bags, or sift-proof liners, and containing no liquid 
explosive ingredient, may be loaded on their sides or ends.
    (d) Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials may not be loaded 
higher than any permanent car lining unless additional lining is 
provided as high as the lading.
    (e) When the lading of a car includes any Class 1 (explosive) 
materials, the

[[Page 672]]

weight of the lading must be distributed insofar as possible to equalize 
the weight on each side of the car and over the trucks.
    (f) Except when boxed, metal kegs containing Class 1 (explosive) 
materials must be loaded on their sides with their ends toward the ends 
of the car. Packages of Class 1 (explosive) materials may not be placed 
in the space opposite the doors unless the doorways are boarded on the 
inside as high as the lading. This paragraph does not apply to 
palletized packages if they are braced so they cannot fall or slide into 
the doorways during transportation.
    (g) Wooden kegs, fiber kegs, barrels, and drums must be loaded on 
their sides or ends, to best suit the conditions.
    (h) Packages containing any Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) 
materials for (see Sec. 174.104), detonators, detonator assemblies, or 
boosters with detonators must be securely blocked and braced to prevent 
the packages from changing position, falling to the floor, or sliding 
into each other, under conditions normally incident to transportation. 
Class 1 (explosive) materials must be loaded so as to avoid transfer at 
stations. For recommended methods of blocking and bracing, see Bureau of 
Explosives Pamphlets No. 6 and 6A. Heavy packages or containers must be 
trucked, rolled, or moved by skids, fork trucks, or other handling 
devices and may not be dropped from trucks, platforms, or cars. Planks 
for rolling trucks from platforms to cars must have beveled ends. 
Loading platforms and the shoes of each workman must be free from grit. 
All possible precautions must be taken against fire. Class 1 (explosive) 
materials must be kept in a safe place and inaccessible to unauthorized 
persons while being held by a carrier for loading or delivery.
    (i) To prevent delays of local freight trains, when there are 
shipments of Class 1 (explosive) materials for different destinations 
loaded in a ``peddler car'' or ``way car'' the shipment for each 
destination must be stayed separately.
    (j) Forwarding and transfer stations for Class 1 (explosive) 
materials must be provided with the necessary materials for staying.
    (k) Shippers must furnish the material for staying packages of Class 
1 (explosive) materials loaded by them.
    (l) Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials may not be loaded, 
transported, or stored in a rail car equipped with any type of lighted 
heater or open-flame device, or electric devices having exposed heating 
coils, or in a rail car equipped with any apparatus or mechanism 
utilizing an internal combustion engine in its operation.
    (m) [Reserved]
    (n) A container car or freight container on a flatcar or a gondola 
car other than a drop-bottom car, when properly loaded, blocked, and 
braced to prevent change of position under conditions normally incident 
to transportation, may be used to transport any Division 1.1 or 1.2 
(explosive) material except black powder packed in metal containers. A 
freight container must be designed, constructed, and maintained so as to 
be weather tight and capable of preventing the entrance of sparks. In 
addition:
    (1) A freight container must be of such design and so braced as to 
show no evidence of failure of the container or the bracing when 
subjected to impact from each end of at least 13 km (8.1 miles) per 
hour. Its efficiency shall be determined by actual test, using dummy 
loads equal in weight and general character to material to be shipped.
    (2) A container car or car which is loaded with freight containers 
must be placarded with the Class 1 (explosive) materials placards as 
required by subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter and with properly 
executed car certificates as required by Sec. 174.104.
    (3) Lading must be so loaded, blocked, and braced within the freight 
container that it will not change position under impact from each end of 
at least 13 km (8.1 miles) per hour.
    (o) Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 (explosive) materials may be loaded 
and transported in a tight closed truck body or trailer on a flatcar. 
Wooden boxed bombs, rocket ammunition, and rocket motors, Division 1.1, 
1.2, or 1.3 (explosive) materials, which due to their size cannot be 
loaded in tight, closed truck bodies or trailers, may be loaded in or on 
open-top truck bodies or trailers.

[[Page 673]]

However, they must be protected against accidental ignition. In 
addition:
    (1) Each truck body or trailer must meet the requirements of part 
177 of this subchapter, applicable to shipments of Class 1 (explosive) 
materials by motor vehicle.
    (2) Each truck body or trailer must be so secured on the rail car so 
that it will not permanently change position or show evidence of failure 
or impending failure of the method of securing the truck body or trailer 
under impact from each end of at least 13 km (8.1 miles) per hour. Its 
efficiency shall be determined by actual test, using dummy loads equal 
in weight and general character to the material to be shipped. For 
recommended methods of blocking and bracing, see Bureau of Explosives 
Pamphlet 6C.
    (3) Lading must be so loaded, blocked, and braced within or on the 
truck body or trailer that it will not change position under impact from 
each end of at least 13 km (8.1 miles) per hour. For recommended methods 
of blocking and bracing see Bureau of Explosives Pamphlet 6C.
    (4) Each rail car containing Class 1 (explosive) materials and each 
rail car loaded with truck bodies, trailers or containers containing 
Class 1 (explosive) materials must be placarded with Class 1 (explosive) 
materials placards as required by subpart F of part 172 of this 
subchapter and with properly executed car certificates as required by 
Sec. 174.104.
    (5) Each fuel tank of a heater or refrigerating machinery on the 
truck bodies or trailers must be drained and all automatic heating or 
refrigerating machinery must be made inoperative by disconnection of the 
automatic controls or the source of power for their operations.

[Amdt. 174-26, 41 FR 16092, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 174-26A, 
41 FR 40685, Sept. 20, 1976; Amdt. 174-26B, 41 FR 57071, Dec. 30, 1976; 
Amdt. 174-36, 44 FR 70732, Dec. 10, 1979; Amdt. 174-59, 51 FR 5974, Feb. 
18, 1986; Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52681, Dec. 21, 1990; Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 
51339, Oct. 1, 1996; 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001]