[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR172.407]



[Page 378-379]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 172_HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, HAZARDOUS 

MATERIALS COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION, AND TRAINING 

REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents

 

                           Subpart E_Labeling

 

Sec. 172.407  Label specifications.



    (a) Durability. Each label, whether printed on or affixed to a 

package, must be durable and weather resistant. A label on a package 

must be able to withstand, without deterioration or a substantial change 

in color, a 30-day exposure to conditions incident to transportation 

that reasonably could be expected to be encountered by the labeled 

package.

    (b) Design. (1) Except for size and color, the printing, inner 

border, and symbol on each label must be as shown in Sec. Sec. 172.411 

through 172.448 of this subpart, as appropriate.

    (2) The dotted line border shown on each label is not part of the 

label specification, except when used as an alternative for the solid 

line outer border to meet the requirements of Sec. 172.406(d) of this 

subpart.

    (c) Size. (1) Each diamond (square-on-point) label prescribed in 

this subpart must be at least 100 mm (3.9 inches) on each side with each 

side having a solid line inner border 5.0 to 6.3 mm (0.2 to 0.25 inches) 

from the edge.

    (2) The CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY label must be a rectangle measuring at 

least 110 mm (4.3 inches) in height by 120 mm (4.7 inches) in width. The 

word ``DANGER'' must be shown in letters measuring at least 12.7 mm (0.5 

inches) in height.

    (3) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, the hazard class 

number, or division number, as appropriate, must be at least 6.3 mm 

(0.25 inches) and not greater than 12.7 mm (0.5 inches).

    (4) When text indicating a hazard is displayed on a label, the label 

name must be shown in letters measuring at least 7.6 mm (0.3 inches) in 

height. For SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE or DANGEROUS WHEN WET labels, the 

words ``Spontaneously'' and ``When Wet'' must be shown in letters 

measuring at least 5.1 mm (0.2 inches) in height.

    (5) The symbol on each label must be proportionate in size to that 

shown in the appropriate section of this subpart.

    (d) Color. (1) The background color on each label must be as 

prescribed in Sec. Sec. 172.411 through 172.448 of this subpart, as 

appropriate.

    (2) The symbol, text, numbers, and border must be shown in black on 

a label except that--

    (i) White may be used on a label with a one color background of 

green, red or blue; and

    (ii) White must be used for the text and class number for the 

CORROSIVE label.

    (3) Black and any color on a label must be able to withstand, 

without substantial change, a 72-hour fadeometer test (for a description 

of equipment designed for this purpose,



[[Page 379]]



see ASTM G 23-69 (1975) or ASTM G 26-70).

    (4) (i) A color on a label, upon visual examination, must fall 

within the color tolerances--

    (A) Displayed on color charts conforming to the technical 

specifications for charts set forth in table 1 or 2 in appendix A to 

this part; or

    (B) For labels printed on packaging surfaces, specified in table 3 

in appendix A to this part.

    (ii) Color charts conforming to appendix A to this part are on 

display in Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Office of Hazardous 

Materials Standards, Room 8422, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 

SW., Washington DC 20590-0001.

    (5) The following color standards in the PANTONE[reg] formula guide 

coated/uncoated (see Sec. 171.7(b) of this subchapter) may be used to 

achieve the required colors on markings and hazard warning labels and 

placards:



    (i) For Red--Use PANTONE[reg] 186 U

    (ii) For Orange--Use PANTONE[reg] 151 U

    (iii) For Yellow--Use PANTONE[reg] 109 U

    (iv) For Green--Use PANTONE[reg] 335 U

    (v) For Blue--Use PANTONE[reg] 285 U

    (vi) For Purple--Use PANTONE[reg] 259 U



    (6) Where specific colors from the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM[reg] are 

applied as opaque coatings, such as paint, enamel, or plastic, or where 

labels are printed directly on the surface of a packaging, a 

spectrophotometer or other instrumentation must be used to ensure a 

proper match with the color standards in the PANTONE[reg] formula guide 

coated/uncoated for colors prescribed in paragraph (d)(5) of this 

section. PANTONE[reg] is the property of Pantone, Inc.

    (7) The specified label color must extend to the edge of the label 

in the area designated on each label, except for the CORROSIVE, 

RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II, and RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels on which the 

color must extend only to the inner border.

    (e) Form identification. A label may contain form identification 

information, including the name of its maker, provided that information 

is printed outside the solid line inner border in no larger than 10-

point type.

    (f) Exceptions. Except for materials poisonous by inhalation (See 

Sec. 171.8 of this subchapter), a label conforming to specifications in 

the UN Recommendations may be used in place of a corresponding label 

that conforms to the requirements of this subpart.

    (g) Trefoil symbol. The trefoil symbol on the RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I, 

RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II, and RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels must meet the 

appropriate specifications in appendix B of this part.



[Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52595, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66256, 

Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 172-143, 60 FR 50305, Sept. 28, 1995; 64 FR 10776, 

Mar. 5, 1999; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 44255, Aug. 22, 2001; 67 

FR 61013, Sept. 27, 2002; 69 FR 64472, Nov. 4, 2004]