[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: 49CFR173.115]



[Page 493-495]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 173_SHIPPERS_GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS

--Table of Contents

 

  Subpart D_Definitions Classification, Packing Group Assignments and 

    Exceptions for Hazardous Materials Other Than Class 1 and Class 7

 

Sec. 173.115  Class 2, Divisions 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3--Definitions.



    Source: Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52634 Dec. 21, 1990, unless otherwise 

noted.





    (a) Division 2.1 (Flammable gas). For the purpose of this 

subchapter, a flammable gas (Division 2.1) means any material which is a 

gas at 20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F) or less and 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) of 

pressure (a material which has a boiling point of 20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F) 

or less at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia)) which--

    (1) Is ignitable at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) when in a mixture of 13 

percent or less by volume with air; or

    (2) Has a flammable range at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) with air of at 

least 12 percent regardless of the lower limit. Except for aerosols, the 

limits specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section shall 

be determined at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) of pressure and a temperature of 

20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F) in accordance with the ASTM E681-85, Standard Test 

Method for Concentration Limits of Flammability of Chemicals or other 

equivalent method approved by the Associate Administrator. The 

flammability of aerosols is determined by the tests specified in Sec. 

173.115 (k) of this section.

    (b) Division 2.2 (non-flammable, nonpoisonous compressed gas--

including compressed gas, liquefied gas, pressurized cryogenic gas, 

compressed gas in solution, asphyxiant gas and oxidizing gas). For the 

purpose of this subchapter, a non-flammable, nonpoisonous compressed gas 

(Division 2.2) means any material (or mixture) which--

    (1) Exerts in the packaging an absolute pressure of 280 kPa (40.6 

psia) or greater at 20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F), and

    (2) Does not meet the definition of Division 2.1 or 2.3.

    (c) Division 2.3 (Gas poisonous by inhalation). For the purpose of 

this subchapter, a gas poisonous by inhalation (Division 2.3) means a 

material which is a gas at 20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F) or less and a



[[Page 494]]



pressure of 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) (a material which has a boiling point 

of 20 [deg]C (68 [deg]F) or less at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia)) and which--

    (1) Is known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a hazard to health 

during transportation, or

    (2) In the absence of adequate data on human toxicity, is presumed 

to be toxic to humans because when tested on laboratory animals it has 

an LC50 value of not more than 5000 mL/m\3\ (see Sec. 

173.116(a) of this subpart for assignment of Hazard Zones A, B, C or D). 

LC50 values for mixtures may be determined using the formula in Sec. 

173.133(b)(1)(i) or CGA Pamphlet P-20 (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this 

subchapter).

    (d) Non-liquefied compressed gas. A gas, which when packaged under 

pressure for transportation is entirely gaseous at -50 [deg]C (-58 

[deg]F) with a critical temperature less than or equal to -50 [deg]C (-

58 [deg]F), is considered to be a non-liquefied compressed gas.

    (e) Liquefied compressed gas. A gas, which when packaged under 

pressure for transportation is partially liquid at temperatures above -

50 [deg]C (-58 [deg]F), is considered to be a liquefied compressed gas. 

A liquefied compressed gas is further categorized as follows:

    (1) High pressure liquefied gas which is a gas with a critical 

temperature between -50 [deg]C (-58 [deg]F) and + 65 [deg]C (149 

[deg]F), and

    (2) Low pressure liquefied gas which is a gas with a critical 

temperature above + 65 [deg]C (149 [deg]F).

    (f) Compressed gas in solution. A compressed gas in solution is a 

non-liquefied compressed gas which is dissolved in a solvent.

    (g) Cryogenic liquid. A cryogenic liquid means a refrigerated 

liquefied gas having a boiling point colder than -90 [deg]C (-130 

[deg]F) at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) absolute. A material meeting this 

definition is subject to requirements of this subchapter without regard 

to whether it meets the definition of a non-flammable, non-poisonous 

compressed gas in paragraph (b) of this section.

    (h) Flammable range. The term flammable range means the difference 

between the minimum and maximum volume percentages of the material in 

air that forms a flammable mixture.

    (i) Service pressure. The term service pressure means the authorized 

pressure marking on the packaging. For example, for a cylinder marked 

``DOT 3A1800'', the service pressure is 12410 kPa (1800 psig).

    (j) Refrigerant gas or Dispersant gas. The terms Refrigerant gas and 

Dispersant gas apply to all nonpoisonous refrigerant gases; dispersant 

gases (fluorocarbons) listed in Sec. 172.101 of this subchapter and 

Sec. Sec. 173.304, 173.314(c), 173.315(a), and 173.315(h) and mixtures 

thereof; and any other compressed gas having a vapor pressure not 

exceeding 260 psia at 54 [deg]C(130 [deg]F), used only as a refrigerant, 

dispersant, or blowing agent.

    (k) The following applies to aerosols (see Sec. 171.8 of this 

subchapter):

    (1) An aerosol must be assigned to Division 2.1 if the contents 

include 85% by mass or more flammable components and the chemical heat 

of combustion is 30 kJ/g or more;

    (2) An aerosol must be assigned to Division 2.2 if the contents 

contain 1% by mass or less flammable components and the heat of 

combustion is less than 20 kJ/g.

    (3) Aerosols not meeting the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of 

this section must be classed in accordance with the appropriate tests of 

the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this 

subchapter). An aerosol which was tested in accordance with the 

requirements of this subchapter in effect on December 31, 2005 is not 

required to be retested.

    (4) Division 2.3 gases may not be transported in an aerosol 

container.

    (5) When the contents are classified as Division 6.1 or Class 8, PG 

III, the aerosol must be assigned a subsidiary hazard of Division 6.1 or 

Class 8.

    (6) Substances of Division 6.1, PG I or II, and substances of Class 

8, PG I are forbidden from transportation in an aerosol container.

    (7) Flammable components are Class 3 flammable liquids, Class 4.1 

flammable solids, or Division 2.1 flammable gases. The chemical heat of 

combustion must be determined in accordance



[[Page 495]]



with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this 

subchapter).



[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52634, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66268, 

Dec. 20, 1991; 57 FR 45461, Oct. 1, 1992; Amdt. 173-236, 58 FR 50236, 

Sept. 24, 1993; Amdt. 173-234, 58 FR 51532, Oct. 1, 1993; Amdt. 173-241, 

59 FR 67506, Dec. 29, 1994; Amdt. 173-255, 61 FR 50625, Sept. 26, 1996; 

66 FR 45379, 45380, 45382, Aug. 28, 2001; 67 FR 51642, Aug. 8, 2002; 67 

FR 16013, Sept. 27, 2002; 68 FR 45033, July 31, 2003; 68 FR 75742, Dec. 

31, 2003; 69 FR 76155, Dec. 20, 2004; 70 FR 34398, June 14, 2005]