[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR173.24a]

[Page 406-408]
 
                        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 B--Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation
 
Sec. 173.24a  Additional general requirements for non-bulk packagings and packages.

    (a) Packaging design. Except as provided in Sec. 172.312 of this 
subchapter:
    (1) Inner packaging closures. A combination packaging containing 
liquid hazardous materials must be packed so

[[Page 407]]

that closures on inner packagings are upright.
    (2) Friction. The nature and thickness of the outer packaging must 
be such that friction during transportation is not likely to generate an 
amount of heat sufficient to alter dangerously the chemical stability of 
the contents.
    (3) Securing and cushioning. Inner packagings of combination 
packagings must be so packed, secured and cushioned to prevent their 
breakage or leakage and to control their movement within the outer 
packaging under conditions normally incident to transportation. 
Cushioning material must not be capable of reacting dangerously with the 
contents of the inner packagings or having its protective properties 
significantly weakened in the event of leakage.
    (4) Metallic devices. Nails, staples and other metallic devices 
shall not protrude into the interior of the outer packaging in such a 
manner as to be likely to damage inner packagings or receptacles.
    (5) Vibration. Each non-bulk package must be capable of 
withstanding, without rupture or leakage, the vibration test procedure 
specified in Sec. 178.608 of this subchapter.
    (b) Non-bulk packaging filling limits. (1) A single or composite 
non-bulk packaging may be filled with a liquid hazardous material only 
when the specific gravity of the material does not exceed that marked on 
the packaging, or a specific gravity of 1.2 if not marked, except as 
follows:
    (i) A Packing Group I packaging may be used for a Packing Group II 
material with a specific gravity not exceeding the greater of 1.8, or 
1.5 times the specific gravity marked on the packaging, provided all the 
performance criteria can still be met with the higher specific gravity 
material;
    (ii) A Packing Group I packaging may be used for a Packing Group III 
material with a specific gravity not exceeding the greater of 2.7, or 
2.25 times the specific gravity marked on the packaging, provided all 
the performance criteria can still be met with the higher specific 
gravity material; and
    (iii) A Packing Group II packaging may be used for a Packing Group 
III material with a specific gravity not exceeding the greater of 1.8, 
or 1.5 times the specific gravity marked on the packaging, provided all 
the performance criteria can still be met with the higher specific 
gravity material.
    (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a non-bulk 
packaging may not be filled with a hazardous material to a gross mass 
greater than the maximum gross mass marked on the packaging.
    (3) A single or composite non-bulk packaging which is tested and 
marked for liquid hazardous materials may be filled with a solid 
hazardous material to a gross mass, in kilograms, not exceeding the 
rated capacity of the packaging in liters, multiplied by the specific 
gravity marked on the packaging, or 1.2 if not marked. In addition:
    (i) A single or composite non-bulk packaging which is tested and 
marked for Packing Group I liquid hazardous materials may be filled with 
a solid Packing Group II hazardous material to a gross mass, in 
kilograms, not exceeding the rated capacity of the packaging in liters, 
multiplied by 1.5, multiplied by the specific gravity marked on the 
packaging, or 1.2 if not marked.
    (ii) A single or composite non-bulk packaging which is tested and 
marked for Packing Group I liquid hazardous materials may be filled with 
a solid Packing Group III hazardous material to a gross mass, in 
kilograms, not exceeding the rated capacity of the packaging in liters, 
multiplied by 2.25, multiplied by the specific gravity marked on the 
packaging, or 1.2 if not marked.
    (iii) A single or composite non-bulk packaging which is tested and 
marked for Packing Group II liquid hazardous materials may be filled 
with a solid Packing Group III hazardous material to a gross mass, in 
kilograms, not exceeding the rated capacity of the packaging in liters, 
multiplied by 1.5, multiplied by the specific gravity marked on the 
packaging, or 1.2 if not marked.
    (4) Packagings tested as prescribed in Sec. 178.605 of this 
subchapter and marked with the hydrostatic test pressure as prescribed 
in Sec. 178.503(a)(5) of this subchapter may be used for liquids only 
when the vapor pressure of the liquid conforms to one of the following:

[[Page 408]]

    (i) The vapor pressure must be such that the total pressure in the 
packaging (i.e., the vapor pressure of the liquid plus the partial 
pressure of air or other inert gases, less 100 kPa (15 psia)) at 55 
deg.C (131  deg.F), determined on the basis of a maximum degree of 
filling in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section and a filling 
temperature of 15  deg.C (59  deg.F)), will not exceed two-thirds of the 
marked test pressure;
    (ii) The vapor pressure at 50  deg.C (122  deg.F) must be less than 
four-sevenths of the sum of the marked test pressure plus 100 kPa (15 
psia); or
    (iii) The vapor pressure at 55  deg.C (131  deg.F) must be less than 
two-thirds of the sum of the marked test pressure plus 100 kPa (15 
psia).
    (5) No hazardous material may remain on the outside of a package 
after filling.
    (c) Mixed contents. (1) An outer non-bulk packaging may contain more 
than one hazardous material only when--
    (i) The inner and outer packagings used for each hazardous material 
conform to the relevant packaging sections of this part applicable to 
that hazardous material;
    (ii) The package as prepared for shipment meets the performance 
tests prescribed in part 178 of this subchapter for the packing group 
indicating the highest order of hazard for the hazardous materials 
contained in the package;
    (iii) Corrosive materials (except ORM-D) in bottles are further 
packed in securely closed inner receptacles before packing in outer 
packagings; and
    (iv) For transportation by aircraft, the total net quantity does not 
exceed the lowest permitted maximum net quantity per package as shown in 
Column 9a or 9b, as appropriate, of the Sec. 172.101 table. The 
permitted maximum net quantity must be calculated in kilograms if a 
package contains both a liquid and a solid.
    (2) A packaging containing inner packagings of Division 6.2 
materials may not contain other hazardous materials, except dry ice.
    (d) Liquids must not completely fill a receptacle at a temperature 
of 55  deg.C (131  deg.F) or less.

[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52611, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66265, 
Dec. 20, 1991; 57 FR 45460, Oct. 1, 1992; 58 FR 51532, Oct. 1, 1993; 
Amdt. 173-255, 61 FR 50624, Sept. 26, 1996; 66 FR 45380, Aug. 28, 2001]