Part 171.8: Definitions and abbreviations. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Aerosol means any non-refillable receptacle containing a gas compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure, the sole purpose of which is to expel a nonpoisonous (other than a Division 6.1 Packing Group III material) liquid, paste, or powder and fitted with a self-closing release device allowing the contents to be ejected by the gas.

Aggregate lithium content means the sum of the grams of lithium content or equivalent lithium content contained by the cells comprising a battery.

Agricultural product means a hazardous material, other than a hazardous waste, whose end use directly supports the production of an agricultural commodity including, but not limited to a fertilizer, pesticide, soil amendment or fuel. An agricultural product is limited to a material in Class 3, 8 or 9, Division 2.1, 2.2, 5.1, or 6.1, or an ORM-D material.

Approval means a written authorization, including a competent authority approval, from the Associate Administrator or other designated Department official, to perform a function for which prior authorization by the Associate Administrator is required under subchapter C of this chapter (49 CFR parts 171 through 180.)

Approved means approval issued or recognized by the Department unless otherwise specifically indicated in this subchapter.

Asphyxiant gas means a gas which dilutes or replaces oxygen normally in the atmosphere.

Associate Administrator means the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Atmospheric gases means air, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, krypton, neon and xenon.

Authorized Inspection Agency means: (1) A jurisdiction which has adopted and administers one or more sections of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as a legal requirement and has a representative serving as a member of the ASME Conference Committee; or (2) an insurance company which has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a State of the United States or a Province of Canada to underwrite boiler and pressure vessel insurance in such State or Province.

Authorized Inspector means an Inspector who is currently commissioned by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and employed as an Inspector by an Authorized Inspection Agency.

Bag means a flexible packaging made of paper, plastic film, textiles, woven material or other similar materials.

Bar means 1 BAR = 100 kPa (14.5 psi).

Barge means a non-selfpropelled vessel.

Biological product. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Biological substances, Category B. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Bottle means an inner packaging having a neck of relatively smaller cross section than the body and an opening capable of holding a closure for retention of the contents.

Bottom shell means that portion of a tank car tank surface, excluding the head ends of the tank car tank, that lies within two feet, measured circumferentially, of the bottom longitudinal center line of the tank car tank.

Box means a packaging with complete rectangular or polygonal faces, made of metal, wood, plywood, reconstituted wood, fiberboard, plastic, or other suitable material. Holes appropriate to the size and use of the packaging, for purposes such as ease of handling or opening, or to meet classification requirements, are permitted as long as they do not compromise the integrity of the packaging during transportation and are not otherwise prohibited in this subchapter.

Break-bulk means packages of hazardous materials that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation as opposed to bulk and containerized freight.

Btu means British thermal unit.

Bulk packaging means a packaging, other than a vessel or a barge, including a transport vehicle or freight container, in which hazardous materials are loaded with no intermediate form of containment and which has:

(1) A maximum capacity greater than 450 L (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a liquid;

(2) A maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450 L (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid; or

(3) A water capacity greater than 454 kg (1000 pounds) as a receptacle for a gas as defined in §173.115 of this subchapter.

Bundle of cylinders means assemblies of UN cylinders fastened together and interconnected by a manifold and transported as a unit. The total water capacity for the bundle may not exceed 3,000 L, except that a bundle intended for the transport of gases in Division 2.3 is limited to a water capacity of 1,000 L.

Bureau of Explosives means the Bureau of Explosives (B of E) of the Association of American Railroads.

C means Celsius or Centigrade.

Captain of the Port (COTP) means the officer of the Coast Guard, under the command of a District Commander, so designated by the Commandant for the purpose of giving immediate direction to Coast Guard law enforcement activities within an assigned area. As used in this subchapter, the term Captain of the Port includes an authorized representative of the Captain of the Port.

Carfloat means a vessel that operates on a short run on an irregular basis and serves one or more points in a port area as an extension of a rail line or highway over water, and does not operate in ocean, coastwise, or ferry service.

Cargo aircraft only means an aircraft that is used to transport cargo and is not engaged in carrying passengers. For purposes of this subchapter, the terms cargoaircraft only, cargo-only aircraft and cargo aircraft have the same meaning.

Cargo tank means a bulk packaging that:

(1) Is a tank intended primarily for the carriage of liquids or gases and includes appurtenances, reinforcements, fittings, and closures (for the definition of a tank, see 49 CFR 178.320, 178.337-1, or 178.338-1, as applicable);

(2) Is permanently attached to or forms a part of a motor vehicle, or is not permanently attached to a motor vehicle but which, by reason of its size, construction or attachment to a motor vehicle is loaded or unloaded without being removed from the motor vehicle; and

(3) Is not fabricated under a specification for cylinders, intermediate bulk containers, multi-unit tank car tanks, portable tanks, or tank cars.

Cargo tank motor vehicle means a motor vehicle with one or more cargo tanks permanently attached to or forming an integral part of the motor vehicle.

Cargo vessel means:

(1) Any vessel other than a passenger vessel; and

(2) Any ferry being operated under authority of a change of character certificate issued by a Coast Guard Officer-in-Charge, Marine Inspection.

Carrier means a person who transports passengers or property in commerce by rail car, aircraft, motor vehicle, or vessel.

CC means closed-cup.

Character of vessel means the type of service in which the vessel is engaged at the time of carriage of a hazardous material.

Class means hazard class. See hazard class.

Class 1. See §173.50 of this subchapter.

Class 2. See §173.115 of this subchapter.

Class 3. See §173.120 of this subchapter.

Class 4. See §173.124 of this subchapter.

Class 5. See §173.128 of this subchapter.

Class 6. See §173.132 of this subchapter.

Class 7. See §173.403 of this subchapter.

Class 8. See §173.136 of this subchapter.

Class 9. See §173.140 of this subchapter.

Closure means a device which closes an opening in a receptacle.

COFC means container-on-flat-car.

Combination packaging means a combination of packaging, for transport purposes, consisting of one or more inner packagings secured in a non-bulk outer packaging. It does not include a composite packaging.

Combustible liquid. See §173.120 of this subchapter.

Commerce means trade or transportation in the jurisdiction of the United States within a single state; between a place in a state and a place outside of the state; or that affects trade or transportation between a place in a state and place outside of the state.

Compatibility group letter means a designated alphabetical letter used to categorize different types of explosive substances and articles for purposes of stowage and segregation. See §173.52 of this subchapter.

Competent Authority means a national agency responsible under its national law for the control or regulation of a particular aspect of the transportation of hazardous materials (dangerous goods). The term Appropriate Authority , as used in the ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see §171.7 ), has the same meaning as Competent Authority. For purposes of this subchapter, the Associate Administrator is the Competent Authority for the United States.

Composite packaging means a packaging consisting of an outer packaging and an inner receptacle, so constructed that the inner receptacle and the outer packaging form an integral packaging. Once assembled it remains thereafter an integrated single unit; it is filled, stored, shipped and emptied as such.

Compressed gas. See §173.115 of this subchapter.

Consignee means the person or place shown on a shipping document, package marking, or other media as the location to which a carrier is directed to transport a hazardous material.

Consumer commodity means a material that is packaged and distributed in a form intended or suitable for sale through retail sales agencies or instrumentalities for consumption by individuals for purposes of personal care or household use. This term also includes drugs and medicines.

Containership means a cargo vessel designed and constructed to transport, within specifically designed cells, portable tanks and freight containers which are lifted on and off with their contents intact.

Corrosive material. See §173.136 of this subchapter.

Crate means an outer packaging with incomplete surfaces.

Crewmember means a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time.

Cryogenic liquid. See §173.115(g) of this subchapter.

Cultures and stocks. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Cylinder means a pressure vessel designed for pressure higher than 40 psia and having a circular cross section. It does not include a portable tank, multi-unit tank car tank, cargo tank, or tank car.

Dangerous when wet material. See §173.124 of this subchapter.

Design Certifying Engineer means a person registered with the Department in accordance with subpart F of part 107 of this chapter who has the knowledge and ability to perform stress analysis of pressure vessels and otherwise determine whether a cargo tank design and construction meets the applicable DOT specification. A Design Certifying Engineer meets the knowledge and ability requirements of this section by meeting any one of the following requirements:

(1) Has an engineering degree and one year of work experience in cargo tank structural or mechanical design;

(2) Is currently registered as a professional engineer by appropriate authority of a state of the United States or a province of Canada; or

(3) Has at least three years’ experience in performing the duties of a Design Certifying Engineer prior to September 1, 1991.

Designated facility means a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility that has been designated on the manifest by the generator.

District Commander means the District Commander of the Coast guard, or his authorized representative, who has jurisdiction in the particular geographical area.

Division means a subdivision of a hazard class.

DOD means the U.S. Department of Defense.

Domestic transportation means transportation between places within the United States other than through a foreign country.

DOT or Department means U.S. Department of Transportation.

Drum means a flat-ended or convex-ended cylindrical packaging made of metal, fiberboard, plastic, plywood, or other suitable materials. This definition also includes packagings of other shapes made of metal or plastic (e.g., round taper-necked packagings or pail-shaped packagings) but does not include cylinders, jerricans, wooden barrels or bulk packagings.

Elevated temperature material means a material which, when offered for transportation or transported in a bulk packaging:

(1) Is in a liquid phase and at a temperature at or above 100 °C (212 °F);

(2) Is in a liquid phase with a flash point at or above 38 °C (100 °F) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point; or

(3) Is in a solid phase and at a temperature at or above 240 °C (464 °F).

Engine means a locomotive propelled by any form of energy and used by a railroad.

EPA means U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Equivalent lithium content means, for a lithium-ion cell, the product of the rated capacity, in ampere-hours, of a lithium-ion cell times 0.3, with the result expressed in grams. The equivalent lithium content of a battery equals the sum of the grams of equivalent lithium content contained in the component cells of the battery.

Etilogic agent. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

EX number means a number preceded by the prefix “EX”, assigned by the Associate Administrator, to an item that has been evaluated under the provisions of §173.56 of this subchapter.

Explosive. See §173.50 of this subchapter.

F means degree Fahrenheit.

Farmer means a person engaged in the production or raising of crops, poultry, or livestock.

Federal hazardous material transportation law means 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.

Ferry vessel means a vessel which is limited in its use to the carriage of deck passengers or vehicles or both, operates on a short run on a frequent schedule between two points over the most direct water route, other than in ocean or coastwise service, and is offered as a public service of a type normally attributed to a bridge or tunnel.

Filling density has the following meanings:

(1) For compressed gases in cylinders, see §173.304a(a)(2) table note 1.

(2) For compressed gases in tank cars, see §173.314(c) table note 1.

(3) For compressed gases in cargo tanks and portable tanks, see §173.315(a) table note 1.

(4) For cryogenic liquids in cylinders, except hydrogen, see §173.316(c)(1).

(5) For hydrogen, cryogenic liquid in cylinders, see §173.316(c)(3) table note 1.

(6) For cryogenic liquids in cargo tanks, see §173.318(f)(1).

(7) For cryogenic liquids in tank cars, see §173.319(d)(1).

Flammable gas. See §173.115 of this subchapter.

Flammable liquid. See §173.120 of this subchapter.

Flammable solid. See §173.124 of this subchapter.

Flash point. See §173.120 of this subchapter.

Freight container means a reusable container having a volume of 64 cubic feet or more designed and constructed to permit being lifted with its contents intact and intended primarily for containment of packages (in unit form) during transportation.

Fuel cell means an electrochemical device that converts the energy of the chemical reaction between a fuel, such as hydrogen or hydrogen rich gases, alcohols, or hydrocarbons, and an oxidant, such as air or oxygen, to direct current (d.c.) power, heat, and other reaction products.

Fuel cell cartridge or Fuel cartridge means an article that stores fuel for discharge into the fuel cell through a valve(s) that controls the discharge of fuel into the fuel cell. [Change Notice][Previous Text]

Fuel cell system means a fuel cell with an installed fuel cell cartridge together with wiring, valves, and other attachments that connect the fuel cell or cartridge to the device it powers. The fuel cell or cartridge may be so constructed that it forms an integral part of the device or may be removed and connected manually to the device.

Fuel tank means a tank other than a cargo tank, used to transport flammable or combustible liquid, or compressed gas for the purpose of supplying fuel for propulsion of the transport vehicle to which it is attached, or for the operation of other equipment on the transport vehicle.

Fumigated lading. See §§172.302(g) and 173.9.

Gas means a material which has a vapor pressure greater than 300 kPa (43.5 psia) at 50°C (122°F) or is completely gaseous at 20°C (68°F) at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia).

Gross weight or Gross mass means the weight of a packaging plus the weight of its contents.

Hazard class means the category of hazard assigned to a hazardous material under the definitional criteria of part 173 of this subchapter and the provisions of the §172.101 Table. A material may meet the defining criteria for more than one hazard class but is assigned to only one hazard class.

Hazard zone means one of four levels of hazard (Hazard Zones A through D) assigned to gases, as specified in §173.116(a) of this subchapter, and one of two levels of hazards (Hazard Zones A and B) assigned to liquids that are poisonous by inhalation, as specified in §173.133(a) of this subchapter. A hazard zone is based on the LC50 value for acute inhalation toxicity of gases and vapors, as specified in §173.133(a).

Hazardous material means a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in part 173 of subchapter C of this chapter.

Hazardous substance for the purposes of this subchapter, means a material, including its mixtures and solutions, that—

(1) Is listed in Appendix A to §172.101 of this subchapter;

(2) Is in a quantity, in one package, which equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) listed in Appendix A to §172.101 of this subchapter; and

(3) When in a mixture or solution—

(i) For radionuclides, conforms to paragraph 7 of Appendix A to §172.101.

(ii) For other than radionuclides, is in a concentration by weight which equals or exceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the following table:

RQ pounds (kilograms)	Concentration by weight
RQ pounds (kilograms)	Percent	PPM
5000 (2270)	10	100,000
1000 (454)	2	20,000
100(45.4)	0.2	2,000
10 (4.54)	0.02	200
1 (0.45)	0.002	20

The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance in Appendix A to §172.101 of this subchapter, and the term does not include natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas).

Hazardous waste, for the purposes of this chapter, means any material that is subject to the Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specified in 40 CFR part 262.

Hazmat means a hazardous material.

Hazmat employee means: (1) A person who is:

(i) Employed on a full-time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer and who in the course of such full time, part time or temporary employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety;

(ii) Self-employed (including an owner-operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) transporting hazardous materials in commerce who in the course of such self-employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety;

(iii) A railroad signalman; or

(iv) A railroad maintenance-of-way employee.

(2) This term includes an individual, employed on a full time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer, or who is self-employed, who during the course of employment:

(i) Loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials;

(ii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package, container or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material in commerce;

(iii) Prepares hazardous materials for transportation;

(iv) Is responsible for safety of transporting hazardous materials;

(v) Operates a vehicle used to transport hazardous materials.

Hazmat employer means:

(1) A person who employs or uses at least one hazmat employee on a full-time, part time, or temporary basis; and who:

(i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce;

(ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or

(iii) Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs or tests a package, container, or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold by that person as qualified for use in transporting hazardous materials in commerce.

(2) A person who is self-employed (including an owner-operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) transporting materials in commerce; and who:

(i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce;

(ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or

(3) A department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, or an authority of a State, political subdivision of a State, or an Indian tribe; and who:

(i) Transports hazardous materials in commerce;

(ii) Causes hazardous materials to be transported in commerce; or

Hermetically sealed means closed by fusion, gasketing, crimping, or equivalent means so that no gas or vapor can enter or escape.

HMR means the Hazardous Materials Regulations, Parts 171 through 180 of this chapter.

Household waste means any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and sanitary waste from septic tanks) derived from households (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas). This term is not applicable to consolidated shipments of household hazardous materials transported from collection centers. A collection center is a central location where household waste is collected.

IAEA means International Atomic Energy Agency.

IATA means International Air Transport Association.

ICAO means International Civil Aviation Organization.

IMO means International Maritime Organization.

Incorporated by reference or IBR means a publication or a portion of a publication that is made a part of the regulations of this subchapter. See §171.7.

Infectious substance (etiologic agent). See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Inner packaging means a packaging for which an outer packaging is required for transport. It does not include the inner receptacle of a composite packaging.

Inner receptacle means a receptacle which requires an outer packaging in order to perform its containment function. The inner receptacle may be an inner packaging of a combination packaging or the inner receptacle of a composite packaging.

Intermediate bulk container or IBC means a rigid or flexible portable packaging, other than a cylinder or portable tank, which is designed for mechanical handling. Standards for IBCs manufactured in the United States are set forth in subparts N and O of part 178 of this subchapter.

Intermediate packaging means a packaging which encloses an inner packaging or article and is itself enclosed in an outer packaging.

Intermodal container means a freight container designed and constructed to permit it to be used interchangeably in two or more modes of transport.

Intermodal portable tank or IM portable tank means a specific class of portable tanks designed primarily for international intermodal use.

International transportation means transportation—

(1) Between any place in the United States and any place in a foreign country;

(2) Between places in the United States through a foreign country; or

(3) Between places in one or more foreign countries through the United States.

Irritating material. See §173.132(a)(2) of this subchapter.

Jerrican means a metal or plastic packaging of rectangular or polygonal cross-section.

Large packaging means a packaging that—

(1) Consists of an outer packaging which contains articles or inner packagings;

(2) Is designated for mechanical handling;

(3) Exceeds 400 kg net mass or 450 liters (118.9 gallons) capacity;

(4) Has a volume of not more than 3m³ (see §178.801(i) of this subchapter); and

(5) Conforms to the requirements for the construction, testing and marking of large packagings as specified in the UN Recommendations, Chapter 6.6 (incorporated by reference; see §171.7).

Lighter means a mechanically operated flame-producing device employing an ignition device and containing a Class 3 or a Division 2.1 material. For design, capacity, and filling density requirements for lighters containing a Division 2.1 material, see §173.308.

Lighter refill means a pressurized container that does not contain an ignition device but does contain a release device and is intended for use as a replacement cartridge in a lighter or to refill a lighter with a Division 2.1 flammable gas fuel. For capacity limits, see §173.306(h) of this subchapter.

Limited quantity, when specified as such in a section applicable to a particular material, means the maximum amount of a hazardous material for which there is a specific labeling or packaging exception.

Liquid means a material, other than an elevated temperature material, with a melting point or initial melting point of 20 °C (68 °F) or lower at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia). A viscous material for which a specific melting point cannot be determined must be subjected to the procedures specified in ASTM D 4359 “Standard Test Method for Determining Whether a Material is Liquid or Solid” (IBR, see §171.7 ).

Liquid phase means a material that meets the definition of liquid when evaluated at the higher of the temperature at which it is offered for transportation or at which it is transported, not at the 38 °C (100 °F) temperature specified in ASTM D 4359 (IBR, see §171.7 ).

Lithium content means the mass of lithium in the anode of a lithium metal or lithium alloy cell. The lithium content of a battery equals the sum of the grams of lithium content contained in the component cells of the battery. For a lithium-ion cell see the definition for “equivalent lithium content”.

Loading incidental to movement means loading by carrier personnel or in the presence of carrier personnel of packaged or containerized hazardous material onto a transport vehicle, aircraft, or vessel for the purpose of transporting it, including the loading, blocking and bracing a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle, and segregating a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle from incompatible cargo. For a bulk packaging, loading incidental to movement means filling the packaging with a hazardous material for the purpose of transporting it. Loading incidental to movement includes transloading.

Magazine vessel means a vessel used for the receiving, storing, or dispensing of explosives.

Magnetic material. See §173.21(d) of this subchapter.

Marine pollutant means a material which is listed in appendix B to §172.101 of this subchapter (also see §171.4 ) and, when in a solution or mixture of one or more marine pollutants, is packaged in a concentration which equals or exceeds:

(1) Ten percent by weight of the solution or mixture for materials listed in the appendix; or

(2) One percent by weight of the solution or mixture for materials that are identified as severe marine pollutants in the appendix.

Marking means a descriptive name, identification number, instructions, cautions, weight, specification, or UN marks, or combinations thereof, required by this subchapter on outer packagings of hazardous materials.

Material of trade means a hazardous material, other than a hazardous waste, that is carried on a motor vehicle—

(1) For the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the motor vehicle operator or passengers;

(2) For the purpose of supporting the operation or maintenance of a motor vehicle (including its auxiliary equipment); or

(3) By a private motor carrier (including vehicles operated by a rail carrier) in direct support of a principal business that is other than transportation by motor vehicle.

Material poisonous by inhalation means:

(1) A gas meeting the defining criteria in §173.115(c) of this subchapter and assigned to Hazard Zone A, B, C, or D in accordance with §173.116(a) of this subchapter;

(2) A liquid (other than as a mist) meeting the defining criteria in §173.132(a)(1)(iii) of this subchapter and assigned to Hazard Zone A or B in accordance with §173.133(a) of this subchapter; or

(3) Any material identified as an inhalation hazard by a special provision in Column 7 of the §172.101 Table .

Maximum allowable working pressure or MAWP: For DOT specification cargo tanks used to transport liquid hazardous materials, see§178.320(a) of this subchapter.

Maximum capacity means the maximum inner volume of receptacles or packagings.

Maximum net mass means the allowable maximum net mass of contents in a single packaging, or as used in subpart M of part 178 of this subchapter, the maximum combined mass of inner packaging, and the contents thereof.

Metered delivery service means a cargo tank unloading operation conducted at a metered flow rate of 378.5 L (100 gallons) per minute or less through an attached delivery hose with a nominal inside diameter of 3.175 cm (1¹/₄ inches) or less.

Miscellaneous hazardous material. See §173.140 of this subchapter.

Mixture means a material composed of more than one chemical compound or element.

Mode means any of the following transportation methods; rail, highway, air, or water.

Motor vehicle includes a vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer or semitrailer, or any combination thereof, propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used upon the highways in the transportation of passengers or property. It does not include a vehicle, locomotive, or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails, or a trolley bus operated by electric power derived from a fixed overhead wire, furnishing local passenger transportation similar to street-railway service.

Movement means the physical transfer of a hazardous material from one geographic location to another by rail car, aircraft, motor vehicle, or vessel.

Multiple-element gas container or MEGC means assemblies of UN cylinders, tubes, or bundles of cylinders interconnected by a manifold and assembled within a framework. The term includes all service equipment and structural equipment necessary for the transport of gases.

Name of contents means the proper shipping name as specified in §172.101 of this subchapter.

Navigable waters means, for the purpose of this subchapter, waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.

Non-bulk packaging means a packaging which has:

(1) A maximum capacity of 450 L (119 gallons) or less as a receptacle for a liquid;

(2) A maximum net mass of 400 kg (882 pounds) or less and a maximum capacity of 450 L (119 gallons) or less as a receptacle for a solid; or

(3) A water capacity of 454 kg (1000 pounds) or less as a receptacle for a gas as defined in §173.115 of this subchapter.

Nonflammable gas. See §173.115 of this subchapter.

N.O.S. means not otherwise specified.

N.O.S. description means a shipping description from the §172.101 table which includes the abbreviation n.o.s.

NPT means an American Standard taper pipe thread conforming to the requirements of NBS Handbook H-28 (IBR, see §171.7 ).

NRC (non-reusable container) means a packaging (container) whose reuse is restricted in accordance with the provisions of §173.28 of this subchapter.

Occupied caboose means a rail car being used to transport non-passenger personnel.

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection means a person from the civilian or military branch of the Coast Guard designated as such by the Commandant and who under the supervision and direction of the Coast Guard District Commander is in charge of a designated inspection zone for the performance of duties with respect to the enforcement and administration of title 52, Revised Statutes, acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto, rules and regulations thereunder, and the inspection required thereby.

Offshore supply vessel means a cargo vessel of less than 500 gross tons that regularly transports goods, supplies or equipment in support of exploration or production of offshore mineral or energy resources.

Operator means a person who controls the use of an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle.

Organic peroxide. See §173.128 of this subchapter.

ORM means other regulated material. See §173.144 of this subchapter.

Outage or ullage means the amount by which a packaging falls short of being liquid full, usually expressed in percent by volume.

Outer packaging means the outermost enclosure of a composite or combination packaging together with any absorbent materials, cushioning and any other components necessary to contain and protect inner receptacles or inner packagings.

Overpack, except as provided in subpart K of part 178 of this subchapter, means an enclosure that is used by a single consignor to provide protection or convenience in handling of a package or to consolidate two or more packages. Overpack does not include a transport vehicle, freight container, or aircraft unit load device. Examples of overpacks are one or more packages:

(1) Placed or stacked onto a load board such as a pallet and secured by strapping, shrink wrapping, stretch wrapping, or other suitable means; or

(2) Placed in a protective outer packaging such as a box or crate.

Oxidizer. See §173.127 of this subchapter.

Oxidizing gas means a gas which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does.

Oxygen generator (chemical) means a device containing chemicals that upon activation release oxygen as a product of chemical reaction.

Package or Outside Package means a packaging plus its contents. For radioactive materials, see §173.403 of this subchapter.

Packaging means a receptacle and any other components or materials necessary for the receptacle to perform its containment function in conformance with the minimum packing requirements of this subchapter. For radioactive materials packaging, see §173.403 of this subchapter.

Packing group means a grouping according to the degree of danger presented by hazardous materials. Packing Group I indicates great danger; Packing Group II, medium danger; Packing Group III, minor danger. See §172.101(f) of this subchapter.

Passenger (With respect to vessels and for the purpose of part 176 only) means a person being carried on a vessel other than:

(1) The owner or his representative;

(2) The operator;

(3) A bona fide member of the crew engaged in the business of the vessel who has contributed no consideration for his carriage and who is paid for his services; or

(4) A guest who has not contributed any consideration directly or indirectly for his carriage.

Passenger-carrying aircraft means an aircraft that carries any person other than a crewmember, company employee, an authorized representative of the United States, or a person accompanying the shipment.

Passenger vessel means—

(1) A vessel subject to any of the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, which carries more than 12 passengers;

(2) A cargo vessel documented under the laws of the United States and not subject to that Convention, which carries more than 16 passengers;

(3) A cargo vessel of any foreign nation that extends reciprocal privileges and is not subject to that Convention and which carries more than 16 passengers; and

(4) A vessel engaged in a ferry operation and which carries passengers.

Person means an individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company; or a government, Indian tribe, or authority of a government or tribe offering a hazardous material for transportation in commerce or transporting a hazardous material to support a commercial enterprise. This term does not include the United States Postal Service or, for purposes of 49 U.S.C. 5123 and 5124, a Department, agency, or instrumentality of the government.

Person who offers or offeror means:

(1) Any person who does either or both of the following:

(i) Performs, or is responsible for performing, any pre-transportation function required under this subchapter for transportation of the hazardous material in commerce.

(ii) Tenders or makes the hazardous material available to a carrier for transportation in commerce.

(2) A carrier is not an offeror when it performs a function required by this subchapter as a condition of acceptance of a hazardous material for transportation in commerce (e.g., reviewing shipping papers, examining packages to ensure that they are in conformance with this subchapter, or preparing shipping documentation for its own use) or when it transfers a hazardous material to another carrier for continued transportation in commerce without performing a pre-transportation function.

PHMSA means the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.

Placarded car means a rail car which is placarded in accordance with the requirements of part 172 of this subchapter.

Poisonous gas. See §173.115 of this subchapter.

Poisonous materials. See §173.132 of this subchapter.

Portable tank means a bulk packaging (except a cylinder having a water capacity of 1000 pounds or less) designed primarily to be loaded onto, or on, or temporarily attached to a transport vehicle or ship and equipped with skids, mountings, or accessories to facilitate handling of the tank by mechanical means. It does not include a cargo tank, tank car, multi-unit tank car tank, or trailer carrying 3AX, 3AAX, or 3T cylinders.

Preferred route or Preferred highway is a highway for shipment of highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials so designated by a State routing agency, and any Interstate System highway for which an alternative highway has not been designated by such State agency as provided by §397.103 of this title.

Pre-transportation function means a function specified in the HMR that is required to assure the safe transportation of a hazardous material in commerce, including—

(1) Determining the hazard class of a hazardous material.

(2) Selecting a hazardous materials packaging.

(3) Filling a hazardous materials packaging, including a bulk packaging.

(4) Securing a closure on a filled or partially filled hazardous materials package or container or on a package or container containing a residue of a hazardous material.

(5) Marking a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

(6) Labeling a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

(7) Preparing a shipping paper.

(8) Providing and maintaining emergency response information.

(9) Reviewing a shipping paper to verify compliance with the HMR or international equivalents.

(10) For each person importing a hazardous material into the United States, providing the shipper with timely and complete information as to the HMR requirements that will apply to the transportation of the material within the United States.

(11) Certifying that a hazardous material is in proper condition for transportation in conformance with the requirements of the HMR.

(12) Loading, blocking, and bracing a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle.

(13) Segregating a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle from incompatible cargo.

(14) Selecting, providing, or affixing placards for a freight container or transport vehicle to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

Primary hazard means the hazard class of a material as assigned in the §172.101 Table.

Private track or Private siding means: (i) Track located outside of a carrier’s right-of-way, yard, or terminals where the carrier does not own the rails, ties, roadbed, or right-of-way, or

(ii) Track leased by a railroad to a lessee, where the lease provides for, and actual practice entails, exclusive use of that trackage by the lessee and/or a general system railroad for purpose of moving only cars shipped to or by the lessee, and where the lessor otherwise exercises no control over or responsibility for the trackage or the cars on the trackage.

Proper shipping name means the name of the hazardous material shown in Roman print (not italics) in §172.101 of this subchapter.

Psi means pounds per square inch.

Psia means pounds per square inch absolute.

Psig means pounds per square inch gauge.

Public vessel means a vessel owned by and being used in the public service of the United States. It does not include a vessel owned by the United States and engaged in trade or commercial service or a vessel under contract or charter to the United States.

Pyrophoric liquid. See §173.124(b) of this subchapter.

Radioactive materials. See §173.403 of this subchapter for definitions relating to radioactive materials.

Rail car means a car designed to carry freight or non-passenger personnel by rail, and includes a box car, flat car, gondola car, hopper car, tank car, and occupied caboose.

Railroad means a person engaged in transportation by rail.

Receptacle means a containment vessel for receiving and holding materials, including any means of closing.

Registered Inspector means a person registered with the Department in accordance with subpart F of part 107 of this chapter who has the knowledge and ability to determine whether a cargo tank conforms to the applicable DOT specification. A Registered Inspector meets the knowledge and ability requirements of this section by meeting any one of the following requirements:

(1) Has an engineering degree and one year of work experience relating to the testing and inspection of cargo tanks;

(2) Has an associate degree in engineering and two years of work experience relating to the testing and inspection of cargo tanks;

(3) Has a high school diploma (or General Equivalency Diploma) and three years of work experience relating to the testing and inspection of cargo tanks; or

(4) Has at least three years’ experience performing the duties of a Registered Inspector prior to September 1, 1991.

Regulated medical waste. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Reportable quantity (RQ) for the purposes of this subchapter means the quantity specified in Column 2 of the appendix to §172.101 , for any material identified in Column 1 of the appendix.

Research means investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery of new theories or laws and the discovery and interpretation of facts or revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts. Research does not include the application of existing technology to industrial endeavors.

Residue means the hazardous material remaining in a packaging, including a tank car, after its contents have been unloaded to the maximum extent practicable and before the packaging is either refilled or cleaned of hazardous materials and purged to remove any hazardous vapors.

SADT means self-accelerated decomposition temperature. See §173.21(f) of this subchapter.

Salvage packaging means a special packaging conforming to §173.3 of this subchapter into which damaged, defective, leaking, or non-conforming hazardous materials packages, or hazardous materials that have spilled or leaked, are placed for purposes of transport for recovery or disposal.

SCF (standard cubic foot) means one cubic foot of gas measured at 60 °F. and 14.7 psia.

Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

Self-defense spray means an aerosol or non-pressurized device that:

(1) Is intended to have an irritating or incapacitating effect on a person or animal; and

(2) Meets no hazard criteria other than for Class 9 (for example, a pepper spray; see §173.140(a) of this subchapter) and, for an aerosol, Division 2.1 or 2.2 (see §173.115 of this subchapter), except that it may contain not more than two percent by mass of a tear gas substance (e.g., chloroacetophenone (CN) or 0-chloroben-zylmalonitrile (CS); see §173.132(a)(2) of this subchapter.)

Settled pressure means the pressure exerted by the contents of a UN pressure receptacle in thermal and diffusive equilibrium.

Sharps. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Shipping paper means a shipping order, bill of lading, manifest or other shipping document serving a similar purpose and prepared in accordance with subpart C of part 172 of this chapter.

Siftproof packaging means a packaging impermeable to dry contents, including fine solid material produced during transportation.

Single packaging means a non-bulk packaging other than a combination packaging.

Solid means a material which is not a gas or a liquid.

Solution means any homogeneous liquid mixture of two or more chemical compounds or elements that will not undergo any segregation under conditions normal to transportation.

Special permit means a document issued by the Associate Administrator under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 5117 permitting a person to perform a function that is not otherwise permitted under subchapter A or C of this chapter, or other regulations issued under 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. (e.g., Federal Motor Carrier Safety routing requirements). The terms “special permit” and “exemption” have the same meaning for purposes of subchapter A or C of this chapter or other regulations issued under 49 U.S.C. 5101 through 5127. An exemption issued prior to October 1, 2005 remains valid until it is past its expiration date, terminated by the Associate Administrator, or issued as a special permit, whichever occurs first.

Specification packaging means a packaging conforming to one of the specifications or standards for packagings in part 178 or part 179 of this subchapter.

Spontaneously combustible material. See §173.124(b) of this subchapter.

Stabilized means that the hazardous material is in a condition that precludes uncontrolled reaction. This may be achieved by methods such as adding an inhibiting chemical, degassing the hazardous material to remove dissolved oxygen and inerting the air space in the package, or maintaining the hazardous material under temperature control.

State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or any other territory or possession of the United States designated by the Secretary.

State-designated route means a preferred route selected in accordance with U.S. DOT “Guidelines for Selecting Preferred Highway Routes for Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials” or an equivalent routing analysis which adequately considers overall risk to the public.

Storage incidental to movement means storage of a transport vehicle, freight container, or package containing a hazardous material by any person between the time that a carrier takes physical possession of the hazardous material for the purpose of transporting it in commerce until the package containing the hazardous material is physically delivered to the destination indicated on a shipping document, package marking, or other medium, or, in the case of a private motor carrier, between the time that a motor vehicle driver takes physical possession of the hazardous material for the purpose of transporting it in commerce until the driver relinquishes possession of the package at its destination and is no longer responsible for performing functions subject to the HMR with respect to that particular package.

(1) Storage incidental to movement includes—

(i) Storage at the destination shown on a shipping document, including storage at a transloading facility, provided the shipping documentation identifies the shipment as a through-shipment and identifies the final destination or destinations of the hazardous material; and

(ii) Rail cars containing hazardous materials that are stored on track that does not meet the definition of “private track or siding” in §171.8, even if those cars have been delivered to the destination shown on the shipping document.

(2) Storage incidental to movement does not include storage of a hazardous material at its final destination as shown on a shipping document.

Stowage means the act of placing hazardous materials on board a vessel.

Strong outside container means the outermost enclosure which provides protection against the unintentional release of its contents under conditions normally incident to transportation.

Subsidiary hazard means a hazard of a material other than the primary hazard. (See primary hazard ).

Table in §172.101 or §172.101 Table means the Hazardous Materials Table in §172.101 of this subchapter.

Technical name means a recognized chemical name or microbiological name currently used in scientific and technical handbooks, journals, and texts. Generic descriptions are authorized for use as technical names provided they readily identify the general chemical group, or microbiological group. Examples of acceptable generic chemical descriptions are organic phosphate compounds, petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons and tertiary amines. For proficiency testing only, generic microbiological descriptions such as bacteria, mycobacteria, fungus, and viral samples may be used. Except for names which appear in subpart B of part 172 of this subchapter, trade names may not be used as technical names.

TOFC means trailer-on-flat-car.

Top shell means the tank car tank surface, excluding the head ends and bottom shell of the tank car tank.

Toxin. See §173.134 of this subchapter.

Trailership means a vessel, other than a carfloat, specifically equipped to carry motor transport vehicles and fitted with installed securing devices to tie down each vehicle. The term trailership includes Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessels.

Train means one or more engines coupled with one or more rail cars, except during switching operations or where the operation is that of classifying and assembling rail cars within a railroad yard for the purpose of making or breaking up trains.

Trainship means a vessel other than a rail car ferry or carfloat, specifically equipped to transport railroad vehicles, and fitted with installed securing devices to tie down each vehicle.

Transloading means the transfer of a hazardous material by any person from one bulk packaging to another bulk packaging, from a bulk packaging to a non-bulk packaging, or from a non-bulk packaging to a bulk packaging for the purpose of continuing the movement of the hazardous material in commerce.

Transport vehicle means a cargo-carrying vehicle such as an automobile, van, tractor, truck, semitrailer, tank car or rail car used for the transportation of cargo by any mode. Each cargo-carrying body (trailer, rail car, etc.) is a separate transport vehicle.

Transportation or transport means the movement of property and loading, unloading, or storage incidental to that movement.

UFC means Uniform Freight Classification.

UN means United Nations.

UN cylinder means a transportable pressure receptacle with a water capacity not exceeding 150 L that has been marked and certified as conforming to the applicable requirements in part 178 of this subchapter.

UN portable tank means a intermodal tank having a capacity of more than 450 liters (118.9 gallons). It includes a shell fitted with service equipment and structural equipment, including stabilizing members external to the shell and skids, mountings or accessories to facilitate mechanical handling. A UN portable tank must be capable of being filled and discharged without the removal of its structural equipment and must be capable of being lifted when full. Cargo tanks, rail tank car tanks, non-metallic tanks, non-specification tanks, bulk bins, and IBCs and packagings made to cylinder specifications are not UN portable tanks.

UN pressure receptacle means a UN cylinder or tube.

UN Recommendations means the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (IBR, see §171.7 ).

UN standard packaging means a packaging conforming to standards in the UN Recommendations (IBR, see §171.7 ).

UN tube means a seamless transportable pressure receptacle with a water capacity exceeding 150 L but not more than 3,000 L that has been marked and certified as conforming to the requirements in part 178 of this subchapter.

Undeclared hazardous material means a hazardous material that is: (1) Subject to any of the hazard communication requirements in subparts C (Shipping Papers) , D (Marking) , E (Labeling) , and F (Placarding) of Part 172 of this subchapter, or an alternative marking requirement in Part 173 of this subchapter (such as §§173.4(a)(10) and 173.6(c) ); and (2) offered for transportation in commerce without any visible indication to the person accepting the hazardous material for transportation that a hazardous material is present, on either an accompanying shipping document, or the outside of a transport vehicle, freight container, or package.

Unintentional release means the escape of a hazardous material from a package on an occasion not anticipated or planned. This includes releases resulting from collision, package failures, human error, criminal activity, negligence, improper packing, or unusual conditions such as the operation of pressure relief devices as a result of over-pressurization, overfill or fire exposure. It does not include releases, such as venting of packages, where allowed, and the operational discharge of contents from packages.

Unit load device means any type of freight container, aircraft container, aircraft pallet with a net, or aircraft pallet with a net over an igloo.

United States means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or any other territory or possession of the United States designated by the Secretary.

Unloading incidental to movement means removing a packaged or containerized hazardous material from a transport vehicle, aircraft, or vessel or, for a bulk packaging, emptying a hazardous material from the bulk packaging after the hazardous material has been delivered to the consignee when performed by carrier personnel or in the presence of carrier personnel or, in the case of a private motor carrier, while the driver of the motor vehicle from which the hazardous material is being unloaded immediately after movement is completed is present during the unloading operation. (Emptying a hazardous material from a bulk packaging while the packaging is on board a vessel is subject to separate regulations as delegated by Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1 at 2(103).) Unloading incidental to movement includes transloading.

Vessel includes every description of watercraft, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

Viscous liquid means a liquid material which has a measured viscosity in excess of 2500 centistokes at 25 °C. (77 °F.) when determined in accordance with the procedures specified in ASTM Method D 445-72 “Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and the Calculation and Dynamic Viscosity)” or ASTM Method D 1200-70 “Viscosity of Paints, Varnishes, and Lacquers by Ford Viscosity Cup.”

Volatility refers to the relative rate of evaporation of materials to assume the vapor state.

Water reactive material. See §173.124(c) of this subchapter.

Water resistant means having a degree of resistance to permeability by and damage caused by water in liquid form.

Wooden barrel means a packaging made of natural wood, of round cross-section, having convex walls, consisting of staves and heads and fitted with hoops.

Working pressure for purposes of UN pressure receptacles, means the settled pressure of a compressed gas at a reference temperature of 15 °C (59 °F).

W.T. means watertight.

[Amdt. 171–32, 41 FR 15994, Apr. 15, 1976; 74 FR 2233, Jan. 14, 2009]