49 C.F.R. § 173.306
(a) Limited quantities of compressed gases for which exceptions are permitted as noted by reference to this section in § 172.101 of this subchapter are excepted from labeling, except when offered for transportation or transported by air, and, unless required as a condition of the exception, specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when packaged in accordance with the following paragraphs. For transportation by aircraft, the package must conform to the applicable requirements of § 173.27 and only packages of hazardous materials authorized aboard passenger-carrying aircraft may be transported as a limited quantity. In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F (Placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter except § 174.24, and to part 177 of this subchapter except § 177.817. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each package may not exceed 30 kg (66 lbs.) gross weight.
(2) When in refillable metal containers filled with a material that is not classed as a hazardous material to not more than 90% of capacity at 21.1 °C (70 °F) and then charged with nonflammable, nonliquefied gas. Each container must be tested to three times the pressure at 21.1 °C (70 °F) and, when refilled, be retested to three times the pressure of the gas at 21.1 °C (70 °F). Also, one of the following conditions must be met:
(3) When in a metal aerosol container (see § 171.8 of this subchapter for the definition of aerosol). Authorized containers include non-specification, DOT 2P (§ 178.33 of this subchapter), DOT 2Q (§ 178.33a of this subchapter), or DOT 2Q1 (§ 178.33(d) of this subchapter) design, provided the following conditions are met. Additional exceptions for aerosol containers conforming to this paragraph (a)(3) are provided in paragraph (i) of this section.
(ii) General pressure conditions. The authorized metal aerosol containers and associated pressure limitations are provided in the following table. Pressure inside the container may not exceed 180 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F) except as may be authorized by variations of a DOT specification container type. In any event, the metal container must be capable of withstanding without bursting a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).
| If the gauge pressure (psig) at 54.4 °C (130 °F) is . . . | Authorized container |
|---|---|
| 140 or less | Non-DOT specification, DOT 2P, DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q1. |
| Greater than 140 but not exceeding 160 | DOT 2P, DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q1. |
| Greater than 160 but not exceeding 180 | DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q1. |
| Not to exceed 210 | DOT 2Q1 (Non-flammable only). |
(v) Pressure testing. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, each container, after it is filled, must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F), or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F)). If the contents are sensitive to heat, the temperature of the bath must be set at between 20 °C (68 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) but, in addition, one container in 2,000 must be tested at the higher temperature. No leakage or permanent deformation of a container may occur. However, instead of this standard water bath test, container(s) may be tested using one of the following methods subject to certain conditions—
(A) Alternative water bath test. (1) One filled container in a lot of 2,000 must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). If the container shows evidence of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot of 2,000 containers must be rejected;
(2) A second filled container in the lot of 2,000 must be weighed and compared to the weight specification for the containers as documented in the operating procedures for the weight test. Failure of the container to meet the weight specification is evidence of leakage or overfilling and the lot of 2,000 must be rejected;
(3) The remainder of the containers in the lot of 2,000 must be visually inspected (e.g, examination of the seams). Containers showing evidence of leakage or overfilling must not be transported; and
(4) Each person employing this test must maintain a copy of the operating procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department.
(B) Automated pressure test. Each person employing an automated process for pressure testing of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:
(1) Pressure specifications. Each person must specify pressure standard(s) (e.g., a pressure limit or range) for a container respective of the design and/or contents. Each container, after it is filled, must be pressure checked and compared to the standards. For a pressure limit, any container exceeding the pressure limit must be rejected. For a pressure range, any container outside of the set range must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the pressure must be properly calibrated before a production run to an accuracy of ±or better; and
(2) Periodic inspection. At designated intervals, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected.
(C) Weight test. Each person employing a weight test of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:
(1) Weight specifications. Each person must specify target weight specifications for a particular container. Each container, after it is filled, must be weighed and compared to the target weight specification for the container. Any container outside the target weight specification is an indication of leakage or overfilling and must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the weight must be properly calibrated before a testing run and be sufficiently sensitive to measure within 0.10 g of the true weight of the container;
(2) Heat testing and pressure limits. One container out of each lot of successfully filled containers must be heat tested by raising the internal pressure until it reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). The lot size should be no greater than 2,000. If the pressure in the container exceeds the maximum pressure allowed for the container type or if the container shows signs of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot must be rejected. Alternatively, five (5) additional randomly selected containers from the lot may be tested to qualify the lot but if any of the five containers fail the test, the entire lot must be rejected;
(3) Periodic inspection. At intervals of not more than 10 minutes, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected; and
(4) Visual inspection. Each container must be visually inspected prior to being packed. Any container showing signs of leakage or permanent deformation must be rejected.
(D) Leakage test. (1) Pressure and leak testing before filling. Each empty container must be subjected to a pressure equal to or in excess of the maximum expected in the filled containers at 55 °C (131 °F) or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F). This must be at least two-thirds of the design pressure of the container. If any container shows evidence of leakage at a rate equal to or greater than 3.3 × 10−2 mbar L/s at the test pressure, distortion or other defect, it must be rejected; and
(2) Testing after filling. The person filling each container must ensure that the crimping equipment is set appropriately and the specified propellant is used before filling a container. Once filled, each container must be weighed and leak tested. The leak detection equipment must be sufficiently sensitive to detect at least a leak rate of 2.0 × 10−3 mbar L/s at 20 °C (68 °F). Any filled container which shows evidence of leakage, deformation, or overfilling must be rejected.
(4) Gas samples must be transported under the following conditions:
(5) For limited quantities of Division 2.2 gases with no subsidiary risk, when in a non-DOT specification or a specification DOT 2S (§ 178.33b of this subchapter) plastic aerosol container (see § 171.8 of this subchapter for the definition of aerosol) provided all of the following conditions are met. Additional exceptions for aerosols conforming to this paragraph (a)(5) are provided in paragraph (i) of this section.
(ii) General pressure conditions. Authorized plastic aerosol containers and associated pressure limitations are provided in the following table. The pressure in the container must not exceed 160 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F). The container must be capable of withstanding without bursting a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).
| If the gauge pressure (psig) at 55 °C (131 °F) is . . . | Authorized plastic container |
|---|---|
| Less than 140 | Non-DOT specification, DOT 2S. |
| 140 or greater but not exceeding 160 | DOT 2S. |
(vi) Leakage test. As an alternative to the hot water bath test in paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, testing may be performed as follows:
(b) Exceptions for foodstuffs, soap, biologicals, electronic tubes, and audible fire alarm systems. Limited quantities of compressed gases (except Division 2.3 gases) for which exceptions are provided as indicated by reference to this section in § 172.101 of this subchapter, when in conformance with one of the following paragraphs, are excepted from labeling, except when offered for transportation or transported by aircraft, and the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter. For transportation by aircraft, the package must conform to the applicable requirements of § 173.27 and only packages of hazardous materials authorized aboard passenger-carrying aircraft may be transported as a limited quantity. In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F (Placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter, except § 174.24, and to part 177 of this subchapter, except § 177.817. Additional exceptions for certain compressed gases in limited quantities are provided in paragraph (i) of this section.
(1) Foodstuffs or soaps with soluble or emulsified compressed gas are authorized in non-refillable metal or plastic containers not to exceed 1 L (61.0 cubic inches) capacity provided the pressure in each container does not exceed 140 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F) unless authorized by variation of a container type. For pressures ranging from greater than 140 psig to 160 psig, a variation DOT 2P1 or DOT 2Q2 (§§ 178.33(c) and (d) of this subchapter, respectively) container must be used. However, the pressure of the contents in the container may not be greater than 150 psig at 23.9 °C (75 °F). Plastic containers may only contain Division 2.2 non-flammable soluble or emulsified compressed gas. Metal or plastic containers must be capable of withstanding, without bursting, a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).
| If the gauge pressure (psig) at 54.4 °C (130 °F) is . . . | Authorized container |
|---|---|
| Not exceeding 140 | Non-DOT specification, DOT 2P, DOT 2P1, DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q2. |
| Greater than 140 but not exceeding 160 | DOT 2P, DOT 2P1, DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q2. |
| Greater than 160 but not exceeding 180 | DOT 2Q, DOT 2Q2. |
(5) Audible fire alarm systems powered by a compressed gas contained in an inside metal container when shipped are authorized under the following conditions:
(e) Refrigerating machines.
(1) New (unused) refrigerating machines or components thereof are excepted from the specification packaging requirements of this part if they meet the following conditions. In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter except § 174.24 and to part 177 of this subchapter except § 177.817.
(2) Used refrigerating machines—(i) Packaging. Reconditioned (used) refrigerating machines (UN 2857, Div. 2.2) may be excepted from the marking requirements of § 172.302(c) of this subchapter and transported by motor vehicle when they conform to the requirements prescribed in § 173.306(e)(1), are secured or permanently attached to the motor vehicle, and are:
(f) Accumulators (Articles, pressurized pneumatic or hydraulic containing non-flammable gas). The following applies to accumulators, which are hydraulic accumulators containing nonliquefied, nonflammable gas, and nonflammable liquids or pneumatic accumulators containing nonliquefied, nonflammable gas, fabricated from materials which will not fragment upon rupture.
(2) Accumulators charged with limited quantities of compressed gas to not more than 200 psig at 70 °F are excepted from labeling (except when offered for transportation by air) and the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when shipped under the following conditions. In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F (placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter except § 174.24 and to part 177 of this subchapter except § 177.817.
(3) Accumulators with a charging pressure exceeding 200 psig at 70 °F and in compliance with the requirements stated in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, as applicable, are excepted from labeling (except when offered for transportation by air) and the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when shipped under the following conditions:
(ii) For an accumulator with a gas space not to exceed 100 cubic inches, it must be designed and fabricated with a burst pressure of not less than five (5) times its charged pressure at 70 °F. Out of each lot not to exceed 1,000 successively produced accumulators per day of the same type, accumulators must be tested, in lieu of the testing of paragraph (f)(2)(iii) of this section, as follows:
(iii) For an accumulator with a gas space not to exceed 30 cubic inches, it must be designed and fabricated with a burst pressure of not less than four (4) times its charged pressure at 70 °F. Out of each lot not to exceed 1,000 successively produced accumulators per day of the same type, accumulators must be tested, in lieu of the testing of paragraph (f)(2)(iii) of this section, as follows:
(4) Accumulators intended to function as shock absorbers, struts, gas springs, pneumatic springs or other impact or energy-absorbing devices are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter provided each:
(g) Water pump system tank. Water pump system tanks pre-charged at time of manufacture with compressed air or limited quantities of nitrogen or helium to not over 275.79 kPa gauge pressure (40 psig) for single-trip shipment to installation sites are excepted from labeling, and the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when shipped under the following conditions. In addition, shipments of these tanks are not subject to the placarding requirements of subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter, and not subject to parts 174 (except § 174.24) and 177 (except § 177.817) of this subchapter.
(3) The stress at prescribed pressure for steel tanks must not exceed 20,000 psig (or 25,000 psig for deep-draw steel), using the formula:
S = Pd/2t
Where: S = wall stress in psi; P = prescribed pressure for the tank is at least the manufacturer's rated maximum working pressure or three (3) times the pre-charged pressure at 21.1 °C (70 °F), whichever is greater; d = inside diameter in inches; and t = minimum wall thickness, in inches.
(h) Lighter refills.
(k) Aerosols for recycling or disposal. Aerosols (as defined in § 171.8 of this subchapter) intended for recycling or disposal may be transported under the following conditions:
(1) Aerosols conforming to paragraph (a)(3), (a)(5), (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) of this section are excepted from the labeling requirements of subpart E of part 172 this subchapter, the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when packaged in accordance with this paragraph, the shipping paper requirements of subpart C of part 172 of this subchapter (unless the material meets the definition of a hazardous substance or hazardous waste), and the 30 kg (66 pounds) gross weight limitation, when transported by motor vehicle for purposes of recycling or disposal under the following conditions:
(iv) The packaging must be offered for transportation or transported by—
(2) Aerosols intended to conform to paragraphs (a)(3) or (a)(5) of this section at the time of filling but are leaking, have been improperly filled, or otherwise no longer conform to paragraphs (a)(3) or (a)(5) of this section may be offered for transportation and transported for disposal or recycling under the conditions provided in this paragraph (k)(2). Such aerosols are not eligible for the exceptions provided in paragraphs (a) and (i) of this section except for subpart F (Placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter.
(i) Packaging.
(ii) Hazard communication.
(n) Receptacles, small, containing gas or gas cartridges for recycling or disposal. Receptacles, small, containing gas or gas cartridges not exceeding 1.0 L (0.3 gallons) capacity may be offered for transportation for the purposes of recycling or disposal. Receptacles, small, containing gas or gas cartridges are not required to be protected against shifting and inadvertent discharge if measures to prevent dangerous build-up of pressure and dangerous atmospheres are addressed and are excepted from the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when packaged and offered in accordance with this paragraph (n).
(1) Receptacles, small, containing gas or gas cartridges for recycling or disposal, other than those that are leaking or severely deformed, must be packaged as follows:
(2) Rigid large packagings are authorized conforming to the packing group II performance level made of:
(4) Receptacles, small, containing gas or gas cartridges for recycling or disposal that were filled with Division 2.2 gases and have been pierced are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter.
Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 173.306, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
[Amdt. 173-94, 41 FR 16079, Apr. 15, 1976]