49 C.F.R. § 176.83
(a) General.
(4) Segregation is not required:
(ii) Between hazardous materials of different classes which comprise a group of substances that do not react dangerously with each other. The following materials are grouped by compatibility:
(7) Where, for the purposes of segregation, terms such as “away from” a particular hazard class are used in the § 172.101 Table, the segregation requirement applies to:
(8) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7) of this section, hazardous materials of the same class may be stowed together without regard to segregation required by secondary hazards (subsidiary risk label(s)), provided the substances do not react dangerously with each other and cause:
(b) General Segregation Table. The following table sets forth the general requirements for segregation between the various classes (divisions) of hazardous materials. Certain divisions are listed as separate hazard classes for the purpose of this table (e.g., “2.1” and “2.2”). The properties of materials within each class may vary greatly and may require greater segregation than is reflected in this table. If the § 172.101 Table sets forth particular requirements for segregation, they take precedence over these general requirements.
| Class | 1.1, 1.2, 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.4, 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosives, 1.1, 1.2, 1.5 | (*) | (*) | (*) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | X |
| Explosives, 1.3 | (*) | (*) | (*) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | X |
| Explosives, 1.4, 1.6 | (*) | (*) | (*) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | X | 4 | 2 | 2 | X |
| Flammable gases 2.1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | X | X | X | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | X | 4 | 2 | 1 | X |
| Non-toxic, non-flammable gases 2.2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | X | X | X | 1 | X | 1 | X | X | 1 | X | 2 | 1 | X | X |
| Poisonous gases 2.3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | X | X | X | 2 | X | 2 | X | X | 2 | X | 2 | 1 | X | X |
| Flammable liquids 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | X | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | X | 3 | 2 | X | X |
| Flammable solids 4.1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | X | X | X | X | 1 | X | 1 | 2 | X | 3 | 2 | 1 | X |
| Spontaneously combustible substances 4.2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | X | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | X |
| Substances which are dangerous when wet 4.3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | X | X | 2 | X | 1 | X | 2 | 2 | X | 2 | 2 | 1 | X |
| Oxidizing substances 5.1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | X | X | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | X | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | X |
| Organic peroxides 5.2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | X | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | X |
| Poisons 6.1 | 2 | 2 | X | X | X | X | X | X | 1 | X | 1 | 1 | X | 1 | X | X | X |
| Infectious substances 6.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | X | 3 | 3 | X |
| Radioactive materials 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | 3 | X | 2 | X |
| Corrosives 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | X | X | X | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | X | 3 | 2 | X | X |
| Miscellaneous dangerous substances 9 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Numbers and symbols relate to the following terms as defined in this section: | |||||||||||||||||
| 1—“Away from.” | |||||||||||||||||
| 2—“Separated from.” | |||||||||||||||||
| 3—“Separated by a complete compartment or hold from.” | |||||||||||||||||
| 4—“Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from.” | |||||||||||||||||
| X—The segregation, if any, is shown in the § 172.101 table. | |||||||||||||||||
| *—See § 176.144 of this part for segregation within Class 1. |
(c) Segregation requirements for breakbulk cargo.
(2) Definition of the segregation terms:
(i) Legend:
(A) Package containing incompatible goods.

(B) Reference package.

(C) Deck resistant to fire and liquid.

(ii) “Away from”: Effectively segregated so that the incompatible materials cannot interact dangerously in the event of an accident but may be carried in the same compartment or hold or on deck provided a minimum horizontal separation of 3 m (10 feet) projected vertically is obtained.

(iii) “Separated From”: In different compartments or holds when stowed under deck. If the intervening deck is resistant to fire and liquid, a vertical separation (i.e., in different compartments) is acceptable as equivalent to this segregation. For “on deck” stowage, this segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 6 m (20 feet) horizontally.

(iv) “Separated by a complete compartment or hold from”: Either a vertical or horizontal separation. If the intervening decks are not resistant to fire and liquid, then only a longitudinal separation (i.e., by an intervening complete compartment or hold) is acceptable. For “on deck” stowage, this segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 12 m (39 feet) horizontally. The same distance must be applied if one package is stowed “on deck”, and the other one in an upper compartment.

(v) “Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from”: Vertical separation alone does not meet this requirement. Between a package “under deck” and one “on deck” a minimum distance of 24 m (79 feet) including a complete compartment must be maintained longitudinally. For “on deck” stowage, this segregation means a separation by a distance of at least 24 m (79 feet) longitudinally.

(e) Segregation of hazardous materials stowed as breakbulk cargo from those packed in cargo transport units:
(2) Hazardous materials stowed as breakbulk cargo must be segregated from materials packed in closed cargo transport units in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section, except that:
(f) Segregation of cargo transport units on board container vessels:
(4) In table § 176.83(f), a container space means a distance of not less than 6 m (20 feet) fore and aft or not less than 2.5 m (8 feet) athwartship.
| Segregation requirement | Vertical | Horizontal | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed versus closed | Closed versus open | Open versus open | Closed versus closed | Closed versus open | Open versus open | |||||
| On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | |||||
| 1. “Away from” | One on top of the other permitted | Open on top of closed permitted Otherwise as for open versus open | Not in the same vertical line unless segregated by a deck | Fore and aft Athwartships | No restriction No restriction | No restriction No restriction | No restriction No restriction | No restriction No restriction | One container space One container space | One container space or one bulkhead.One container space. |
| 2. “Separated from” | Not in the same vertical line unless segregated by a deck | As for open versus open | Not in the same vertical line unless segregated by a deck | Fore and aft Athwartships | One container space One container space | One container space or one bulkheadOne container space | One container space One container space | One container space or one bulkheadTwo container spaces | One container space. Two container spaces. | One bulkhead. One bulkhead. |
| 3. “Separated by a complete compartment or hold from” | Not in the same vertical line unless segregated by a deck | As for open versus open | Not in the same vertical line unless segregated by a deck | Fore and aft Athwartships | One container spaceTwo container spaces | One bulkhead One bulkhead | One container spaceTwo container spaces | One bulkhead One bulkhead | Two container spacesThree container spaces | Two bulkheads. Two bulkheads. |
| 4. “Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from” | Prohibited | Fore and aft Athwartships | Four container spaces Prohibited | One bulkhead and four container spaces*Prohibited | Four container spaces Prohibited | Two bulkheads Prohibited | Four container spaces Prohibited | Two bulkheads. Prohibited. | ||
| * Containers not less than 6 m (20 feet) from intervening bulkhead. | ||||||||||
| Note: All bulkheads and decks must be resistant to fire and liquid. |
(g) Segregation of cargo transport units on board trailerships and trainships:
(3) Segregation Table. Table § 176.83(g) sets forth the general requirements for segregation between transport units on board trailerships and trainships.
| Segregationrequirement | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed versus closed | Closed versus open | Open versus open | |||||
| On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | ||
| 1. “Away From” | Fore and aft | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | At least 3 m | At least 3 m. |
| Athwartships | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | At least 3 m | At least 3 m. | |
| 2. “Separated from” | Fore and aft Athwartships | At least 6 m At least 3 m | At least 6 m or one bulkheadAt least 3 m or one bulkhead | At least 6 m At least 3 m | At least 6 m or one bulkheadAt least 6 m or one bulkhead | At least 6 mAt least 6 m | At least 12 m or one bulkheadAt least 12 m or one bulkhead |
| 3. “Separated by a complete compartment or hold from” | Fore and aft Athwartships | At least 12 m At least 12 m | At least 24 m + deck At least 24 m + deck | At least 24 m At least 24 m | At least 24 m + deck At least 24 m + deck | At least 36 m At least 36 m | Two decks or two bulkheads. Prohibited. |
| 4. “Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from” | Fore and aft Athwartships | At least 36 m Prohibited | Two bulkheads or at least 36 m + two decksProhibited | At least 36 m Prohibited | At least 48 m including two bulkheadsProhibited | At least 48 m Prohibited | Prohibited. Prohibited. |
| Note: All bulkheads and decks must be resistant to fire and liquid. |
(h) Segregation on board barge carrying vessels:
(j) Segregation between shipborne barges on barge-carrying vessels:
(l) Segregation of containers on board hatchless (open-top) container ships:
(4) In Table § 176.83(l)(3), a container space means a distance of not less than 6 m (20 feet) fore and aft or not less than 2.5 m (8 feet) athwartship.
| Segregation requirement | Vertical | Horizontal | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed versus closed | Closed versus open | Open versus open | Closed versus closed | Closed versus open | Open versus open | |||||
| On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | On deck | Under deck | |||||
| 1. “Away from” | On top of the other permitted | Open on top of closed permitted | Fore and aft | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | One container space | One container space or one bulkhead. | |
| Otherwise as for “Open versus open” | Athwart ships | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | One container space | One container space. | |||
| 2. “Separated from” | Not in the same vertical line | Fore and aft | One container space | One container space or one bulkhead | One container space | One container space or one bulkhead | One container space and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead. | ||
| Not in the same vertical line | As for “Open versus open” | Athwart ships | One container space | One container space | Two container spaces | Two container spaces | Two container spaces and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead. | ||
| 3. “Separated by a complete compartment or hold from” | Fore and aft | One container space and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead | One container space and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead | Two container spaces and not in or above same hold | Two bulkheads. | |||
| Athwart ships | Two container spaces and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead | Two container spaces and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead | Three container spaces and not in or above same hold | Two bulkheads. | ||||
| 4. “Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from” | Prohibited | Prohibited | Fore and aft | Minimum horizontal distance of 24 m and not in or above same hold | One bulkhead and minimum horizontal distance of 24 m* | Minimum horizontal distance of 24 m and not in or above same hold | Two bulkheads | Minimum horizontal distance of 24 m and not in or above same hold | Two bulkheads. | |
| Athwart ships | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited. | ||||
| * Containers not less than 6 m (20 feet) from intervening bulkhead. | ||||||||||
| Note: All bulkheads and decks must be resistant to fire and liquid. |
(m) Provisions for segregation groups:
(3) The segregation groups described above do not address materials that fall outside the classification criteria of the hazardous materials regulations, although it is recognized that some non-hazardous materials have certain chemical properties similar to hazardous materials listed in the segregation groups. A person who offers a hazardous material for transportation or the person responsible for packing the materials into a cargo transport unit who does have knowledge of the chemical properties of such non-hazardous materials may identify a relevant segregation group and apply the segregation requirements for that segregation group.
Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 176.83, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
Note: Full vertical lines represent transverse bulkheads between compartments or holds resistant to fire and liquid.
Note: One of the two decks must be resistant to fire and liquid.
[Amdt. 176-30, 55 FR 52690, Dec. 21, 1990]