a) The Grewer Oven test (VDI guideline 2263, part 1, 1990, Test methods for the Determination of the Safety Characteristics of Dusts) with an onset temperature 80 K above the reference temperature for a volume of 1 l (33.3.1.6);

b) The Bulk Powder Screening Test (Gibson, N. Harper, D.J. Rogers, R. Evaluation of the fire and explosion risk in drying powders, Plant Operations Progress, 4 (3), 181-189, 1985) with an onset temperature 60 K above the reference temperature for a volume of 1 l (33.3.1.6).

Q1: You ask whether Appendix 6 is permitted to be used under the HMR?

A1: The answer is yes. As provided in § 171.7(dd) of the HMR, the "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations (UN Recommendations), 17th revised edition, Volumes I and II (2011)," and the "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria (UN Manual of Tests and Criteria), Fifth revised edition, amendment 1 (2011)" are matters incorporated by reference in the HMR. Therefore, Appendix 6 to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria is appropriate for use under the HMR.

Q2: You ask whether Screening Procedure 5.2.2 of Appendix 6 can be considered an alternative "classification method"?

A2: The answer is yes, but with the following caveats. As required by § 173.22 of the HMR, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly class a hazardous material. This Office generally does not perform this function. Appendix 6 to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria provides the screening procedures industry uses to identify the hazard potential of raw materials, reactive mixtures and intermediates, products, and by-products. The use of such procedures is essential to ensure safety during research and development and to ensure that new products and processes are as safe as possible. These procedures usually consist of a combination of a theoretical appraisal and small-scale tests, and in many cases, enable an adequate hazard evaluation to be carried out without the need for larger scale classification tests. This reduces the quantity of material required, lessens any detrimental effect on the environment, and minimizes the amount of unnecessary testing.

The purpose of Appendix 6 to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria is to present examples of screening procedures. It should be used in conjunction with any screening procedures given in the introductions to the relevant test series. With the specified safety margin, the results from the screening procedures adequately predict when it is not necessary to perform the classification test as a negative result would be obtained. They are presented for guidance and their use is not compulsory. Other screening procedures may be used provided that adequate correlation has been obtained with the classification tests on a representative range of substances and there is a suitable safety margin.

If you perform the Grewer Oven test or the Bulk Powder Screening test as provided in 5.2.2 of Appendix 6 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and the results of those screening tests can be adequately correlated with the classification test and an appropriate safety margin, then the classification procedure for self-heating substances need not be applied. However, depending on the results of those tests, a packing group could still need to be determined or the material you are classifying may meet the definition of another hazard class altogether.

Q3: You ask whether a Special Permit is required?

A3: The answer is no.