Interpretation Response #18-0123
Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.
Interpretation Response Details
Response Publish Date:
Company Name: Jet Research Center
Individual Name: Mark Cipolla
Location State: TX Country: US
View the Interpretation Document
Response text:
May 09, 2019
Mark Cipolla
Material Coordinator, Logistics
Jet Research Center
8432 S I-35W
Alvarado, TX 76009-9775
Reference No. 18-0123
Dear Mr. Cipolla:
This letter is in response to your September 6, 2018, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to segregation of explosives. Specifically, you indicate that a motor vehicle combination consisting of a flatbed truck towing a flatbed trailer is transporting the following explosive materials:
- "UN0255, Detonators, electric, for blasting, 1.4B" and "UN0454, Igniters, 1.4S" packaged in 4G fiberboard boxes that are further overpacked on a wood pallet and placed on the flatbed truck.
- "UN0494, Jet perforating guns, 1.4D" are placed on the flatbed trailer.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q1. You ask if the motor vehicle configuration of the flatbed truck towing a flatbed trailer is considered a single transport vehicle.
A1. The answer is no. There are two definitions that need to be considered—transport vehicle and motor vehicle. In your scenario, you have two transport vehicles that make up a motor vehicle. In accordance with § 171.8, a transport vehicle is defined as "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." Therefore, the flatbed truck and the flatbed trailer are each considered a separate transport vehicle.
Furthermore, § 171.8 defines a motor vehicle as "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." Therefore, the flatbed truck and the flatbed trailer combination is considered a single motor vehicle.
Q2. You ask if the segregation method described in your request complies with the HMR, particularly in relation to packing instruction US 1.
A2. In accordance with the segregation table in § 177.848(f) and explanatory language in § 177.848(g):
- "UN0255, Detonators, electric, for blasting, 1.4B" and "UN0494, Jet perforating guns, 1.4D," are not authorized for transport on the same transport vehicle.
- "UN0255, Detonators, electric, for blasting, 1.4B" and "UN0454, Igniters, 1.4S" may be transported together on the same transport vehicle.
- "UN0494, Jet perforating guns, 1.4D" and "UN0454, Igniters, 1.4S" may be transported together on the same transport vehicle.
Furthermore, because your situation includes the transportation of detonators, it may be subject to additional motor vehicle segregation requirements under §177.835(g) (see § 177.848(g)(3)(iv)). Since the only other explosives in your example are classed as Division 1.4 hazardous materials and are not detonating cord, the restrictions in § 177.835(g) prohibiting the transportation on the same motor vehicle do not apply. Therefore, the combination of "UN0255, Detonators, electric, for blasting, 1.4B," "UN0494, Jet perforating guns, 1.4D," and "UN0454, Igniters, 1.4S" may be transported together on the same motor vehicle.
Additionally, because the shipment contains "UN0494, Jet perforating guns, 1.4D," segregation requirements of § 173.62 packing instruction US 1 must also be met. In accordance with paragraph 1.a. of packing instruction US 1, initiation devices carried on the same motor vehicle must be segregated (each kind from every other kind) and from any gun, tool or other supplies, unless approved in accordance with § 173.56. The segregated initiation devices must be carried in a container having individual pockets for each such device or in a fully enclosed steel container lined with a non sparking material and no more than two segregated initiation devices per gun may be carried on the same motor vehicle.
Based on the information provided in your request it is the opinion of this Office that the scenario described in your request meets the segregation requirements of the HMR, as long as the initiation devices (detonators and igniters) are appropriately segregated and transported in the appropriate containers specified in US 1, unless approved by the Associate Administrator, and no more than two detonators per jet perforating gun are transported on the motor vehicle. Please note that all other packaging and securement requirements outlined in US 1, along with other applicable HMR requirements, must be met.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Dirk Der Kinderen
Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division
171.8, 177.848(f), 177.848(g), 177.835(g), 177.848(g)(3)(iv), 173.62, 173.56