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49 CFR 173.27 - General requirements for transportation by aircraft.

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§ 173.27
General requirements for transportation by aircraft.
(a) The requirements of this section are in addition to the requirements in § 173.24 and apply to packages offered or intended for transportation aboard aircraft. Except for materials not subject to performance packaging requirements in subpart E of this part, a packaging containing a Packing Group III material with a primary or subsidiary risk of Division 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, or Class 8 must meet the Packing Group II performance level when offered or intended for transportation by aircraft.
(b) Packages authorized onboard aircraft. (1) When Column 9a of the § 172.101 table indicates that a material is “Forbidden”, that material may not be offered for transportation or transported aboard passenger-carrying aircraft.
(2) When Column 9b of the § 172.101 table indicates that a material is “Forbidden”, that material may not be offered for transportation or transported aboard aircraft.
(3) The maximum quantity of hazardous material in a package that may be offered for transportation or transported aboard a passenger-carrying aircraft or cargo aircraft may not exceed that quantity prescribed for the material in Column 9a or 9b, respectively, of the § 172.101 table.
(4) A package containing a hazardous material which is authorized aboard cargo aircraft but not aboard passenger aircraft must be labeled with the CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY label required by § 172.402(c) of this subchapter and may not be offered for transportation or transported aboard passenger-carrying aircraft.
(c) Pressure requirements. (1) Packagings must be designed and constructed to prevent leakage that may be caused by changes in altitude and temperature during transportation aboard aircraft.
(2) Packagings for which retention of liquid is a basic function must be capable of withstanding without leakage the greater of—
(i) An internal pressure which produces a gauge pressure of not less than 75 kPa (11 psig) for liquids in Packing Group III of Class 3 or Division 6.1; or 95 kPa (14 psig) for other liquids; or
(ii) A pressure related to the vapor pressure of the liquid to be conveyed, determined by one of the following:
(A) The total gauge pressure measured in the receptacle (i.e., the vapor pressure of the material and the partial pressure of air or other inert gases, less 100 kPa (15 psia)) at 55 °C (131 °F), multiplied by a safety factor of 1.5; determined on the basis of a filling temperature of 15 °C (59 °F) and a degree of filling such that the receptacle is not completely liquid full at a temperature of 55 °C (131 °F) or less;
(B) 1.75 times the vapor pressure at 50 °C (122 °F) less 100 kPa (15 psia); or
(C) 1.5 times the vapor pressure at 55 °C (131 °) less 100 kPa (15 psia).
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c)(2) of this section—
(i) Hazardous materials may be contained in an inner packaging which does not itself meet the pressure requirement provided that the inner packaging is packed within a supplementary packaging which does meet the pressure requirement and other applicable packaging requirements of this subchapter.
(ii) Packagings which are subject to the hydrostatic pressure test and marking requirements of §§ 178.605 and 178.503(a)(5), respectively, of this subchapter must have a marked test pressure of not less than 250 kPa (36 psig) for liquids in Packing Group I, 80 kPa (12 psig) for liquids in Packing Group III of Class 3 or Division 6.1, and 100 kPa (15 psig) for other liquids.
(d) Closures. Stoppers, corks or other such friction-type closures must be held securely, tightly and effectively in place by positive means. Each screw-type closure on any packaging must be secured to prevent closure from loosening due to vibration or substantial change in temperature.
(e) Absorbent materials. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, liquid hazardous materials of Class 3, 4, or 8, or Division 5.1, 5.2 or 6.1 that are packaged and offered for transport in glass, earthenware, plastic or metal inner packagings must be packaged using absorbent material as follows:
(1) Packing Group I liquids on passenger aircraft must be packaged using materials capable of absorbing the entire contents of the inner packagings.
(2) Packing Group I liquids on cargo aircraft, and Packing Group II liquids including Division 5.2 liquids on passenger and cargo aircraft, must be packaged using a sufficient quantity of absorbent material to absorb the entire contents of any one of the inner packagings containing such liquids. When the inner packagings are of different sizes and quantities, sufficient absorbent material must be used to absorb the entire contents of the inner packaging with the greatest volume of liquid.
(3) When absorbent materials are required and the outer packaging is not liquid tight, a means of containing the liquid in the event of a leakage must be provided in the form of a leakproof liner, plastic bag or other equally efficient means of containment.
(4) Absorbent material must not react dangerously with the liquid (see §§ 173.24 and 173.24a.).
(5) Absorbent material is not required if the inner packagings are so protected that they are unlikely to break and leak their contents from the outer packaging under normal conditions of transportation.
(f) Combination packagings. (1) Excepted quantities. For authorized materials and inner and outer package quantity limits for combination packages of excepted quantities intended for transportation by aircraft, see § 173.4a of this part. Unless otherwise specified in this part, or in Subpart C of part 171 of this subchapter, when combination packagings are intended for transportation aboard an aircraft, inner packagings must conform to the quantity limitations set forth in table 1 of this paragraph for transport aboard passenger-carrying aircraft and table 2 of this paragraph for transport aboard cargo-only aircraft.
(2) Limited quantities. (i) Unless otherwise specified in this part, or in Subpart C of Part 171 of this subchapter, when a limited quantity of authorized hazardous material packaged in a combination packaging is intended for transportation aboard an aircraft, the inner packagings must conform to the quantity limitations set forth in table 3 of this paragraph. Materials must be authorized for transportation aboard a passenger-carrying aircraft (see Column (9A) of the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table). Substances or articles not authorized as limited quantity by aircraft are:
(A) Those in Packing Group I;
(B) Class 1 (explosive) and Class 7 (radioactive) material;
(C) Divisions 2.1 (flammable gas) (except Aerosols (UN1950) and Receptacles, small (UN2037) without subsidiary risk) and Division 2.3 (toxic gas);
(D) Divisions 4.1 (self-reactive), 4.2 (spontaneously combustible) (primary or subsidiary risk), and 4.3 (dangerous when wet) (liquids);
(E) Division 5.2 (organic peroxide) (except when contained in a Chemical or First aid kit (UN3316) or Polyester resin kit (UN3269) (Types D, E and F non-temperature controlled only));
(F) Class 8 (corrosive) materials UN2794, UN2795, UN2803, UN2809, 3028; and
(G) All Class 9 (miscellaneous) materials except for UN1941, UN1990, UN2071, UN3077, UN3082, UN3316.
(ii) Effective January 1, 2012, packages must be marked with the limited quantity “Y” mark as prescribed in § 172.315 of this part when conforming to Table 3 of this paragraph. Until December 31, 2012, a package may instead be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer commodity” and “ORM-D-AIR” (including “Charcoal, NA1361) if it contains a consumer commodity, as authorized by this subchapter in effect on October 1, 2010.
(iii) Strong outer packagings are required and a completed package may not exceed 30 kg (66 lbs) gross weight.
(iv) A secondary means of closure required for all liquids contained in inner packagings. If this requirement cannot be satisfied, the use of an intermediate and leakproof form of containment, such as a liner, is required.
(v) Packages must be capable of passing a 1.2 m drop test on to a rigid, non-resilient, flat and horizontal surface, in the position most likely to cause damage. The criteria for passing the test is that the outer packaging must not exhibit any damage affecting safety in transport and there must be no leakage from the inner packagings.
(vi) Each package must be capable of withstanding, without breakage or leakage of any inner packaging, a force applied to the top surface for a duration of 24 hours equivalent to the total weight of identical packages if stacked to a height of 3 m (including the test sample).
(vii) Except for UN3082, inner packagings of combination packagings containing liquids must be capable of passing the appropriate pressure differential test prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.
(3) The tables are as follows:
Table 1—Maximum Net Capacity of Inner Packaging for Transportation on Passenger-Carrying Aircraft
Maximum net quantity per package from Column 9a of the § 172.101 table Maximum authorized net capacity of each inner packaging
Glass, earthenware or fiber inner packagings Metal or plastic inner packagings
Liquids:
Not greater than 0.5L 0.5L 0.5L.
Greater than 0.5L. not greater than lL 0.5L lL.
Greater than 1L, not greater than 5L 1L 5L.
Greater than 5L, not greater than 60L 2.5L 10L.
Greater than 60L, not greater than 220L 5L 25L.
Greater than 220L No limit No limit.
Solids:
Not greater than 5 kg 0.5 kg 1 kg.
Greater than 5 kg, not greater than 25 kg 1 kg 2.5 kg.
Greater than 25 kg, not greater than 200 kg 5 kg 10 kg.
Greater than 200 kg No limit No limit.
Table 2—Maximum Net Capacity of Inner Packaging for Transportation on Cargo Aircraft
Maximum net quantity per package from Column 9b of the § 172.101 table Maximum authorized net capacity of each inner packaging
Glass, earthenware or fiber inner packagings Metal or plastic inner packagings
Liquids:
Not greater than 2.5L 1L 1L.
Greater than 2.5L, not greater than 30L 2.5L 2.5L.
Greater than 30L, not greater than 60L 5L 10L.
Greater than 60L, not greater than 220L 5L 25L.
Greater than 220L No limit No limit.
Solids:
Not greater than 15 kg 1 kg 2.5 kg.
Greater than 15 kg, not greater than 50 kg 2.5 kg 5 kg.
Greater than 50 kg, not greater than 200 kg 5 kg 10 kg.
Greater than 200 kg No limit No limit.
Table 3—Maximum Net Quantity of Each Inner Packaging for Materials Authorized for Transportation as Limited Quantity by Aircraft
Hazard class ordivision Maximum authorized netquantity of each inner packaging Maximum authorized net quantity of each outer package Notes
Glass, earthenware or fiber inner packagings Metal orplastic inner packagings
Class 1 Forbidden. See § 173.63 .
Class 2 30 kg Gross Authorized materials: Aerosols (UN1950) in Divisions 2.1 and 2.2, and Receptacles, small (UN2037) in Divisions 2.1 and 2.2 without subsidiary risk and Fuel cells cartridges (UN3478, UN3479), see § 173.230 of this part.
Class 3 PG I: Forbidden
PG II: 0.5L PG II: 0.5L PG II: 1L* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN2924, UN3286) is 0.5L. For Class 3 materials contained in a Polyester resin kit (UN3269), see § 173.165 of this part. For Fuel cell cartridges containing flammable liquids (UN3473), see § 173.230 of this part.
PG III: 2.5L**Corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN2924) or toxic (e.g., UN1992) is 1L PG III: 5.0L**Corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN2924) or toxic (e.g., UN1992) is 1L PG III: 10L* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN2924) is 1L and toxic subsidiary risk (e.g., UN1992) is 2L.
Division 4.1 (does not include self-reactive material) PG I: Forbidden
PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 5 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with toxic subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3179) is 1 kg.
PG III: 1 kg PG III: 1 kg PG III: 10 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3180) is 5 kg.
Division 4.2 (Primary or subsidiary) Forbidden* 25 kg (net mass)* *Until December 31, 2012, Charcoal (NA1361), PG III, may be transported as a limited quantity and may be renamed Consumer commodity and reclassed ORM-D-AIR, if eligible.
Division 4.3 (solid material only) PG I solids and all liquids regardless of Packing Group: Forbidden
PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 5 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with toxic subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3134) is 1 kg. For fuel cell cartridges containing water reactive substances (UN3476), see § 173.230 of this part.
PG III: 1 kg PG III: 1 kg PG III: 10 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive or flammable subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3131 or UN3132, respectively) is 5 kg.
Division 5.1 (Liquid or solid material) PG I: Forbidden
Division 5.1 (liquid material) PG II: 0.1L PG II: 0.1L PG II: 0.5L
PG III: 0.5L PGIII: 0.5L PG III: 1.0L
Division 5.1 (solid material) PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 2.5 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with toxic subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3087) is 1 kg.
PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 10 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3085) is 1 kg.
Division 5.2 (liquid material) 30 mL 30 mL 1 kg Authorized materials: Types D, E and F are authorized only as part of a Chemical or First aid kit (UN3316) in accordance with § 173.161 of this part or a Polyester resin kit (UN3269) in accordance with § 173.165 of this part.
Code of Federal Regulations - Page 475
Division 5.2 (solid material) 100g 100g 1 kg
Division 6.1 PG I (Inhalation or otherwise): Forbidden
Division 6.1 (liquid material) PG II: 0.1L PG II: 0.1L PG II: 1.0L* *Maximum net quantity per outer package with corrosive subsidiary risk (e.g., UN3289) is 0.5L.
PG III: 0.5L PGIII: 0.5L PG III: 2.0L
Division 6.1 (solid material) PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 1.0 kg
PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 10 kg
Class 7 Forbidden
Class 8 PG I: Forbidden
Class 8 (liquid material) PG II: 0.1L PG II: 0.1L PG II: 0.5L For “Fuel cell cartridges containing corrosive substances” (UN3477), see § 173.230 of this part.
PG III: 0.5L PGIII: 0.5L PG III: 1.0L
Class 8 (solid material) PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 0.5 kg PG II: 5.0 kg* *Maximum net quantity per outer package for UN2430 is 1.0 kg. UN2794, UN2795, UN2803, UN2809, UN3028 are not authorized as limited quantity.
PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 1.0 kg PG III: 5.0 kg
Class 9 (liquid material) 30 mL (UN3316); 5.0L (UN1941, UN1990, UN3082) 100 g (UN3316); 5.0 kg (UN2071, UN3077) 30 mL (UN3316); 5.0L (UN1941, UN1990, UN3082) 100 g (UN3316); 5.0 kg (UN2071, UN3077) 1 kg (UN3316); 30 kg (all other authorized Class 9 material) Authorized materials: UN1941, UN1990, UN2071, UN3077, UN3082, and UN3316 only. Additionally, Consumer commodity (ID8000) in accordance with § 173.167 of this part and Chemical kit or First aid kit (UN3316) in accordance with § 173.161of this part are authorized.
Class 9 (solid material) 100 g (UN3316); 5.0 kg (UN2071, UN3077) 100 g (UN3316); 5.0 kg (UN2071, UN3077)
(g) Cylinders. For any cylinder containing hazardous materials and incorporating valves, sufficient protection must be provided to prevent operation of, and damage to, the valves during transportation, by one of the following methods:
(1) By equipping each cylinder with securely attached valve caps or protective headrings; or
(2) By boxing or crating the cylinder.
(h) Tank cars and cargo tanks. Any tank car or cargo tank containing a hazardous material may not be transported aboard aircraft.
(i) Effective October 1, 2006, each person who offers a hazardous material for transportation by aircraft must include the certification statement specified in § 172.204(c)(3).
[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52612, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66266, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 173-138, 59 FR 49133, Sept. 26, 1994; 65 FR 58629, Sept. 29, 2000; 66 FR 45380, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 45032, July 31, 2003; 69 FR 76155, Dec. 20, 2004; 71 FR 14602, Mar. 22, 2006; 73 FR 57006, Oct. 1, 2008; 75 FR 53597, Sept. 1, 2010; 76 FR 3368, Jan. 19, 2011]

Title 49 published on 2012-10-01

The following are only the Rules published in the Federal Register after the published date of Title 49.

For a complete list of all Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices view the Rulemaking tab.

  • 2013-03-25; vol. 78 # 57 - Monday, March 25, 2013
    1. 78 FR 17875 - Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Petitions for Rulemaking (RRR)
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      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
      49 CFR Parts 172, 173, 176, 178

This is a list of United States Code sections, Statutes at Large, Public Laws, and Presidential Documents, which provide rulemaking authority for this CFR Part.

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United States Code
USC : Title 49 - TRANSPORTATION

§ 5101 - Purpose

§ 5102 - Definitions

§ 5103 - General regulatory authority

§ 5103a - Limitation on issuance of hazmat licenses

§ 5104 - Representation and tampering

§ 5105 - Transporting certain highly radioactive material

§ 5106 - Handling criteria

§ 5107 - Hazmat employee training requirements and grants

§ 5108 - Registration

§ 5109 - Motor carrier safety permits

§ 5110 - Shipping papers and disclosure

§ 5111 - Repealed.

§ 5112 - Highway routing of hazardous material

§ 5113 - Unsatisfactory safety rating

§ 5114 - Air transportation of ionizing radiation material

§ 5115 - Training curriculum for the public sector

§ 5116 - Planning and training grants, monitoring, and review

§ 5117 - Special permits and exclusions

§ 5118 - Repealed.

§ 5119 - Uniform forms and procedures

§ 5120 - International uniformity of standards and requirements

§ 5121 - Administrative

§ 5122 - Enforcement

§ 5123 - Civil penalty

§ 5124 - Criminal penalty

§ 5125 - Preemption

§ 5126 - Relationship to other laws

§ 5127 - Judicial review

§ 5128 - Authorization of appropriations

§ 44701 - General requirements

Title 49 published on 2012-10-01

The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to 49 CFR 173 after this date.

  • 2013-03-25; vol. 78 # 57 - Monday, March 25, 2013
    1. 78 FR 17875 - Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Petitions for Rulemaking (RRR)
      GPO FDSys XML | Text
      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
      49 CFR Parts 172, 173, 176, 178