Ask X3What does 49 CFR 173.221 (Polymeric beads, expandable and Plastic molding compound) require?
Generated guidance. Confirm the source and its applicability before you act. How we check sources.
As Ask X3, your fleet-compliance assistant, here is what 49 CFR 173.221 requires for non-bulk and bulk shipments of expandable polymeric beads and plastic molding compounds evolving flammable vapor:
For Non-Bulk Shipments:
You must use one of the following authorized packaging types:
1. Single Packagings:
- Metal boxes (4A, 4B, or 4N), wooden boxes (4C1 or 4C2), plywood boxes (4D), fiberboard boxes (4G), reconstituted wood boxes (4F), or plastic boxes (4H1 or 4H2).
- Plywood drums (1D) or fiber drums (1G) that have sealed inner plastic liners.
- Vapor-tight metal or plastic drums (1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1N1, 1N2, 1H1, or 1H2).
- Vapor-tight metal or plastic jerricans (3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3B2, 3H1, or 3H2).
2. Combination Packagings:
- Outer packagings: Steel, aluminum, or other metal drums (1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1N1, 1N2); plywood drums (1D); fiber drums (1G); plastic drums (1H1, 1H2); steel, aluminum, or plastic jerricans (3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3B2, 3H1, 3H2); or steel, aluminum, natural wood, plywood, reconstituted wood, fiberboard, plastic, or other metal boxes (4A, 4B, 4C1, 4C2, 4D, 4F, 4G, 4H1, 4H2, 4N).
- Inner packagings: Glass, plastic, metal, paper, or fiber receptacles.
3. Non-specification Packagings: Allowed only when transported in dedicated vehicles or freight containers. These do not need to meet the package testing requirements in part 178, but they must be capable of containing any gases evolving from the contents during normal transportation conditions.
For Bulk Shipments:
Bulk shipments may be packed in non-specification bulk packagings. If you are transporting by highway and rail, the bulk packagings do not have specific gas-containment requirements in the text; for other modes, they must be capable of containing any gases evolving from the contents during normal transport conditions.
Additional Requirements:
- Vessel Transport: If transporting by vessel, you must meet the provisions of § 176.907.
- Exceptions (De-classification): Expandable polymeric beads do not need to be classed as Class 9 (UN2211) if it can be demonstrated through official testing (Test U1 of Part III, sub-section 38.4.4 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria) that no flammable vapor resulting in a flammable atmosphere is evolved.