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Q&A: The Display of “HOT” or the Identification Number Marking on Packages of Elevated Temperature Materials

Q&A: The Display of “HOT” or the Identification Number Marking on Packages of Elevated Temperature Materials

This question came through my website May 2, 2016 from someone I’ve never done business with prior to – or since – this contact:

To Whom It May Concern,

I saw a recent post you made on your web site regarding elevated temperature materials, a requirements for labeling requirements.

Can you answer the following question for me?

Does the transportation of liquid asphalt, if shipped above 212 degrees F, as an elevated temperature material, require the use of 4-digit identification number on shipping documents, placards, or panels as named in part 11 Section 172.101, Publication BOE 6000?

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

My reply on May 2nd, to buy myself some time:

I will research the information and get back to you with an answer this week.

And then, on May 7, 2016:

I will attempt to answer your question below.

An elevated temperature material is defined at 49 CFR 171.8, as a material in a bulk packaging that…
  • Is in a liquid phase and at a temperature at or above 100 °C (212 °F);
  • Is in a liquid phase with a flash point at or above 38 °C (100 °F) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point;or,
  • Is in a solid phase and at a temperature at or above 240 °C (464 °F).

What you describe appears to be an Elevated Temperature Material.  If that is the case, then it must be shipped as a fully regulated hazardous material which includes but is not limited to:

  • Shipping papers, including the additional description (see below).
  • Placards will not be required if the HazMat is solely a Class 9 Miscellaneous.  Why not?  Class 9 Placards are not required within the U.S.
  • Labels are not required on a bulk packaging.
  • The following package markings:
    • The HazMat’s 4-digit identification number (UN3257) on two opposing sides of a bulk packaging with a capacity of <1,000 gallons or on all four sides of a bulk packaging with a capacity of ≥1,000 gallons.  The identification number must be displayed on all four sides of a cargo tank or tank car.
    • “HOT” must be displayed on two opposing sides of any bulk packaging.
More information:
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
cargo tank motor vehicle of UN3257I thought that might be it, but a few days later (5.09.16) he replied with more questions:
Thank you for taking a look at this issue.  I am very appreciative, and I hope you don’t find my follow up question unnecessarily argumentative.
However, I am just 100% not sure I agree with your conclusion.
I do agree that the product is an elevated temperature material.    However, I am not convinced the four digit identifier is required to be on the car or paperwork, as opposed to just using the word “HOT” on two placards placed on the rail car and on the  BOL.
Per CFR 172.325(a)  – “bulk packaging containing elevated temperature material must be marked on two opposing sides with the word ‘HOT’”.  There is no mention of the requirement to use the four digit Identifier, only the word “HOT”.  In fact, under  CFR 172.325(c) it states, “If identification number is displayed…” .  Hence the CFR’s use of the word “IF” certainly makes it sound like the four digit identifier is optional.
As you correctly point out in your email, “
According to 49 CFR 172.504(f)- (9), “For Class 9, a CLASS 9 placard is not required for domestic transportation, including that portion of international transportation, defined in § 171.8 of this subchapter, which occurs within the United States. However, a bulk packaging must be marked with the appropriate identification number on a CLASS 9 placard, an orange panel, or a white square-on-point display configuration as required by subpart D of this part.”
The language is pretty clear that while “a bulk packaging must be marked with the appropriate identification number on class 9 placard”  it continues on further to say “OR a white square-on-point display” indicating that either can be used, and if a white square-on-point display is used then there is no 4 digit identifier is required.
I would greatly appreciate your further thoughts based on these arguments.
Full text here and below…
§ 172.325 Elevated temperature materials.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a bulk packaging containing an elevated temperature material must be marked on two opposing sides with the word “HOT” in black or white Gothic lettering on a contrasting background. The marking must be displayed on the packaging itself or in black lettering on a plain white square-on-point configuration having the same outside dimensions as a placard. (See § 172.302(b) for size of markings on bulk packagings.)
(b) Bulk packagings containing molten aluminum or molten sulfur must be marked “MOLTEN ALUMINUM” or “MOLTEN SULFUR”, respectively, in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) If the identification number is displayed on a white-square-on-point display configuration, as prescribed in § 172.336(b), the word “HOT” may be displayed in the upper corner of the same white-square-on-point display configuration. The word “HOT” must be in black letters having a height of at least 50 mm (2.0 inches). Except for size, these markings shall be as illustrated for an Elevated temperature material, liquid, n.o.s.:

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I didn’t mind his challenge.  It caused me to think deeper about the regulations before I replied that same day:

I agree with the regulatory citation you indicated but not the conclusion you draw.  In your previous email you state:

The language is pretty clear that while “a bulk packaging must be marked with the appropriate identification number on class 9 placard”  it continues on further to say “OR a white square-on-point display” indicating that either can be used, and if a white square-on-point display is used then there is no 4 digit identifier is required.

My interpretation of the Hazardous Material Regulations  you reference is this:

  • The regulations require a bulk package of a HazMat to be marked with the identification number.  Indeed, all HazMat packages must be marked with the identification number unless an exception to the Hazardous Material Regulations applies.
  • The identification number may be displayed on a placard, or an orange panel, or a white square-on-point.
  • If the white square-on-point is used the word “HOT” may be included in the upper corner if the HazMat is also an Elevated Temperature Material.
  • It does not say that the display of the identification number on the white square-on-point is a replacement for the “HOT” marking or vice versa.

The “HOT” marking is required on a cargo tank of an Elevated Temperature Material in addition to the identification number, not as a replacement for it.

cargo tank truck with elevated temperature material

This cargo tank is missing its identification number

I’m happy to continue this discussion with you.
Clearly this issue was important to him and he had given it a lot of thought (5.09.16):

Dan,

Hope you don’t mind the back and forth on this.
You state, “The regulations require a bulk packaging to be marked with the identification number.”  However, per CFR 172.504(f) -9 it states, “However, a bulk packaging must be marked with the appropriate identification number on a CLASS 9 placard, an orange panel, OR a white square-on-point display configuration as required by subpart D of this part.”
Does the “or” not mean or?
Our exchanges got shorter as we refined our arguments (5.10.16):

You are correct.  The “or”, however, pertains to the options for how to display the identification number not if you display the identification number.  Display of the ID # is not optional.

Please let me know your opinion on this.

May 10, 2016, Finally my answer satisfied him!

Thanks for clarifying!   That helps.

Contact me with any questions you may have about the transportation of hazardous materials by air, highway, vessel, or rail

International and Domestic

Daniels Training Services

815.821.1550

Info@DanielsTraining.com

https://www.danielstraining.com/
I was glad to help and couldn’t resist a shameless plug:

No problem. Glad I could help. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions you may have.

Or if you require any training.

What is an Elevated Temperature Material?

Defined at 49 CFR 171.8, “Elevated Temperature Material means a material which, when offered for transportation or transported in a bulk packaging:

  1. Is in a liquid phase and at a temperature at or above 100 °C (212 °F);
  2. Is in a liquid phase with a flash point at or above 38 °C (100 °F) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point;or,
  3. Is in a solid phase and at a temperature at or above 240 °C (464 °F).”

Note that in addition to meeting one of the three conditions listed it also must be “offered for transportation or transported in a bulk packaging…” in order to be defined as an Elevated Temperature Material.  That means, the same material transported in a non-bulk packaging can not be an Elevated Temperature Material.

Understanding what is, and isn’t, an Elevated Temperature Material is important since it is specifically included in the definition of a Hazardous Material, also at 49 CFR 171.8, “Hazardous material means a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, Elevated Temperature Materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in part 173 of subchapter C of this chapter.”

An Elevated Temperature Material may be a hazardous material solely because it matches the definition in §171.8 or it may possess additional hazards (flammable, corrosive, reactive, etc.).  Either way, you must choose a proper shipping name from the Hazardous Materials Table and follow the requirements of the Hazardous Material Regulations.

On the shipping paper, the word “HOT” must immediately proceed the proper shipping name unless “elevated temperature” or “molten” is already included in the proper shipping name [49 CFR 172.203(n)].  However, you may include the word “HOT” on the shipping paper, even if not required, as additional information.

While there is no “HOT” label or placard, you must ensure that the bulk packaging containing your Elevated Temperature Material is labeled and placarded pursuant to 49 CFR 172, Subpart F applicable to its hazard class (Flammable, Class 9, or other).  The labeling and placarding requirements for bulk packagings can be complicated, but in general:

  • A bulk packaging of ≥1,000 gallons capacity must be placarded and marked with the identification number on all four sides.
  • A bulk packaging of <1,000 gallons capacity may be placarded or labeled on two opposing sides and may be marked with the identification number on two opposing sides.

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There are, however, marking requirements specific to Elevated Temperature Materials found at 49 CFR 172.325, they include:

  • A bulk packaging containing an Elevated Temperature Material must display the “HOT” marking on two opposing sides.  This marking, while not a placard, must meet the specific requirements of §172.325(a) and have the “same outside dimensions as a placard”.
  • A bulk packaging of an Elevated Temperature Material that is molten aluminum or molten sulfur must be marked “MOLTEN ALUMINIUM” or “MOLTEN SULFUR” in the same manner as described in §172.325(a).
  • If the identification number marking is displayed on a white-square-on-point display configuration [§172.336(b)], the word “HOT” may be displayed in the upper corner of the display.  If you use this option, you must comply with the requirements of §172.325(c).

You should also check 49 CFR 173.427 which contains additional requirements for bulk packagings of certain Elevated Temperature Materials.

If you offer for shipment an Elevated Temperature Material, then you are a shipper of hazardous materials.  Any of your employees involved in the transportation of hazardous materials must receive triennial HazMat Employee Training.  Contact me to determine your training requirements and how best to meet them.

Daniels Training Services

815.821.1550

Info@DanielsTraining.com

https://www.danielstraining.com/