Poison inhalation hazard

Scope

If a material meets the criteria for inhalation hazard, whether listed in the Hazardous Materials Table or not, it is subject to the requirements.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart C — Shipping papers
• 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart D — Marking
• 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart F — Placarding

Key definitions

• Material poisonous by inhalation or Material toxic by inhalation:
  1. A gas meeting the defining criteria in 173.115(c) of this subchapter and assigned to Hazard Zone A, B, C, or D in accordance with 173.116(a) of this subchapter;
  2. A liquid (other than as a mist) meeting the defining criteria in 173.132(a)(1)(iii) of this subchapter and assigned to Hazard Zone A or B in accordance with 173.133(a) of this subchapter; or
  3. Any material identified as an inhalation hazard by a special provision in column 7 of the 172.101 Table.

Summary of requirements

There are several things to be aware of when transporting Poison Inhalation Hazard materials.

Shipping papers. For materials that are poisonous by inhalation the words “Poison-Inhalation Hazard” and, for gases, “Zone A,” “Zone B,” “Zone C,” or “Zone D,” or, for liquids, “Zone A” or “Zone B,” as appropriate, must be entered on the paper immediately after the shipping description. (For Anhydrous ammonia, see “Exception” section below).

Markings.

• Non-bulk packages. A non-bulk package that contains material poisonous-by-inhalation must be marked “Inhalation Hazard” in association with the required labels or proper shipping name. The inhalation hazard marking is not required if the package bears a poison gas or poison inhalation hazard label, displaying the words “inhalation hazard.”
• Large quantities of non-bulk packagings. A transport vehicle or freight container loaded at one loading facility with 1,000 kg (2,205 lb.) or more of non-bulk packages containing a material poisonous by inhalation (in Hazard Zone A or B), having the same shipping name and identification number, must be marked with the identification number specified for the material, on each side and each end.
  
  If the transport vehicle or freight container contains more than one inhalation hazard material that meets the above identification number marking requirement, it must be marked with the identification number for only one material. That one identification number is determined by the following:
  • For different materials in the same hazard zone, the identification number of the material having the greatest aggregate gross weight.
  • For different materials in both Hazard Zone A or B, the identification number for the Hazard Zone A material.
• Bulk packages. A bulk package that contains material poisonous by inhalation must be marked “Inhalation Hazard” in association with the required labels or placards, or the proper shipping name. The inhalation hazard marking is not required if the package bears a poison gas or poison inhalation hazard label or placard, displaying the words “Inhalation Hazard.”
  Bulk packagings must be marked on two opposing sides with the Inhalation Hazard marking. The marking must meet the following size requirements:
  • Have a width of at least 6.0 mm (0.24 in) and a height of at least 100 mm (3.9 in) for rail cars;
  • Have a width of at least 4.0 mm (0.16 in) and a height of at lest 25 mm (1.0 in) for portable tanks with capacities of less than 3,785 L (1,000 gal) and intermediate bulk containers; and
  • Have a width of at least 6.0 mm (0.24 in) and a height of at least 50 mm (2.0 in) for cargo tanks and other bulk packagings.
  For Anhydrous ammonia, see “Exception” section below.

Placards. Any vehicle, freight container, tank or unit load device that contains a Poison Inhalation Hazard material must be placarded on each side and each end with a POISON INHALATION HAZARD or POISON GAS placard, as appropriate, in addition to any other placard that is required. (For Anhydrous ammonia, see “Exception” section below).

Exception. Anhydrous ammonia transported within the U.S. is treated differently than other Poison Inhalation Hazard materials. Only the words “Inhalation Hazard” must be entered on the shipping paper in association with the shipping description and the requirements in 172.203(m) do not apply. Non-bulk packages must be marked “Inhalation Hazard” in association with the shipping name and identification number. Bulk packages must be marked with “Inhalation Hazard” on two opposing sides. The subsidiary placarding requirements in 172.505 are not required.