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The Hazardous Materials Table includes thousands of material names. Sometimes, the table lists numerous generic or n.o.s. (“not otherwise specified”) proper shipping names, many of which do not indicate the hazard present or the true nature of the material.
Scope
Shippers preparing a shipping paper need to take extra steps when preparing a shipping paper when using the generic or n.o.s. designation.
Regulatory citations
- 49 CFR 172.101 – Purpose and use of hazardous materials table
- 49 CFR 172.203 – Additional description requirements
Key definitions
- Mixture: A material composed of more than one chemical compound or element.
- N.o.s.: Not otherwise specified.
- N.o.s. description: A shipping description from the 172.101 table which includes the abbreviation n.o.s.
- Proper shipping name: The name of the hazardous material shown in Roman print (not italics) in 172.101 (Hazardous Materials Table).
- Shipping paper: A shipping order, bill of lading, manifest or other shipping document serving a similar purpose and prepared in accordance with Part 172, Subpart C.
Summary of requirements
“G”-identified shipping names. If a shipping paper describes a material by one of the generic or n.o.s. proper shipping names identified by the letter “G” in Column (1) of the Hazardous Materials Table, the technical name(s) of the hazardous material(s) must be entered in parentheses in association with the basic description.
Examples:
- Corrosive liquid, n.o.s. (Caprylyl chloride), 8, UN1760, II
- Corrosive liquid, n.o.s., 8, UN1760, II (contains Caprylyl chloride)
Organix peroxides. For organic peroxides which may qualify for more than one generic listing, depending on the concentration, the shipper must include the actual concentration or the concentration range for the appropriate generic listing.
Examples:
- Organic peroxide type B, solid, 5.2, UN3102, II (Dibenzoyl peroxide, 52% - 100%)
- Organic peroxide type E, solid, 5.2, UN3108, II (Dibenzoyl peroxide, paste, < 52%)
Mixtures and/or solutions. For a hazardous material that is a mixture or solution of two or more hazardous materials, the technical names of at least two of the components most predominately contributing to the hazards of the mixture or solution must be shown.
Examples:
- Flammable liquid, corrosive, n.o.s., 3, UN2924, II (contains Methanol, Potassium hydroxide)
- The word “contains” may be used in association with the technical name(s), if appropriate.