---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 172.502"
title: "49"
number: "172.502"
heading: "Prohibited and permissive placarding."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/172.502"
---

# §172.502. Prohibited and permissive placarding.

- (a) **Prohibited placarding.** Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, no person may affix or display on a packaging, freight container, unit load device, motor vehicle or rail car—
  - (1) **Any placard described in this subpart unless—**
    - (i) The material being offered or transported is a hazardous material;
    - (ii) The placard represents a hazard of the hazardous material being offered or transported; and
    - (iii) **Any placarding conforms to the requirements of this subpart.**
  - (2) Any sign, advertisement, slogan (such as “Drive Safely”), or device that, by its color, design, shape or content, could be confused with any placard prescribed in this subpart.
- (b) **Exceptions.**
  - (1) The restrictions in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section do not apply to a bulk packaging, freight container, unit load device, transport vehicle or rail car which is placarded in conformance with TDG Regulations, the IMDG Code or the UN Recommendations (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).
  - (2) The restrictions of [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section do not apply to the display of a BIOHAZARD marking, a “HOT” marking, a sour crude oil hazard marking, or an identification number on a white square-on-point configuration in accordance with [§ 172.323(c)](/cfr/49/172.323.md?p=c), [§ 172.325(c)](/cfr/49/172.325.md?p=c), [§ 172.327(a)](/cfr/49/172.327.md?p=a), or [§ 172.336(b)](/cfr/49/172.336.md?p=b) of this part, respectively.
- (c) **Permissive placarding.** Placards may be displayed for a hazardous material, even when not required, if the placarding otherwise conforms to the requirements of this subpart.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52599, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66259, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 172-151, 62 FR 1230, Jan. 8, 1997; 62 FR 39389, 39407, July 22, 1997; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 33426, June 21, 2001; 67 FR 53137, Aug. 14, 2002; 68 FR 75741, Dec. 31, 2003; 76 FR 3367, Jan. 19, 2011; 80 FR 72923, Nov. 23, 2015]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, 44701; 49 CFR 1.81, 1.96 and 1.97.

### Source

Source: Amdt. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52599, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66259, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 172-151, 62 FR 1230, Jan. 8, 1997; 62 FR 39389, 39407, July 22, 1997; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 33426, June 21, 2001; 67 FR 53137, Aug. 14, 2002; 68 FR 75741, Dec. 31, 2003; 76 FR 3367, Jan. 19, 2011; 80 FR 72923, Nov. 23, 2015]