---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 172.512"
title: "49"
number: "172.512"
heading: "Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/172.512"
---

# §172.512. Freight containers and aircraft unit load devices.

- (a) **Capacity of 640 cubic feet or more.** Each person who offers for transportation, and each person who loads and transports, a hazardous material in a freight container or aircraft unit load device having a capacity of 640 cubic feet or more shall affix to the freight container or aircraft unit load device the placards specified for the material in accordance with [§ 172.504](/cfr/49/172.504.md). However:
  - (1) The placarding exception provided in [§ 172.504(c)](/cfr/49/172.504.md?p=c) applies to motor vehicles transporting freight containers and aircraft unit load devices,
  - (2) The placarding exception provided in [§ 172.504(c)](/cfr/49/172.504.md?p=c) applies to each freight container and aircraft unit load device being transported for delivery to a consignee immediately following an air or water shipment, and,
  - (3) Placarding is not required on a freight container or aircraft unit load device if it is only transported by air and is identified as containing a hazardous material in the manner provided in [part 7](/cfr/49/part7.md), chapter 2, [section 2.8](/cfr/49/2.8.md), of the ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).
- (b) **Capacity less than 18 m 3 (640 cubic feet).**
  - (1) Each person who offers for transportation by air, and each person who loads and transports by air, a hazardous material in a freight container or aircraft unit load device having a capacity of less than 18 m 3 (640 cubic feet) shall affix one placard of the type specified by [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section unless the freight container or aircraft unit load device:
    - (i) Is labeled in accordance with [subpart E](/cfr/49/subpartE.md) of this part, including [§ 172.406(e)](/cfr/49/172.406.md?p=e);
    - (ii) Contains radioactive materials requiring the Radioactive Yellow III label and is placarded with one Radioactive placard and is labeled in accordance with [subpart E](/cfr/49/subpartE.md) of this part, including [§ 172.406(e)](/cfr/49/172.406.md?p=e); or,
    - (iii) Is identified as containing a hazardous material in the manner provided in [part 7](/cfr/49/part7.md); chapter 2, [section 2.8](/cfr/49/2.8.md), of the ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).
  - (2) When hazardous materials are offered for transportation, not involving air transportation, in a freight container having a capacity of less than 640 cubic feet the freight container need not be placarded. However, if not placarded, it must be labeled in accordance with [subpart E](/cfr/49/subpartE.md) of this part.
- (c) Notwithstanding paragraphs [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) of this section, packages containing hazardous materials offered for transportation by air in freight containers are subject to the inspection requirements of [§ 175.30](/cfr/49/175.30.md) of this chapter.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Amdt. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976]

### 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. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976]