---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 173.221"
title: "49"
number: "173.221"
heading: "Polymeric beads, expandable and Plastic molding compound."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/173.221"
---

# §173.221. Polymeric beads, expandable and Plastic molding compound.

- (a) For non-bulk shipments of Polymeric beads (or granules), expandable evolving flammable vapor and Plastic molding compound in dough, sheet, or extruded rope form, evolving flammable vapor the following packagings are authorized:
  - (1) **Single packagings.** Metal box (4A, 4B, or 4N); Wooden box (4C1 or 4C2); Plywood box (4D); Fiberboard box (4G); Reconstituted wood box (4F); Plastic box (4H1 or 4H2); Plywood drums: (1D) or Fiber drums (1G) with sealed inner plastic liners; in vapor tight metal or plastic drums (1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1N1, 1N2, 1H1 or 1H2); or in vapor tight metal or plastic jerricans (3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3B2, 3H1, or 3H2).
  - (2) **Combination packagings—**
    - (i) **Outer packagings—** Steel drum: 1A1 or 1A2; Aluminum drum: 1B1 or 1B2; Plywood drum: 1D; Fiber drum: 1G; Plastic drum: 1H1 or 1H2; Metal drum other than steel or aluminum: 1N1 or 1N2; Steel jerrican: 3A1 or 3A2; Plastic jerrican: 3H1 or 3H2; Aluminum jerrican: 3B1 or 3B2; Steel box: 4A; Aluminum box: 4B; Natural wood box: 4C1 or 4C2; Plywood box: 4D; Reconstituted wood box: 4F; Fiberboard box: 4G; Plastic box: 4H1 or 4H2; or Metal box other than steel or aluminum: 4N.
    - (ii) **Inner packagings.** Glass receptacles, Plastic receptacles, Metal receptacles, Paper receptacles, or Fiber receptacles.
  - (3) **Non-specification packagings.** Non-specification packagings when transported in dedicated vehicles or freight containers. The packagings need not conform to the requirements for package testing in [part 178](/cfr/49/part178.md) of this subchapter but must be capable of containing any evolving gases from the contents during normal conditions of transportation.
- (b) Bulk shipments of Polymeric beads (or granules), expandable, evolving flammable vapor or Plastic molding compounds in dough, sheet or extruded rope, evolving flammable vapor may be packed in non-specification bulk packagings. Except for transportation by highway and rail, bulk packagings must be capable of containing any gases evolving from the contents during normal conditions of transportation.
- (c) For transportation by vessel, the provisions of [§ 176.907](/cfr/49/176.907.md) must be met.
- (d) **Exceptions.** When it can be demonstrated that no flammable vapor, resulting in a flammable atmosphere, is evolved according to test U1 (Test method for substances liable to evolve flammable vapors) of Part III, sub-[section 38.4.4](/cfr/49/38.4.4.md) of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter), polymeric beads, expandable need not be classed as Class 9 (UN2211). This test should only be performed when de-classification of a substance is considered.

## Notes

### Amendments

[64 FR 10779, Mar. 5, 1999, as amended at 78 FR 1089, Jan. 7, 2013; 82 FR 15884, Mar. 30, 2017; 87 FR 44995, July 26, 2022]

### Source

Source: Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52643, Dec. 21, 1990, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

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

### Amendments

[64 FR 10779, Mar. 5, 1999, as amended at 78 FR 1089, Jan. 7, 2013; 82 FR 15884, Mar. 30, 2017; 87 FR 44995, July 26, 2022]