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Guidelines for the Selection and Use of Plastic Pails:
Hazardous Materials

All transportation requirements for a hazardous material can be found in the Hazardous Materials Table located in Part 172.101 of Title 49 CFR. Before going to hazardous materials table use the guide below to help you understand what the columns are and what they will tell you about the requirements for your product. (Click on the columns in the hazardous materials table example below and the description for that column will be displayed below.) Click here to look up your product in the current hazardous materials table (172.101) available online at the US DOT website.

(c) Column 2: Hazardous materials descriptions and proper shipping names. Column 2 lists the hazardous materials descriptions and proper shipping names of materials designated as hazardous materials. Modification of a proper shipping name may otherwise be required or authorized by this section. Proper shipping names are limited to those shown in Roman type (not italics).
172.101(c)(1)
(1) Proper shipping names may be used in the singular or plural and in either capital or lower case letters. Words may be alternatively spelled in the same manner as they appear in the ICAO Technical Instructions or the IMDG Code. For example ``aluminum'' may be spelled ``aluminium'' and ``sulfur'' may be spelled ``sulphur''. However, the word ``inflammable'' may not be used in place of the word ``flammable''.
172.101(c)(2)
(2) Punctuation marks and words in italics are not part of the proper shipping name, but may be used in addition to the proper shipping name. The word ``or'' in italics indicates that terms in the sequence may be used as the proper shipping name, as appropriate.
172.101(c)(3)
(3) The word ``poison'' or ``poisonous'' may be used interchangeably with the word ``toxic'' when only domestic transportation is involved. The abbreviation ``n.o.i.'' or ``n.o.i.b.n.'' may be used interchangeably with ``n.o.s.''.
172.101(c)(4)
(4) Except for hazardous wastes, when qualifying words are used as part of the proper shipping name, their sequence in the package markings and shipping paper description is optional. However, the entry in the Table reflects the preferred sequence.
172.101(c)(5)
(5) When one entry references another entry by use of the word ``see'', if both names are in Roman type, either name may be used as the proper shipping name (e.g., Ethyl alcohol, see Ethanol).
172.101(c)(6)
(6) When a proper shipping name includes a concentration range as part of the shipping description, the actual concentration, if it is within the range stated, may be used in place of the concentration range. For example, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide containing 30 percent peroxide may be described as ``Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous solution with not less than 20 percent but not more than 40 percent hydrogen peroxide'' or ``Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous solution with 30 percent hydrogen peroxide''.
172.101(c)(7)
(7) Use of the prefix ``mono'' is optional in any shipping name, when appropriate. Thus, Iodine monochloride may be used interchangeably with Iodine chloride. In ``Glycerol alpha-monochlorohydrin'' the term ``mono'' is considered a prefix to the term ``chlorohydrin'' and may be deleted.
172.101(c)(8)
(8) Use of the word "liquid" or "solid". The word"liquid" or "solid"may be added to a proper shipping name when a hazardous material specifically listed by name may, due to differing physical states, be a liquid or solid. When the packaging specified in Column 8 is inappropriate for the physical state of the material, the table provided in paragraph (i)(4) of this section should be used to determine the appropriate packaging section.
172.101(c)(9)
(9) Hazardous wastes. If the word ``waste'' is not included in the hazardous material description in Column 2 of the Table, the proper shipping name for a hazardous waste (as defined in §171.8 of this subchapter), shall include the word ``Waste'' preceding the proper shipping name of the material. For example: Waste acetone.
172.101(c)(10)
(10) Mixtures and solutions.
172.101(c)(10)(i)
(i) A mixture or solution not identified specifically by name, comprised of a hazardous material identified in the Table by technical name and non-hazardous material, shall be described using the proper shipping name of the hazardous material and the qualifying word ``mixture'' or ``solution'', as appropriate, unless
172.101(c)(10)(i)(A)
(A) Except as provided in §172.101(i)(4) the packaging specified in Column 8 is inappropriate to the physical state of the material;
172.101(c)(10)(i)(B)
(B) The shipping description indicates that the proper shipping name applies only to the pure or technically pure hazardous material;
172.101(c)(10)(i)(C)
(C) The hazard class, packing group, or subsidiary hazard of the mixture or solution is different from that specified for the entry;
172.101(c)(10)(i)(D)
(D) There is a significant change in the measures to be taken in emergencies;
172.101(c)(10)(i)(E)
(E) The material is identified by special provision in Column 7 of the §172.101 Table as a material poisonous by inhalation; however, it no longer meets the definition of poisonous by inhalation or it falls within a different hazard zone than that specified in the special provision; or
172.101(c)(10)(i)(F)
(F) The material can be appropriately described by a shipping name that describes its intended application, such as ``Coating solution'', ``Extracts, flavoring'' or ``Compound, cleaning liquid''.
172.101(c)(10)(ii)
(ii) If one or more of the conditions specified in paragraph (c)(10)(i) of this section is satisfied, then a proper shipping name shall be selected as prescribed in paragraph (c)(12)(ii) of this section.
172.101(c)(10)(iii)
(iii) A mixture or solution not identified in the Table specifically by name, comprised of two or more hazardous materials inthe same hazard class, shall be described using an appropriate shipping description (e.g., "Flammable liquid, n.o.s."). The name that most appropriately describes the material shall be used; e.g., an alcohol not listed by its technical name in the Table shall be described as "Alcohol, n.o.s." rather than "Flammable liquid, n.o.s.". Some mixtures may be more appropriately described according to their application, such as "Coating solution" or "Extracts, flavoring liquid" rather than by an n.o.s. entry. Under the provisions of subparts C and D of this part, the technical names of at least two components most predominately contributing to the hazards of the mixture or solution may be required in association with the proper shipping name.
172.101(c)(11)
(11) Except for a material subject to or prohibited by §§ 173.21, 173.54, 173.56(d), 173.56(e), 173.224(c)or 173.225(c) of this subchapter, a material that is considered to be a hazardous waste or a sample of a material for which the hazard class is uncertain and must be determined by testing may be assigned a tentative proper shipping name, hazard class, identification number and packing group, if applicable, based on the shipper's tentative determination according to:
172.101(c)(11)(i)
(i) Defining criteria in this subchapter;
172.101(c)(11)(ii)
(ii) The hazard precedence prescribed in § 173.2a of this subchapter;
172.101(c)(11)(iii)
(iii) The shippers knowledge of the material;
172.101(c)(11)(iv)
(iv) In addition to paragraphs (c)(11)(i) through (iii) of this section, for a sample of a material, other than a waste, the following must be met:
172.101(c)(11)(iv)(A)
(A) Except when the word "Sample" already appears in the proper shipping name, the word "Sample" must appear in association with the basic description of a sample on the shipping paper;
172.101(c)(11)(iv)(B)
(B) When the proper shipping description for a sample is assigned a "G" in Column (1) of the § 172.101 Table, and the primary constituent(s) for which the tentative classification is based are not known, the provisions requiring a technical name for the constituent(s) do not apply; and
172.101(c)(11)(iv)(C)
(C) A sample must be transported in a combination packaging which conforms to the requirements of this subchapter that are applicable to the tentative packing group assigned, and may not exceed a net mass of 2.5 kg. (5.5 pounds) per package.
Note to Paragraph (c)(11): For the transportation of self-reactive, organic peroxide and explosive samples, see §§ 173.224(c)(3), 173.225(c)(2) and 173.56(d) of this subchapter, respectively.
172.101(c)(12)
(12) Except when the proper shipping name in the Table is preceded by a plus (+)-
172.101(c)(12)(i)
(i) If it is specifically determined that a material meets the definition of a hazard class, packing group or hazard zone, other than the class, packing group or hazard zone shown in association with the proper shipping name, or does not meet the defining criteria for a subsidiary hazard shown in Column 6 of the Table, the material shall be described by an appropriate proper shipping name listed in association with the correct hazard class, packing group, hazard zone, or subsidiary hazard for the material.
172.101(c)(12)(ii)
(ii) Generic or n.o.s. descriptions. If an appropriate technical name is not shown in the Table, selection of a proper shipping name shall be made from the generic or n.o.s. descriptions corresponding to the specific hazard class, packing group, hazard zone, or subsidiary hazard, if any, for the material. The name that most appropriately describes the material shall be used; e.g., an alcohol not listed by its technical name in the Table shall be described as ``Alcohol, n.o.s.'' rather than ``Flammable liquid, n.o.s.''. Some mixtures may be more appropriately described according to their application, such as ``Coating solution'' or ``Extracts, flavoring, liquid'', rather than by an n.o.s. entry, such as ``Flammable liquid, n.o.s.'' It should be noted, however, that an n.o.s. description as a proper shipping name may not provide sufficient information for shipping papers and package markings. Under the provisions of subparts C and D of this part, the technical name of one or more constituents which makes the product a hazardous material may be required in association with the proper shipping name.
172.101(c)(12)(iii)
(iii) Multiple hazard materials. If a material meets the definition of more than one hazard class, and is not identified in the Table specifically by name (e.g., acetyl chloride), the hazard class of the material shall be determined by using the precedence specified in §173.2a of this subchapter, and an appropriate shipping description (e.g., ``Flammable liquid, corrosive n.o.s.'') shall be selected as described in paragraph (c)(12)(ii) of this section.
172.101(c)(12)(iv)
(iv) If it is specifically determined that a material is not a forbidden material and does not meet the definition of any hazard class, the material is not a hazardous material.
172.101(c)(13)
(13) Self-reactive materials and organic peroxides. A generic proper shipping name for a self-reactive material or an organic peroxide, as listed in Column 2 of the Table, must be selected based on the material's technical name and concentration, in accordance with the provisions of §§173.224 or 173.225 of this subchapter, respectively.
172.101(c)(14)
(14) A proper shipping name that describes all isomers of a material may be used to identify any isomer of that material if the isomer meets criteria for the same hazard class or division, subsidiary risk(s) and packing group, unless the isomer is specifically identified in the Table.
172.101(c)(15)
(15) Hydrates of inorganic substances may be identified using the proper shipping name for the equivalent anhydrous substance if the hydrate meets the same hazard class or division, subsidiary risk(s) and packing group, unless the hydrate is specifically identified in the Table.
172.101(c)(16)
(16) Unless it is already included in the proper shipping name in the § 172.101 Table, the qualifying words "liquid" or "solid" may be added in association with the proper shipping name when a hazardous material specifically listed by name in the § 172.101 Table may, due to the differing physical states of the various isomers of the material, be either a liquid or a solid (for example "Dinitrotoluenes, liquid" and "Dinitrotoluenes, solid"). Use of the words "liquid" or "solid" is subject to the limitations specified for the use of the words "mixture" or "solution" in paragraph (c)(10) of this section. The qualifying word "molten"may be added in association with the proper shipping name when a hazardous material, which is a solid in accordance with the definition in § 171.8 of this subchapter, is offered for transportation in the molten state (for example, "Alkylphenols, solid, n.o.s., molten").°F).