Shipping

EPA 608 Core Chapter 46 (Take full course for free)

In our last module for Core, we’ll go over considerations we have to make when shipping refrigerant cylinders. Skip to quiz!

1. Department of Transportation (DOT)

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is a federal agency that is in charge of regulating all modes of transport in the US.

We previously mentioned that the DOT is in charge of regulating refrigerant labels.

This is because refrigerants are considered hazardous materials. Since they are hazardous, they are a safety risk while being transported.

If not handled properly, refrigerant chemicals can explode and cause injury or worse, as we discussed in the safety modules. The DOT regulates how refrigerants can be transported in order to protect workers who handle it and the general public.

All safety information for refrigerant chemicals can be found in their Safety Data Sheets (SDS). This used to be known as the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

2. Refrigerant Label

The DOT requires that cylinders containing used refrigerant be properly labeled if it is

1. Shipped, or

2. Sent to be reclaimed

If you are sending recovery cylinders with refrigerant to be reclaimed, the DOT requires that you provide a label with the following information:

1. Type of refrigerant (e.g. R-22)

This label is an example of one that should be put on your recovery cylinder.

The purpose of labeling is to

1. Avoid accidentally mixing refrigerants

2. Allow recyclers to identify cylinder contents

3. Help technicians and owners with mandatory Section 608 record keeping requirements

3. Shipping Instructions

Before shipping any refrigerant cylinder, make sure that they are properly labeled.

According to safety regulations, refrigerant cylinders need to be shipped upright. Cylinders also need to be secured to ensure safe transport.

When transporting recovered pressurized refrigerant, the DOT requires the use of cylinders designated as “refillable”. If the cylinder is not designated as “refillable”, it cannot be used to transport recovered refrigerant that is pressurized.

If you are shipping cylinders that contain used refrigerant, the DOT requires that you attach DOT Classification Tags, as pictured here.

DOT classification tags are separated by class and indicate the hazard level of the substance. For example, refrigerant gases would fall under Class 2, which is gases. There are special icons on the tags that indicate whether the gas is flammable or non-flammable.

Recall that only recovery cylinders can be used to recover refrigerant. These are the cylinders with a gray body and a yellow top. Other than recovery c

ylinders, no other types of cylinders can be used to recover refrigerant.

For Hazard Class 2.2 chemicals, which are non-flammable compressed gases, the DOT requires the following information on the shipping paper:

1. The number of cylinders of each gas

All state DOTs may also have separate requirements for shipping refrigerants. Technicians also need to check all state and local laws and regulations when shipping refrigerant chemicals.

4. Conclusion

In this module, we discussed the Department of Transportation’s regulations on how refrigerants are shipped and labeled. Refrigerant cylinders also need to shipped in an upright position because of their volatile contents.

The purpose of these regulations is to ensure the safety of everyone who handles refrigerant cylinders.

Question #1: Where can you find any safety related information on refrigerants you’re handling?.

1. Safety Information Sheets

2. Safety Data Sheets

3. Material Data Sheets

4. All of these

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Important safety information is contained in refrigerants’ safety data sheets (SDS).

Question #2: When sending used refrigerants to be reclaimed, you must use disposable refrigerant cylinders.

1. True

2. False

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When transporting used refrigerants, only recovery cylinders can be used.

Question #3: What information needs to be on the label of a container sent for reclamation?

1. Refrigerant type

2. Date manufactured

3. Cylinder type

4. All of these

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Cylinders sent to be reclaimed must have a label indicating the type of refrigerant. For example, if we are reclaiming R-22, the label must say R-22 on it.

Question #4: When shipping refrigerant that has been used, we must use do which of the following?

1. Attaching DOT classification tags

2. Use recovery cylinders

3. Properly label contents

4. All of the above

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All of the options are necessary when shipping used refrigerant.

Question #5: What position must you ship cylinders of refrigerant in?

1. Facing the driver

2. Upside down

3. Upright

4. It depends on the type of cylinder.

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When shipping refrigerant, we always use recovery cylinders and place them upright, securing them in place to prevent from tipping.

Question #6: When shipping refrigerants in hazard class 2.2, what information needs to be on the shipping paper?

1. Number of molecules in the cylinder

2. Number of times the refrigerant has been used

3. Number of refrigerants in the cylinder

4. Number of cylinders of each gas.

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When shipping refrigerants that are classified as hazard class 2.2, the shipping papers must indicate the number of cylinders of each gas.