Postal Explorer > Publication 52 - Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail > Appendix A Hazardous Materials Table: Postal Service Mailability Guide

Appendix A
Hazardous Materials Table:
Postal Service Mailability Guide

The mailing information in this table is based on the DOT Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101 (dated October 1, 1998, and the revisions published in Federal Register 10742, dated March 5, 1999). The information is modified to identify the mailability of each hazardous material based on Postal Service mailing regulations. This table identifies the mailability of hazardous materials for domestic mail only. Almost no hazardous materials are permitted in international mail. For information on mailability in international mail, see Chapter 6 and Exhibit 621.1.

In the domestic mail, generally only those hazardous materials that can be reclassed as an ORM-D material and renamed with the proper shipping name of "Consumer Commodity" are eligible for mailing subject to the postal quantity limitations. The only exceptions are for the small number of materials listed in 322.

The columns in the table contain the following information:

Column (a): Lists the proper shipping name of the hazardous material in roman type. Text that appears in italic type is not part of the proper shipping name of the hazardous material and is listed for descriptive or reference purposes. Some listings direct the user to the preferred proper shipping name of a material listed elsewhere in the table. The text in this column closely matches the information in Column 2 of the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101.

Column (b): Lists the assigned hazard class or division of the hazardous material. The entry "Forbidden" means the material may not be transported under any circumstances. The entry "n/a" means the material does not have an assigned hazard class. If this field is shaded, refer to the listing for the preferred proper shipping name cited in Column (a). The text in this column closely matches the information in Column 3 of the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101.

Column (c): Lists the identification (ID) number assigned to the hazardous material. The number may be either a United Nations (UN) number or a North American (NA) number. This field is shaded if Column (a) directs the user to the listing for the preferred proper shipping name of the material, or if the entry in Column (b) is "Forbidden." The text in this column closely matches the information in Column 4 of the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101.

Column (d): Lists the DOT Packing Group (PG) assignment for the hazardous material. Not all hazard classes have DOT Packing Group assignments. If this field contains "n/a," the material is in a hazard class that does not use Packing Group assignments. This field is shaded if Column (a) directs the user to the listing for the preferred proper shipping name of the material, or if the entry in Column (b) is "Forbidden." The text in this column closely matches the information in Column 5 of the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101.

Column (e): Lists the mailability of the hazardous material according to Postal Service regulations. If the entry is "Prohibited," the material is nonmailable. If the entry cites a reference to this publication or the DMM, the material is subject to those requirements and restrictions. If the entry is "Only ORM-D," the material is mailable only if it can be reclassed as an ORM-D material and renamed with the proper shipping name of "Consumer Commodity" as permitted in 49 CFR. Mailable ORM-D materials cannot exceed the postal quantity limits specified in this publication and DMM C023. The mailer is responsible for correctly determining if the hazardous material is eligible to be reclassed as an ORM-D material. If assistance is needed, the mailer may request a ruling from the PCSC as provided in 215.2 and DMM C023.1.5. If the hazardous material is mailable in the domestic mail, refer to Column (f) and (g), as appropriate, to determine the applicable postal packaging instruction in Appendix C.

Column (f): Lists the packaging instruction in Appendix C that must be followed if the hazardous material is permitted in domestic mail via air transportation. This field is shaded if Column (a) directs the user to the listing for the preferred proper shipping name of the material, or if the hazardous material is prohibited from mailing as designated in Column (e). If the entry in this column is "Prohibited," the material is not permitted in domestic mail via air transportation.

Column (g): Lists the packaging instruction in Appendix C that must be followed if the hazardous material is permitted in domestic mail via surface transportation. This field is shaded if Column (a) directs the user to the listing for the preferred proper shipping name of the material, or if the hazardous material is prohibited from mailing as designated in Column (e). If the entry in this column is "Prohibited," the material is not permitted in domestic mail via surface transportation.