348 Corrosives (Hazard Class 8)

348.1 Definition

A corrosive is any liquid or solid that causes visible destruction or irreversible alteration in human skin tissue at the site of contact, or a liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel. The term "corrosive" includes all items commonly referred to as acids, as well as most batteries.

348.2 Mailability

The following conditions apply for mailing Hazard Class 8 items:

1. International Mail: All corrosives are prohibited.
2. Domestic Mail: Corrosive materials may be mailable if they meet Limited Quantity requirements for air or surface transportation and comply with the following conditions:
1. Liquid mixtures:
1. Must be 1 pint (16 oz) or less.
2. Must contain 15 percent or less corrosive material, with the remainder being non-hazardous unless otherwise specified in 348.22 for a specific corrosive material.
2. Solid Mixtures:
1. Must be 10 pounds or less per primary receptacle.
2. Must contain 10 percent or less corrosive material, with the remainder being non-hazardous material unless otherwise specified for a specific corrosive solid.

348.21 Nonmailable Corrosives

The following corrosive materials are nonmailable:

1. Batteries with Liquid Electrolyte (UN2794, UN2795): Includes automobile lead acid batteries, except for the non-spillable type permitted under 348.22.
2. Nitric Acid (UN2031, UN2032).
3. Fuming and Spent Sulfuric Acids (UN1831, UN1832).
4. Hydrofluoric Acid (UN1790).
5. Mercury and Mercury-Containing Devices (UN2809): Includes metallic mercury and items such as thermometers, barometers, and sphygmomanometers (i.e., blood pressure meters) that contain metallic mercury.

348.22 Mailable Corrosives

As a rule, mailable liquid corrosives are generally limited to 15 percent solution as stated in 348.2, with the following specifications:

1. Acetic Acid (UN2790): May be mailable if they meet Limited Quantity requirements for air or surface material, contains less than 80 percent acid, and does not exceed 1 pint. Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C must be followed.
2. Batteries:
1. Household Dry-Cell Batteries: Common household battery types (AA, AAA, C, D, etc.) are generally not regulated as hazardous materials and are mailable. For nickel-metal hydride batteries in sea transportation, refer to 49 CFR § 122.102, Special Provision 130. Packaging requirements in DMM 601 apply.
2. Nonspillable Wet Batteries (UN2800): Acceptable if completely sealed to prevent the liquid corrosive from spilling during handling and prepared per Packaging Instruction 8B in Appendix C.
3. Lithium and Lithium-Ion Batteries: Refer to 349.2.
3. Hydrochloric Acid (UN1789): Acceptable only in solutions not exceeding 10 percent acid that qualify as Limited Quantity air or Limited Quantity surface material. Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C must be followed.
4. Sulfuric Acid (UN2796): Acceptable only in solutions of 25 percent or less acid that can qualify as a Limited Quantity air or Limited Quantity surface material. Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C must be followed.
5. Dyes (UN2801, UN3147): Acceptable if the dyes qualify as Limited Quantity air or Limited Quantity surface material and prepared per Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C.
6. Photographic Mixtures: Acceptable if the corrosive liquid solutions for preparing photographic processing mixtures can qualify as a Limited Quantity air or Limited Quantity surface material. Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C must be followed. When these liquids are in securely closed and sealed bottles that are properly cushioned, they may be packed in the same outer packaging with required amounts of packaged dry chemicals not classified as hazardous materials (provided no dangerous reaction would occur should the contents of the bottles be mixed with the dry chemicals).
7. Manufactured devices that contain small amounts of mercury (UN3506): Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) and similar consumer devices containing minute amounts of mercury are mailable by air or surface only when each device, article, or apparatus contains 100 milligrams (mg) (0.0035 ounce) or less of mercury (less than a grain of salt) and each mailpiece contains no more than 1 gram (g) (0.035 ounce) of mercury. Mercury contained in devices categorized under UN3506 typically exists in a vaporized state - no metallic mercury will be visible in UN3506 devices. Refer to Packaging Instruction 8C in Appendix C for mailing details.

348.3 Packaging

Mailable corrosives, both liquids and solids, must meet the applicable requirements in 348.2(b) or 348.22, and Packaging Instruction 8A in Appendix C.

348.4 Marking and Documentation

Labels and text markings must be placed on the address side of the mailpiece unless otherwise specified in 221.1 and 325.1. Packages containing mailable corrosive material must be marked as follows:

1. Air Transportation: Packages containing mailable corrosive material must bear the following:
1. DOT diamond-shape Limited Quantity Air marking, with the symbol "Y". Refer to Exhibit 325.5.
2. Class 8 hazardous material warning label.
3. Applicable ID number and proper shipping name.
4. A properly completed Shipper‘s Declaration for Dangerous Goods.
2. Surface Transportation: Packages containing mailable Class 8 materials must be plainly and durably marked on the address side with an approved DOT Limited Quantity surface marking (refer to 325.4). Surface shipments bearing the Limited Quantity surface marking are not required to include the proper shipping name and identification number. A shipping paper is not required for mailable Class 8 corrosives sent via surface transportation.
3. Marking Specifications: Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible, applied to at least one side or end of the outer packaging. The diamond-shaped border must be at least 2 mm in width, with a minimum side dimension of 100 mm, unless the package size necessitates a reduced marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.