Shipping Hazmat Limited Quantities by Ground, Air, and Vessel

When shipped by ground, air, or vessel, small quantities of hazardous materials (or dangerous goods)—referred to as "limited quantities"—are granted relief from certain hazmat shipping requirements.

Some of the Limited Quantity reliefs are identical across the intermodal transport rules—49 CFR for ground shipments, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air, and the IMO's IMDG Code for vessel—while other reliefs are reserved for specific modes of transport. Shippers can and should capitalize on these limited quantity reliefs when possible, but must recognize that some hazmat requirements still apply to shipping limited quantities.

 

Streamline your hazmat training with the Shipping Limited Quantities and Consumer Commodities Online Course.  Meet 49 CFR training mandates and find out how to take advantage of the many reliefs and exceptions available for hazmat limited quantity shippers.

Limited Quantity Hazmat by Ground (49 CFR)

Generally speaking, limited quantity ground shipments allow for the most expansive set of reliefs from the hazmat shipping regulations. When shipped by ground, limited quantity hazmat packages are typically excepted from:
 

• Hazard class labeling;
• Using specification packaging;
• Filling out shipping papers and emergency response information; and
• Placarding vehicles.

However, because a limited quantity package is still a hazmat package, certain basic hazmat shipping rules still apply. The package:
 

• Must meet general packaging requirements of 49 CFR 173, Subpart B (i.e., be a "strong outer packaging");
• Must be "combination" packaging (i.e., cans/bottles in a box);
• Cannot exceed a gross weight of 30 kg (66 lbs.); and
• Is typically limited to 1 to 5 liters or kilograms capacity for inner packagings, depending on the hazard class and packing group.

All limited quantity reliefs considered, a ready-to-ship limited quantity hazmat package needs to only display the limited quantity marking, an address marking, and sometimes orientation arrows to meet the DOT's requirements for hazmat ground shipments.
   

Limited Quantity Hazmat by Air (IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations)

Shipping any dangerous goods (DG) by air is inherently more dangerous than shipping by other modes. As a result, stricter rules apply to limited quantity hazmat air shipments than to ground or vessel shipments. When shipped by air, limited quantity hazmat packages are excluded only from the following IATA DGR requirements:
 

• Performance testing requirements of IATA DGR 6.3; and
• Performance marking requirements of IATA DGR 6.0.4.

The following requirements apply to limited quantity DG air shipments:
 

• Must meet most general packaging requirements of IATA DGR 5.0.2-5.0.4; (i.e., be a "strong outer packaging");
• Be a "combination" packaging;
• Cannot exceed a gross weight of 30 kg;
• Must be limited to the maximum net quantity per package indicated in column H of the List of Dangerous Goods (IATA DGR 4.2]; and
• Follows the "Y" packaging instructions indicated in Column G of the List.

The completed package will display the "Y" limited quantity air marking, but must also display all the normal markings and hazard labels as a fully regulated package.

Full shipping papers (a Shippers' Declaration) are required for limited quantity hazmat air shipments.

​The Limited Quantity and Consumer Commodities Online Course course covers the 49 CFR, IATA air, and IMDG vessel shipping rules for limited quantities and satisfies the DOT's training requirement for hazmat employees who prepare limited quantities for transport (49 CFR 172.704).

Limited Quantity Hazmat by Vessel (IMDG Code)

The rules for shipping limited quantities of hazmat by vessel  (IMDG Code) are closer to the 49 CFR ground shipping rules than the IATA air shipping rules.

When shipped by vessel, limited quantity hazmat packages are excluded from:
 

• Most marking requirements;
• Labeling;
• Placarding;
• Most segregation requirements of IMDG 7.2; and
• Packaging testing requirements.

Even for limited quantities of hazmat, packages still must:
 

• Meet select general packaging requirements at IMDG 4.1.1.1-4.1.1.8;
• Be "combination" packaging;
• Not exceed a gross weight of 30 kg; and
• Conform to the quantity limits specified in Column 7a of the IMDG Code 3.2 Dangerous Goods List.

Full shipping papers are required for limited quantity hazmat shipments by vessel.

​The Limited Quantity and Consumer Commodities Online Course course covers the 49 CFR, IATA air, and IMDG vessel shipping rules for limited quantities and satisfies the DOT's training requirement for hazmat employees who prepare limited quantities for transport (49 CFR 172.704).

When shipping a limited quantity package, it is vital that the shipper understands how to follow the appropriate rules, depending on the mode of transportation. When used correctly, the limited quantity exception can be a very effective time and money saver for a shipper of dangerous goods.

Convenient Limited Quantity Hazmat Training

Are all your hazmat shipments limited quantity? Be confident that you know how to capitalize on the limited quantity reliefs and meet the requirements that apply to your shipments. Avoid rejection, delays, and US DOT fines now over $78,000 per violation, per day.

The Limited Quantity and Consumer Commodities Online Course course covers the 49 CFR, IATA air, and IMDG vessel shipping rules for limited quantities and satisfies the DOT's training requirement for hazmat employees who prepare limited quantities for transport (49 CFR 172.704).

 

Tags: DOT, hazmat shipping, IATA, IMDG, limited quantities