49 CFR 173 — Hazmat Packaging Requirements

Shippers' packaging requirements — QA-relevant for munitions/hazmat prep. 234 sections, full current text (eCFR edition 2026-07-09), each cross-linked to the AF pubs that cite it.

SectionTitleAF citations
173.1Purpose and scope.
173.2Hazardous material classes and index to hazard class definitions.
173.2aClassification of a material having more than one hazard.
173.3Packaging and exceptions.
173.4Small quantities for highway and rail.
173.4aExcepted quantities.
173.4bDe minimis exceptions.
173.5Agricultural operations.
173.5aOilfield service vehicles, mechanical displacement meter provers, and roadway striping vehicles exceptions.
173.5bPortable and mobile refrigeration systems.
173.6Materials of trade exceptions.
173.7Government operations and materials.1 × 1 pubs
173.8Exceptions for non-specification packagings used in intrastate transportation.
173.9Transport vehicles or freight containers containing lading which has been fumigated.
173.10Tank car shipments.
173.11Exceptions for shipment of light bulbs containing hazardous materials.
173.12Exceptions for shipment of waste materials.
173.13Exceptions for Class 3, Divisions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, and Classes 8 and 9 materials.
173.14Hazardous materials in equipment in use or intended for use during transport.
173.21Forbidden materials and packages.
173.22Shipper's responsibility.
173.22aUse of packagings authorized under special permits.
173.23Previously authorized packaging.
173.24General requirements for packagings and packages.
173.24aAdditional general requirements for non-bulk packagings and packages.
173.24bAdditional general requirements for bulk packagings.
173.25Authorized packagings and overpacks.
173.26Quantity limitations.
173.27General requirements for transportation by aircraft.1 × 1 pubs
173.28Reuse, reconditioning and remanufacture of packagings.
173.29Empty packagings.
173.30Loading and unloading of transport vehicles.
173.31Use of tank cars.
173.32Requirements for the use of portable tanks.
173.33Hazardous materials in cargo tank motor vehicles.
173.35Hazardous materials in IBCs.
173.36Hazardous materials in Large Packagings.
173.37Hazardous Materials in Flexible Bulk Containers.
173.40General packaging requirements for toxic materials packaged in cylinders.
173.41Sampling and testing program for unrefined petroleum-based products.
173.50Class 1—Definitions.
173.51Authorization to offer and transport explosives.
173.52Classification codes and compatibility groups of explosives.1 × 1 pubs
173.53Provisions for using old classifications of explosives.
173.54Forbidden explosives.
173.56New explosives—definition and procedures for classification and approval.44 × 2 pubs
173.57Acceptance criteria for new explosives.
173.58Assignment of class and division for new explosives.
173.59Description of terms for explosives.
173.60General packaging requirements for explosives.
173.61Mixed packaging requirements.
173.62Specific packaging requirements for explosives.
173.63Packaging exceptions.
173.64Exceptions for Division 1.3 and 1.4 fireworks.
173.65Exceptions for Division 1.4G consumer fireworks.
173.66Requirements for bulk packagings of certain explosives and oxidizers.
173.67Exceptions for Division 1.1 jet perforating guns.
173.115Class 2, Divisions 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3—Definitions.
173.116Class 2—Assignment of hazard zone.
173.120Class 3—Definitions.
173.121Class 3—Assignment of packing group.
173.124Class 4, Divisions 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3—Definitions.
173.125Class 4—Assignment of packing group.
173.127Class 5, Division 5.1—Definition and assignment of packing groups.
173.128Class 5, Division 5.2—Definitions and types.
173.132Class 6, Division 6.1—Definitions.
173.133Assignment of packing group and hazard zones for Division 6.1 materials.
173.134Class 6, Division 6.2—Definitions and exceptions.
173.136Class 8—Definitions.
173.137Class 8—Assignment of packing group.
173.140Class 9—Definitions.
173.141Class 9—Assignment of packing group.
173.150Exceptions for Class 3 (flammable and combustible liquids).
173.151Exceptions for Class 4.
173.152Exceptions for Division 5.1 (oxidizers) and Division 5.2 (organic peroxides).
173.153Exceptions for Division 6.1 (poisonous materials).
173.154Exceptions for Class 8 (corrosive materials).
173.155Exceptions for Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous materials).
173.156Exceptions for limited quantity materials.
173.157Reverse logistics—General requirements and exceptions for reverse logistics.
173.158Nitric acid.
173.159Batteries, wet.
173.159aExceptions for non-spillable batteries.
173.160Bombs, smoke, non-explosive (corrosive).
173.161Chemical kits and first aid kits.
173.162Gallium.
173.163Hydrogen fluoride.
173.164Mercury (metallic and articles containing mercury).
173.165Polyester resin kits.
173.166Safety devices.
173.167ID8000 consumer commodities.
173.168Chemical oxygen generators.
173.170Black powder for small arms.
173.171Smokeless powder for small arms.
173.172Aircraft hydraulic power unit fuel tank.
173.173Paint, paint-related material, adhesives, ink and resins.
173.174Refrigerating machines.
173.175Permeation devices.1 × 1 pubs
173.176Capacitors.
173.181Pyrophoric materials (liquids).
173.182Barium azide—50 percent or more water wet.
173.183Nitrocellulose base film.
173.184Highway or rail fusee.
173.185Lithium cells and batteries.
173.186Matches.
173.187Pyrophoric solids, metals or alloys, n.o.s.
173.188White or yellow phosphorus.
173.189Batteries containing sodium or cells containing sodium.
173.192Packaging for certain toxic gases in Hazard Zone A.
173.193Bromoacetone, methyl bromide, chloropicrin and methyl bromide or methyl chloride mixtures, etc.
173.194Gas identification sets.
173.195Hydrogen cyanide, anhydrous, stabilized (hydrocyanic acid, aqueous solution).
173.196Category A infectious substances.
173.197Regulated medical waste.
173.198Nickel carbonyl.
173.199Category B infectious substances.
173.201Non-bulk packagings for liquid hazardous materials in Packing Group I.
173.202Non-bulk packagings for liquid hazardous materials in Packing Group II.1 × 1 pubs
173.203Non-bulk packagings for liquid hazardous materials in Packing Group III.
173.204Non-bulk, non-specification packagings for certain hazardous materials.
173.205Specification cylinders for liquid hazardous materials.
173.206Packaging requirements for chlorosilanes.
173.211Non-bulk packagings for solid hazardous materials in Packing Group I.
173.212Non-bulk packagings for solid hazardous materials in Packing Group II.
173.213Non-bulk packagings for solid hazardous materials in Packing Group III.
173.214Packagings which require approval by the Associate Administrator.
173.216Asbestos, blue, brown or white.
173.217Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice).
173.218Fish meal or fish scrap.
173.219Life-saving appliances.
173.220Internal combustion engines, vehicles, machinery containing internal combustion engines, battery-powered equipment or machinery, fuel cell-powered equipment or machinery.
173.221Polymeric beads, expandable and Plastic molding compound.
173.222Dangerous goods in articles, machinery, or apparatus.
173.223Packagings for certain flammable solids.
173.224Packaging and control and emergency temperatures for self-reactive materials.
173.225Packaging requirements and other provisions for organic peroxides.
173.226Materials poisonous by inhalation, Division 6.1, Packing Group I, Hazard Zone A.
173.227Materials poisonous by inhalation, Division 6.1, Packing Group I, Hazard Zone B.
173.228Bromine pentafluoride or bromine trifluoride.
173.229Chloric acid solution or chlorine dioxide hydrate, frozen.
173.230Fuel cell cartridges containing hazardous material.
173.231Ammonium nitrate emulsion, suspension or gel.
173.232Articles containing hazardous materials, n.o.s.
173.240Bulk packaging for certain low hazard solid materials.
173.241Bulk packagings for certain low hazard liquid and solid materials.
173.242Bulk packagings for certain medium hazard liquids and solids, including solids with dual hazards.
173.243Bulk packaging for certain high hazard liquids and dual hazard materials which pose a moderate hazard.
173.244Bulk packaging for certain pyrophoric liquids (Division 4.2), dangerous when wet (Division 4.3) materials, and poisonous liquids with inhalation hazards (Division 6.1).
173.245Bulk packaging for extremely hazardous materials such as poisonous gases (Division 2.3).
173.247Bulk packaging for certain elevated temperature materials.
173.249Bromine.
173.251Bulk packaging for ammonium nitrate emulsion, suspension, or gel.
173.301General requirements for shipment of compressed gases and other hazardous materials in cylinders, UN pressure receptacles, and spherical pressure vessels.
173.301aAdditional general requirements for shipment of specification cylinders.
173.301bAdditional general requirements for shipment of UN pressure receptacles.
173.302Filling of cylinders with nonliquefied (permanent) compressed gases or adsorbed gases.
173.302aAdditional requirements for shipment of non-liquefied (permanent) compressed gases in specification cylinders.
173.302bAdditional requirements for shipment of non-liquefied (permanent) compressed gases in UN pressure receptacles.
173.302cAdditional requirements for the shipment of adsorbed gases in UN pressure receptacles.
173.303Charging of cylinders with compressed gas in solution (acetylene).
173.304Filling of cylinders with liquefied compressed gases.
173.304aAdditional requirements for shipment of liquefied compressed gases in specification cylinders.
173.304bAdditional requirements for shipment of liquefied compressed gases in UN pressure receptacles.
173.305Charging of cylinders with a mixture of compressed gas and other material.
173.306Limited quantities of compressed gases.
173.307Exceptions for compressed gases.
173.308Lighters.
173.309Fire extinguishers.
173.310Exceptions for radiation detectors.
173.311Metal Hydride Storage Systems.
173.312Requirements for shipment of MEGCs.
173.313UN Portable Tank Table for Liquefied Compressed Gases and Chemical Under Pressure.
173.314Compressed gases in tank cars and multi-unit tank cars.
173.315Compressed gases in cargo tanks and portable tanks.
173.316Cryogenic liquids in cylinders.
173.318Cryogenic liquids in cargo tanks.
173.319Cryogenic liquids in tank cars.
173.320Cryogenic liquids; exceptions.
173.321Ethylamine.
173.322Ethyl chloride.
173.323Ethylene oxide.
173.334Organic phosphates mixed with compressed gas.
173.335Chemical under pressure n.o.s.
173.336Nitrogen dioxide, liquefied, or dinitrogen tetroxide, liquefied.
173.337Nitric oxide.
173.338Tungsten hexafluoride.
173.340Tear gas devices.
173.401Scope.
173.403Definitions.
173.410General design requirements.
173.411Industrial packages.2 × 1 pubs
173.412Additional design requirements for Type A packages.
173.413Requirements for Type B packages.
173.415Authorized Type A packages.2 × 1 pubs
173.416Authorized Type B packages.
173.417Authorized fissile materials packages.
173.418Authorized packages—pyrophoric Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.419Authorized packages—oxidizing Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.420Uranium hexafluoride (fissile, fissile excepted and non-fissile).
173.421Excepted packages for limited quantities of Class 7 (radioactive) materials.2 × 1 pubs
173.422Additional requirements for excepted packages containing Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.423Requirements for multiple hazard limited quantity Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.424Excepted packages for radioactive instruments and articles.
173.425Table of activity limits—excepted quantities and articles.1 × 1 pubs
173.426Excepted packages for articles containing natural uranium or thorium.
173.427Transport requirements for low specific activity (LSA) Class 7 (radioactive) material and surface contaminated objects (SCO).1 × 1 pubs
173.428Empty Class 7 (radioactive) materials packaging.
173.431Activity limits for Type A and Type B packages.
173.433Requirements for determining basic radionuclide values, and for the listing of radionuclides on shipping papers and labels.
173.434Activity-mass relationships for uranium and natural thorium.
173.435Table of A1 and A2 values for radionuclides.1 × 1 pubs
173.436Exempt material activity concentrations and exempt consignment activity limits for radionuclides.1 × 1 pubs
173.441Radiation level limitations and exclusive use provisions.4 × 2 pubs
173.442Thermal limitations.
173.443Contamination control.4 × 1 pubs
173.447Storage incident to transportation—general requirements.
173.448General transportation requirements.
173.453Fissile materials—exceptions.1 × 1 pubs
173.457Transportation of fissile material packages—specific requirements.1 × 1 pubs
173.459Mixing of fissile material packages with non-fissile or fissile-excepted material packages.
173.461Demonstration of compliance with tests.
173.462Preparation of specimens for testing.
173.465Type A packaging tests.
173.466Additional tests for Type A packagings designed for liquids and gases.
173.467Tests for demonstrating the ability of Type B and fissile materials packagings to withstand accident conditions in transportation.
173.468Test for LSA-III material.
173.469Tests for special form Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.471Requirements for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved packages.
173.472Requirements for exporting DOT Specification Type B and fissile packages.
173.473Requirements for foreign-made packages.
173.474Quality control for construction of packaging.
173.475Quality control requirements prior to each shipment of Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.476Approval of special form Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
173.477Approval of packagings containing greater than 0.1 kg of non-fissile or fissile-excepted uranium hexafluoride.
Unofficial reference aid. Confirm against the current eCFR edition before citing in a finding.
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