May 21, 2020
PHMSA finally published HM-215O as a Final Rule on Monday May 11, 2020. It is effective as of that date (with one exception for instruction 17 – the Lithium Battery Test Summary which is effective January 2, 2023) but is not mandatory until May 10, 2021. Its major purpose is to update the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to newer versions of the international transport regulations and references.
Regulation/Reference Updates
| Regulation or Reference | Revision Incorporated by Final Rule | Most Current Revision Available |
| ICAO | 2019-2020 | 2019-2020 |
| IMDG | Amendment 39-18 (2018) | Amendment 39-18 (2018) |
| UN Model Regulations | 20th (2017) | 21st (2019) |
| UN GHS | 7th (2017) | 8th (2019) |
| UN MTC (Manual of Tests and Criteria) | 6th, Amendment 1 (2017) | 7th (2019) |
| TDG (Canada) | SOR/2016-95, SOR/2017-137, SOR/2017-253 | SOR/2019-75, SOR/2019-101 |
| OECD Corrosivity Test Guidelines 404, 430, 431, 435 | 2015 | 2015 |
It also adds or updates several ISO standards relating to gas cylinders, and the International Atomic
Energy Agency Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.
Additional information detailing more specific impacts of this Final Rule will be available in a follow-up article.
References
Final Rule: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-11/pdf/2020-06205.pdf