Combustible Liquid

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For the purpose of 49 CFR § 173.120, a combustible liquid means any liquid that does not meet the definition of any other hazard class specified in this subchapter and has a flash point above 60 °C (140 °F) and below 93 °C (200 °F).

(2) A flammable liquid with a flash point at or above 38 °C (100 °F) that does not meet the definition of any other hazard class may be reclassed as a combustible liquid. This provision does not apply to transportation by vessel or aircraft, except where other means of transportation is impracticable. An elevated temperature material that meets the definition of a Class 3 material because it is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point may not be reclassed as a combustible liquid.

(3) A combustible liquid that does not sustain combustion is not subject to the requirements of this subchapter as a combustible liquid. Either the test method specified in ASTM D 4206 or the procedure in appendix H of this part may be used to determine if a material sustains combustion when heated under test conditions and exposed to an external source of flame.


A combustible liquid that is in a bulk packaging or a combustible liquid that is a hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or a marine pollutant is not subject to the requirements of 49 CFR § 173.150 except those pertaining to:

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(i) Shipping papers, waybills, switching orders, and hazardous waste manifests;

(ii) Marking of packages;

(iii) Display of identification numbers on bulk packages;

(iv) For bulk packagings only, placarding requirements of subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter;

(v) Carriage aboard aircraft and vessels (for packaging requirements for transport by vessel, see § 176.340 of this subchapter);

(vi) Reporting incidents as prescribed by §§ 171.15 and 171.16 of this subchapter;

(vii) Packaging requirements of subpart B of this part and, in addition, non-bulk packagings must conform with requirements of § 173.203;

(viii) The requirements of §§ 173.1, 173.21, 173.24, 173.24a, 173.24b, 174.1, 177.804, 177.817, 177.834(j), and 177.837(d) of this subchapter;

(ix) The training requirements of subpart H of part 172 of this subchapter;

(x) Emergency response information requirements of subpart G of part 172; and

(xi) For bulk packagings only, registration requirements of subpart G of part 107 of this subchapter.

(4) A combustible liquid that is not a hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or a marine pollutant is not subject to the requirements of this subchapter if it is a mixture of one or more components that –

(i) Has a flash point at or above 93 °C (200 °F),

(ii) Comprises at least 99 percent of the volume of the mixture, and

(iii) Is not offered for transportation or transported as a liquid at a temperature at or above its flash point.

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