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423 

Pipeline and Haz. Matls. Safety Admin., DOT 

§ 172.407 

side of the package. For cylindrical 
packages, the label must be of such di-
mensions that it will not overlap itself. 
In the case of cylindrical packages con-
taining radioactive materials, which 
require two identical labels, these la-
bels must be centered on opposite 
points of the circumference and must 
not overlap each other. If the dimen-
sions of the package are such that two 
identical labels cannot be affixed with-
out overlapping each other, one label is 
acceptable provided it does not overlap 
itself. 

(2) Except as provided in paragraph 

(e) of this section, duplicate labeling is 
not required on a package or contain-
ment device (such as to satisfy redun-
dant labeling requirements). 

(b) 

Exceptions. 

A label may be printed 

on or placed on a securely affixed tag, 
or may be affixed by other suitable 
means to: 

(1) A package that contains no radio-

active material and which has dimen-
sions less than those of the required 
label; 

(2) A cylinder; and 
(3) A package which has such an ir-

regular surface that a label cannot be 
satisfactorily affixed. 

(c) 

Placement of multiple labels. 

When 

primary and subsidiary hazard labels 
are required, they must be displayed 
next to each other. Placement con-
forms to this requirement if labels are 
within 150 mm (6 inches) of one an-
other. 

(d) 

Contrast with background. 

Each 

label must be printed on or affixed to a 
background color contrasting to the 
color specification of the label as re-
quired by § 172.407(d)(1), or must have a 
dotted or solid line outer border, to en-
hance the visibility of the label. How-
ever, the dotted or solid line outer bor-
der may also be used for backgrounds 
of contrasting color. 

(e) 

Duplicate labeling. 

Generally, only 

one of each different required label 
must be displayed on a package. How-
ever, duplicate labels must be dis-
played on at least two sides or two 
ends (other than the bottom) of— 

(1) Each package or overpack having 

a volume of 1.8 m

3

(64 cubic feet) or 

more; 

(2) Each non-bulk package containing 

a radioactive material; 

(3) Each DOT 106 or 110 multi-unit 

tank car tank. Labels must be dis-
played on each end; 

(4) Each portable tank of less than 

3,785 L (1000 gallons) capacity; 

(5) Each freight container or aircraft 

unit load device having a volume of 1.8 
m

3

(64 cubic feet) or more, but less than 

18 m

3

(640 cubic feet). One of each re-

quired label must be displayed on or 
near the closure; and 

(6) An IBC having a volume of 1.8 m

3

 

(64 cubic feet) or more. 

(f) 

Visibility. 

A label must be clearly 

visible and may not be obscured by 
markings or attachments. 

[Amdt. 172–123, 55 FR 52594, Dec. 21, 1990, as 
amended at 56 FR 66255, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 
172–130, 58 FR 51531, Oct. 1, 1993; 73 FR 4716, 
Jan. 28, 2008; 81 FR 35540, June 2, 2016; 87 FR 
44991, July 26, 2022] 

§ 172.407

Label specifications. 

(a) 

Durability. 

Each label, whether 

printed on or affixed to a package, 
must be durable and weather resistant. 
A label on a package must be able to 
withstand, without deterioration or a 
substantial change in color, a 30-day 
exposure to conditions incident to 
transportation that reasonably could 
be expected to be encountered by the 
labeled package. 

(b) 

Design. 

(1) Except for size and 

color, the printing, inner border, and 
symbol on each label must be as shown 
in §§ 172.411 through 172.448 of this sub-
part, as appropriate. 

(2) The dotted line border shown on 

each label is not part of the label speci-
fication, except when used as an alter-
native for the solid line outer border to 
meet the requirements of § 172.406(d) of 
this subpart. 

(c) 

Size. 

(1) Each diamond (square-on- 

point) label prescribed in this subpart 
must be at least 100 mm (3.9 inches) on 
each side with each side having a solid 
line inner border approximately 5 mm 
(.2 inches) inside and parallel to the 
edge. The 5 mm (.2 inches) measure-
ment is from the outside edge of the 
label to the outside of the solid line 
forming the inner border. 

(i) If the size of the package so re-

quires, the dimensions of the label and 

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424 

49 CFR Ch. I (10–1–23 Edition) 

§ 172.407 

its features may be reduced proportion-
ally provided the symbol and other ele-
ments of the label remain clearly visi-
ble. 

(ii) Where dimensions are not speci-

fied, all features shall be in approxi-
mate proportion to those shown in 
§§ 172.411 through 172.448 of this sub-
part, as appropriate. 

(iii) [Reserved] 
(iv) For domestic transportation, a 

packaging labeled prior to January 1, 
2017, and in conformance with the re-
quirements of this paragraph in effect 
on December 31, 2014, may continue in 
service until the end of its useful life. 

(2) The CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY 

label must be a rectangle measuring at 
least 110 mm (4.3 inches) in height by 
120 mm (4.7 inches) in width. The words 
‘‘CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY’’ must be 
shown in letters measuring at least 6.3 
mm (0.25 inches) in height. 

(3) Except as otherwise provided in 

this subpart, the hazard class number, 
or division number, as appropriate, 
must be at least 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) 
and not greater than 12.7 mm (0.5 
inches). 

(4) When text indicating a hazard is 

displayed on a label, the label name 
must be shown in letters measuring at 
least 7.6 mm (0.3 inches) in height. For 
SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE or 
DANGEROUS WHEN WET labels, the 
words ‘‘Spontaneously’’ and ‘‘When 
Wet’’ must be shown in letters meas-
uring at least 5.1 mm (0.2 inches) in 
height. 

(5) The symbol on each label must be 

proportionate in size to that shown in 
the appropriate section of this subpart. 

(d) 

Color. 

(1) The background color on 

each label must be as prescribed in 
§§ 172.411 through 172.448 of this sub-
part, as appropriate. 

(2) The symbol, text, numbers, and 

border must be shown in black on a 
label except that— 

(i) White may be used on a label with 

a one color background of green, red or 
blue. 

(ii) White must be used for the text 

and class number for the CORROSIVE 
label. 

(iii) White may be used for the sym-

bol for the ORGANIC PEROXIDE label. 

(A) If white is used for the symbol for 

the ORGANIC PEROXIDE label then 

the solid line forming the inner border 
on the upper half of the label must also 
be white. 

(B) 

Transitional exception. 

A label in 

conformance with the requirements of 
this paragraph in effect on December 
31, 2014, may continue to be used until 
December 31, 2016. 

(C) For domestic transportation, a 

packaging labeled prior to January 1, 
2017 and in conformance with the re-
quirements of this paragraph in effect 
on December 31, 2014, may continue in 
service until the end of its useful life. 

(iv) The FLAMMABLE GAS label dis-

played on cylinders and gas cartridges 
for liquefied petroleum gases may be 
shown in the background color of the 
receptacle if adequate contrast is pro-
vided. 

(3) Black and any color on a label 

must be able to withstand, without 
substantial change, a 72-hour 
fadeometer test (for a description of 
equipment designed for this purpose, 
see ASTM G 23–69 (1975) or ASTM G 26– 
70). 

(4)(i) A color on a label, upon visual 

examination, must fall within the color 
tolerances— 

(A) Displayed on color charts con-

forming to the technical specifications 
for charts set forth in table 1 or 2 in ap-
pendix A to this part; or 

(B) For labels printed on packaging 

surfaces, specified in table 3 in appen-
dix A to this part. 

(ii) Color charts conforming to ap-

pendix A to this part are on display at 
the Standards and Rulemaking Divi-
sion, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation, East Building, 
2nd Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590–0001. 

(5) The following color standards in 

the PANTONE

formula guide coated/ 

uncoated (see § 171.7(b) of this sub-
chapter) may be used to achieve the re-
quired colors on markings and hazard 
warning labels and placards: 

(i) For Red—Use PANTONE

186 U 

(ii) For Orange—Use PANTONE

151 

(iii) For Yellow—Use PANTONE

109 

(iv) For Green—Use PANTONE

335 

(v) For Blue—Use PANTONE

285 U 

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425 

Pipeline and Haz. Matls. Safety Admin., DOT 

§ 172.411 

(vi) For Purple—Use PANTONE

259 

(6) Where specific colors from the 

PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM

are 

applied as opaque coatings, such as 
paint, enamel, or plastic, or where la-
bels are printed directly on the surface 
of a packaging, a spectrophotometer or 
other instrumentation must be used to 
ensure a proper match with the color 
standards in the PANTONE

formula 

guide coated/uncoated for colors pre-
scribed in paragraph (d)(5) of this sec-
tion. PANTONE

is the property of 

Pantone, Inc. 

(7) The specified label color must ex-

tend to the edge of the label in the area 
designated on each label, except for the 
CORROSIVE, RADIOACTIVE YEL-
LOW–II, and RADIOACTIVE YELLOW– 
III labels on which the color must ex-
tend only to the inner border. 

(e) 

Form identification. 

A label may 

contain form identification informa-
tion, including the name of its maker, 
provided that information is printed 
outside the solid line inner border in no 
larger than 10-point type. 

(f) 

Exceptions. 

Except for materials 

poisonous by inhalation (see § 171.8 of 
this subchapter), a label conforming to 
specifications in the UN Recommenda-
tions, the ICAO Technical Instructions, 
the IMDG Code, or the Transport Can-
ada TDG Regulations (IBR, see § 171.7 
of this subchapter) may be used in 
place of a corresponding label that con-
forms to the requirements of this sub-
part. 

(g) 

Trefoil symbol. 

The trefoil symbol 

on the RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I, RA-
DIOACTIVE YELLOW-II, and RADIO-
ACTIVE YELLOW-III labels must meet 
the appropriate specifications in ap-
pendix B of this part. 

[Amdt. 172–123, 55 FR 52595, Dec. 21, 1990] 

E

DITORIAL

N

OTE

: For F

EDERAL

R

EGISTER

ci-

tations affecting § 172.407, see the List of CFR 
Sections Affected, which appears in the 
Finding Aids section of the printed volume 
and at www.govinfo.gov. 

§ 172.411

EXPLOSIVE 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 

1.5 and 1.6 labels, and EXPLOSIVE 
Subsidiary label. 

(a) Except for size and color, the EX-

PLOSIVE 1.1, EXPLOSIVE 1.2 and EX-
PLOSIVE 1.3 labels must be as follows: 

(b) In addition to complying with 

§ 172.407, the background color on the 
EXPLOSIVE 1.1, EXPLOSIVE 1.2 and 
EXPLOSIVE 1.3 labels must be orange. 
The ‘‘**’’ must be replaced with the ap-
propriate division number and compat-
ibility group letter. The compatibility 
group letter must be the same size as 
the division number and must be shown 
as a capitalized Roman letter. 

(c) Except for size and color, the EX-

PLOSIVE 1.4, EXPLOSIVE 1.5 and EX-
PLOSIVE 1.6 labels must be as follows: 

EXPLOSIVE 1.4: