Railroad
Subpart E Class 1

Because of the high hazard associated with Class 1 - Explosive Materials, Subpart E is dedicated entirely to its loading and unloading procedures. These regulations can be found in §174.101-§174.115.

Loading Class 1 - Explosive Materials

Division 1.1 or 1.2 explosive materials:

• Must be loaded so as to avoid transfer at stations.
• Must not be loaded, transported, or stored in a rail car equipped with any lighted heater or open-flame device.
• Must be loaded no higher than any permanent car lining unless additional lining is provided as high as the lading.
  • If lading contains any Class 1 - Explosive Materials, the weight of the lading must be distributed evenly.
• If loaded in boxes:
• The ends of the wooden boxes must not cause a pressure point on another box, while also not bearing against the sides of any fiberboard boxes.
• They must be on their sides or ends if packed in long cartridges, bags, or sift-proof liners, and contain no liquid explosive ingredients.

When dealing with Class 1 - Explosive Materials, you must ensure that your shoes and the loading platform are free of grit.

Wooden boxed bombs, rocket ammunition and rocket motors, Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive materials that are too large in size must be loaded in open-top cars or flatcars as long as they are protected from weather and accidental ignition. Additionally, if these materials, including explosive bombs and metal packages of incendiary bombs, are not packed in wooden boxes and weigh 226 kg (500 pounds) or more, they are to be loaded in stock cars or bottom gondola cars.

A car loaded with freight containers must be placarded with the appropriate Class 1 - Explosive Materials placard and with appropriate car certificates as required by §174.104.

A container car or freight car container on a flatcar or a gondola car other than a drop-bottom car may be used to transport Division 1.1 or 1.2 materials (except black powder in metal conditions) if it is loaded, blocked, and braced appropriately. Additional regulations for freight containers in this function are found in §174.101(n)(1-3).

Note that on June 2, 2016, the PHMSA issued a final ruling that removes the Packing Group (PGII) designation for Class 1 materials. This ruling went into effect on July 5, 2016.

Be sure to look at the rest of the provisions for loading and unloading Class 1 - Explosive Materials in §174.101.

To learn more about Railroad HAZMAT visit our DOT Railroad HAZMAT Online Training web page.