[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR172.407]

[Page 385-386]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 172_HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, HAZARDOUS 
MATERIALS COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION, AND 
 
                           Subpart E_Labeling
 
Sec.  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 Sec.  Sec.  172.411 
through 172.448 of this subpart, as appropriate.
    (2) The dotted line border shown on each label is not part of the 
label specification, except when used as an alternative for the solid 
line outer border to meet the requirements of Sec.  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 5.0 to 6.3 mm (0.2 to 0.25 inches) 
from the edge.
    (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 
word ``DANGER'' must be shown in letters measuring at least 12.7 mm (0.5 
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 
measuring 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 Sec.  Sec.  172.411 through 172.448 of this subpart, 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 symbol for the ORGANIC PEROXIDE 
label.
    (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

[[Page 386]]

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 conforming to the technical 
specifications for charts set forth in table 1 or 2 in appendix A to 
this part; or
    (B) For labels printed on packaging surfaces, specified in table 3 
in appendix A to this part.
    (ii) Color charts conforming to appendix A to this part are on 
display in Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Standards, Room 8422, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington DC 20590-0001.
    (5) The following color standards in the PANTONE [reg] 
formula guide coated/uncoated (see Sec.  171.7(b) of this subchapter) 
may be used to achieve the required colors on markings and hazard 
warning labels and placards:

    (i) For Red--Use PANTONE [reg] 186 U
    (ii) For Orange--Use PANTONE [reg] 151 U
    (iii) For Yellow--Use PANTONE [reg] 109 U
    (iv) For Green--Use PANTONE [reg] 335 U
    (v) For Blue--Use PANTONE [reg] 285 U
    (vi) For Purple--Use PANTONE [reg] 259 U

    (6) Where specific colors from the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM 
[reg] are applied as opaque coatings, such as paint, enamel, 
or plastic, or where labels 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 
[reg] formula guide coated/uncoated for colors prescribed in 
paragraph (d)(5) of this section. PANTONE [reg] is the 
property of Pantone, Inc.
    (7) The specified label color must extend to the edge of the label 
in the area designated on each label, except for the CORROSIVE, 
RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II, and RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels on which the 
color must extend only to the inner border.
    (e) Form identification. A label may contain form identification 
information, 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 
Sec.  171.8 of this subchapter), a label conforming to specifications in 
the UN Recommendations may be used in place of a corresponding label 
that conforms to the requirements of this subpart.
    (g) Trefoil symbol. The trefoil symbol on the RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I, 
RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II, and RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels must meet the 
appropriate specifications in appendix B of this part.

[Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52595, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66256, 
Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 172-143, 60 FR 50305, Sept. 28, 1995; 64 FR 10776, 
Mar. 5, 1999; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 44255, Aug. 22, 2001; 67 
FR 61013, Sept. 27, 2002; 69 FR 64472, Nov. 4, 2004; 71 FR 78627, Dec. 
29, 2006]