DOT Ammunitikon Packaging

[Gearhead Jim]

My county uses the "2006 International Fire Code".
This code has no restrictions on "... small arms ammunition when packaged in accordance with DOTn packaging requirements."

As a reloader, I have some ammn stored loose in GI 30 cal ammo cans

I don't know if the "n" in "DOTn" is a typo; couldn't find it defined with Google but lots of quotes using the same spelling.
Either way, I tried to find the DOT packaging requirements and found things that seem contradictory. Some of them seemed to apply to air shipment and some to ground shipment and not much explanation as to which. Some of them required the primers to be protcted against impact, but Winchester and some others have been shipping loose bulk ammunition in their 9mm Value Packs for a long time, and it had to be shipped to Walmart somehow.

Anyone know about the DOT packaging they refer to?

Thanks.

 

[medalguy]

Contact your county fire marshal and ask him what his requirements are. Personally I would not be concerned storing loose ammo in ammo cans. I do it all the time but then I'm not in your state.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

It seems to me that in the event of a fire, my insurance company will only be interested in what the law (2006 international fire code) says. I don't see the local guy's opinion as having any weight, unless he is able to accurately tell me what that "DOTn" packaging is so I can comply.

Of course, if there is some other law in my state that prevents the insurance company from denying a claim because of a fire code violation, that would be a different story.

 

[Blue68f100]

Shipping ammo ground has never been a problem. The big changes DOT made years ago was shipping components, aka primers. They needed packaging so if dropped they would not go off. Ammo cans are fine for ammo. They are design to vent encase of a fire, seal melts. The only ones I would be concern about would be Federal Primers in handguns since they are more sensitive than all others. Dropping a can full of pistol ammo could be an issue. As long as primers are in there original packaging they meet the DOT requirement. 50lb/box I don't know how they came up with that number.

 

[danez71]

DOT doesn't have a packaging group code for ORM-D per § 172.101

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulatio...omply-federal-hazardous-materials-regulations

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title49-vol2/pdf/CFR-2008-title49-vol2-sec172-101.pdf
(do a find for 'orm-d' - on page 5 left side and again in the tables)


The 'n' in 'DOTn' is not a typo.... its just confusing Its just another way to refer to national DOT and not a particular state DOT.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

danez71-
Thanks for that info, but it still leaves me slightly confused.

The fire code doesn't specify packaging for air or for ground, just "DOTn", so I'm guessing that Ground would be the applicable standard.
If so, would 1,000 rds of 9mm reloads loose in a GI .30 cal ammo can meet the DOTn packaging standards?

It almost sounds like the people who wrote the fire code didn't know anything about DOT packaging standards for ammunition, or those standards have been relaxed since the code was written.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Are you asking about shipping or storage?


For a private citizen to ship loaded ammo is a PITA. Ask me how I know

You must print an ORM-d label and affix it to the package. You can not send it USPS it has to go UPS. Further complicating things, you cannot take it to any UPS pickup location. You must take it to one of their distribution hubs.

I only ship ammo for obsolete calibers. It's not worth it for anything that's easily commercially available.

 

[danez71]

Gearhead Jim-

1st, take what I say with a grain of salt. "Logistics" used to be under me and I had to go to DOT classes because we did deal with hazardous materials.

It almost sounds like the people who wrote the fire code didn't know anything about DOT packaging standards for ammunition, or those standards have been relaxed since the code was written.

Its probably more of a case of the fire code people thinking that they didn't want to reinvent the wheel so they chose to defer to the DOTn requirement... figuring if its good enough for the Fed's for transporting then its good enough for them when stored.

The fire code doesn't specify packaging for air or for ground, just "DOTn", so I'm guessing that Ground would be the applicable standard.
If so, would 1,000 rds of 9mm reloads loose in a GI .30 cal ammo can meet the DOTn packaging standards?

DOTn doesn't specify a packaging code for air or ground but I would agree that that ground would seem to be the most applicable. They basically are only saying you need a 'tough skinned' outer container that's suitable.

I don't see why/how 1000 rounds would make a difference. That still doesn't even exceed the loose black powder amounts; black powder is more strict.

I know that the ammo distributors ship 500 rounds bulk in a card board box to your front door..... and I think they'll ship 1000 the same way.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Thanks for the info, I'm only interested in storage at my house.

Based on that, it looks like my bulk-loaded ammo cans meet both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. If you come to think otherwise, please let me know.

The fire code seems to allow an unlimited amount of small arms ammo if properly packaged, that's amazing. A few thou is all I want to keep on hand, so I'm not cranking up the Dillon machine too often.

Again, thanks.

 

[X-Ring]

Thanks for the info, I'm only interested in storage at my house.

DOT or Department Of Transportation , regulations have nothing to do with storage of ammunition, only the transportation of it. The National Fire Protection Association or NFPA sets the fire safety standards that are adopted by most local fire marshals.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

"DOT or Department Of Transportation , regulations have nothing to do with storage of ammunition, only the transportation of it. The National Fire Protection Association or NFPA sets the fire safety standards that are adopted by most local fire marshals."


If you re-read my original post, you'll see that the code I must follow requires ammunition be packed in accordance with DOTn specifications. That's for storage around the house, not for transportation.