HazmatTable Guide
Does RQ Apply Per Package or Per Shipment?
For hazardous-substance determination under the HMR, PHMSA interpretations focus the RQ comparison on the quantity of the hazardous substance in a completed package.
Short answer
For hazardous-substance determination under the HMR, PHMSA interpretations focus the RQ comparison on the quantity of the hazardous substance in a completed package.
For hazardous-substance determination under the HMR, PHMSA interpretations focus the RQ comparison on the quantity of the hazardous substance in a completed package.
Why this matters
This distinction prevents a shipper from simply adding the weight of unrelated packages together or comparing the gross shipment weight to a constituent RQ.
A better workflow
Evaluate each completed package using the actual quantity of the listed hazardous substance it contains, and verify any mode- or material-specific requirements.
Check your material in HazmatTable
Search the table, compare the listed RQ, and see the source in seconds.
What HazmatTable helps with
- Search a chemical, synonym, waste code or radionuclide.
- See the listed RQ and units without scanning a long PDF.
- Preserve important Appendix A footnotes and source context.
- Compare an entered package quantity with the listed RQ.
- Continue into related shipping and classification guides.
Important: HazmatTable is a reference and workflow tool, not a legal certification of a shipment. The shipper must verify the current HMR and the actual material, quantity, packaging and mode.
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Authoritative references: 49 CFR §172.101 / Appendix A and PHMSA hazmat guidance. PHMSA Hazmat · Appendix A source used for this database