Transportation of an Air Gun
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration · Aug 30, 2006 · Reference No. 06-0179
Reggie’s quick take
Someone asked whether the Hazardous Materials Regulations apply to a compressed air gun shipped with no charge of compressed gas in its cylinder. PHMSA said such an uncharged air gun is not subject to the HMR. The agency also suggested the asker contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission about rules for making the product.
Written by AI (Claude) on Oct 22, 2026. Robots make mistakes and leave things out, so the letter below is what counts. Not legal advice.
This is in response to your July 17, 2006 letter requesting clarification regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to a compressed air gun. Specifically, you ask what requirements in the HMR would apply to a compressed air gun that is shipped uncharged.
The HMR apply to the transportation of hazardous materials and articles containing hazardous materials in commerce. An air gun that is transported uncharged; that is, with no compressed gas in the cylinder, is not subject to the HMR. You may wish to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning requirements in its regulations for the manufacture of your product.
A letter of interpretation applies the regulations to the facts the requester described. It isn’t a regulation and isn’t legal advice. The agency’s copy.