Can One Postal Service Backpacking Gas Canisters? Yes! If ...

OK, first, I'm talking virtually domestic US Mail (USPS) inward the contiguous 48 US states only.  This post does NOT apply to packages sent exterior the United States.  This post does non apply to UPS, FedEx, or other someone shippers.  I'm exactly talking virtually US Mail (USPS) within the contiguous 48 states – surface post service only.  No air mail.  No international mail.  No Alaska.  No Hawaii.  No overseas APO's or FPO's.

First, y'all mostly can't send fuel inward the US Mail, but at that topographic point are exceptions.  The exceptions are for what is called "Otherwise Restricted Material – Domestic" (ORM-D), cloth inward other words, that would otherwise endure restricted but is NOT nether sure enough conditions.  The conditions?  The weather are put out in USPS Publication 52.  See below for relevant sections.

NOTE:  If y'all refill your ain canisters, cheque amongst the Postal Service earlier mailing.  I suspect that refilled canisters cannot endure mailed.

Here's a summary:

• The canisters must comprise butane mixes.  This is non a occupation since that's what backpacking canisters contain.
• The book of the canisters cannot endure to a greater extent than than ane liter (but multiple canisters may endure included inward ane package).  This is non a occupation because backpacking canisters are smaller than ane liter inward volume.  A 450 g canister is virtually 780 ml of fluid for example.
• Canisters receive got to endure good packaged.  Use a practiced potent box in addition to enough of tape.
• You receive got to label the packet "ORM-D, Consumer Commodity, Surface Only."
• Canisters receive got to endure padded against shock.  In other words y'all can't exactly throw around canisters inward a box in addition to post service it.  You demand to role bubble wrap, wadded upward newspaper, artificial "peanuts", or other similar packing materials to absorb whatsoever shocks during shipping.

So, tin y'all post service backpacking gas canisters? Yes – if y'all come across the conditions.

And of course, endure upward forepart amongst the USPS.  Tell them what you're doing, present them the relevant sections from Publication 52 (best printed from the USPS website, non my clips), in addition to present them how you've labeled everything properly.  Some people receive got reported having problems amongst postal workers that exactly won't believe that a flammable gas tin endure mailed – fifty-fifty subsequently existence shown the relevant portions of Publication 52. Your best bet in addition to so is to either enquire to speak to a supervisor or to exactly convey it to around other post office.

HJ

From USPS Publication 52:

342.1 Definition

Hazard Class two consists of 3 divisions:

Division 2.1, Flammable Gases. H5N1 cloth that is a gas at 68° F (20° C) or less in addition to 14.7 psi (101.3 kPa) of pressure. Flammable gases too include materials that receive got a boiling betoken of 68° F (20° C) or less at 14.7 psi (101.3 kPa) in addition to that are ignitable at 14.7 psi (101.3 kPa) when inward a mixture of thirteen percentage or less yesteryear book amongst air or that receive got a flammable arrive at at 14.7 psi (101.3 kPa) amongst air of at to the lowest degree 12 percentage regardless of the lower limit. These weather must endure established inward accordance amongst ASTM E681–85, Standard Test Method for Concentration Limits of Flammability of Chemicals, or other approved equivalent method. The flammability of aerosols must endure determined using the tests specified inward 49 CFR 173.306(i).

342.22 Mailable Gases

The next are examples of mailable gases: [emphasis added]

Butane. Butane (UN1011) in addition to Receptacles, modest (UN2037) amongst butane or butane mixtures are Division 2.1 flammable gases. Butane gases that tin qualify every bit ORM–D materials are acceptable alone inward domestic post service via surface shipping when properly prepared nether 342.3 in addition to Packaging Instruction 2A inward Appendix C.

342.3 Packaging

b. Metal Containers. Mailable nonflammable in addition to flammable compressed gases are acceptable inward metallic main receptacles that receive got a H2O capacity upward to 33.8 fluid ounces (1 liter or 61.0 cubic inches). The liquid content of the cloth in addition to the gas must non completely fill upward the main receptacle at 130° F (55° C). Additionally, the next apply:

1. A DOT 2P container must endure used if the internal pressure level is from 140 psig to 160 psig at 130° F (55° C).
2. A DOT 2Q container must endure used if the pressure level is from 161 psig to 180 psig at 130° F (55° C).
3. A container amongst an internal pressure level over 180 psig at 130° F (55° C) is prohibited from mailing.
4. Packaging Instruction 2A or 2B, every bit applicable, must endure followed.

c. Flammable Gases. H5N1 mailable flammable compressed gas is restricted to iv fluid ounces inward a nonmetal main receptacle or 33.8 fluid ounces (1 liter) inward a metallic main receptacle per mailpiece Packaging Instruction 2A must endure followed.

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Notice that inward department 342.3 that b.1 in addition to b.2 telephone phone for either a US Department of Transportation (DOT) 2P or 2Q container.  How create I know if I receive got a 2P or 2Q container?  Well, that is what backpacking canisters are, but you'll demand to endure able to present that to the Post Office.  Printed somewhere on the canister, y'all should reckon something similar this:

On the canister, await for the DOT permit number, typically DOT-SP followed yesteryear around numbers.
This canister has DOT exceptional permit 9758.

You tin await these numbers upward on the US Department of Transportation website on the PHMSA Special Permit List.   In the instance of DOT SP 9758, nosotros discovery the following:
"This exceptional permit authorizes the shipping inward commerce of a Division 2.1 cloth inward a non-refillable, non-DOT specification within container conforming to the DOT Specification 2P except ... "
Basically this exceptional permit is an extension of DOT 2P in addition to hence meets the requirements for mailability.  You should endure able to exactly present the DOT permit on your telephone (if they fifty-fifty ask), but endure prepared to laissez passer on them a difficult re-create impress out.

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