# 2026-15818: Fridges on the move: special permit makes shipping chillier

2026-15818, Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21379, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published 2026-08-04, effective 2026-09-03; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15818
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15818
- Title: Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21379
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 49315
- Published: 2026-08-04
- Effective: 2026-09-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2137-AG16
- Last updated: 2026-08-11

## In one line

Fridges on the move: special permit makes shipping chillier

## Summary

This final rule removes undue regulatory burdens by adopting the provisions of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) special permit (SP) 21379 to streamline the transportation of refrigerating machines and components containing certain low flammability refrigerant gases.

## Effects PRIA read

- Ship large machines without special permits: benefit, low. Starting September 3, 2026, offerors and carriers may transport refrigerating machines containing specified low-flammability refrigerants without a DOT special permit. The rule allows up to 5,000 pounds of Group A1 refrigerant, or up to 5,000 pounds of a non‑toxic, flammable Category 1B (GHS) or Gr…
- Limits on air/vessel transport; mode rules: cost, medium. The rule limits transportation of machines containing Division 2.1 gas to ground transport methods: open flat-bed motor vehicles, open flat-bed rail cars, or well-ventilated closed transport vehicles. PHMSA will continue to require special permits for air or vessel transport of these items rather t…
- Less marking for reconditioned machines: benefit, low. Reconditioned (used) refrigerating machines (UN2857 Div. 2.2 or UN3358 Div. 2.1) transported by motor vehicle may be excepted from the marking requirements of 49 CFR 172.302(c) if they meet the section's requirements, are secured or permanently attached to the motor vehicle, and conform to paragrap…
- Adopts ANSI/ASHRAE 34‑2024 and GHS Rev.9: benefit, low. PHMSA incorporates by reference ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2024 and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) 9th Revised Edition (2021) into the Hazardous Materials Regulations to determine eligible refrigerants and classifications used for the exceptions in 49 CFR 173.306.
- Safety, manufacture, and testing conditions: cost, low. To use the exception, each pressure vessel must meet safety and manufacturing/testing requirements: a safety device per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15, manufacture/inspection/testing per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15 or ASME Section VIII (if over 6 inches internal diameter), and testing of all parts subject to…

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- [2026-10969](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10969): Pipeline Safety: Breakout Tank Inspection Rule, 2026-06-02
- [2026-10782](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10782): Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Correction, 2026-05-29
- [2026-08144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08144): Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures, 2026-04-27
- [2026-08058](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08058): Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendme…, 2026-04-24
- [2026-06323](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06323): Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Response to Petition for Reconsideration, 2026-04-01

## Sources
- [2026-15818 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15818/hazardous-materials-adoption-of-department-of-transportation-special-permit-21379)
- [2026-15818 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15818.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-15817, Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15817)
- [Next: 2026-15819, Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 14…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15819)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15818 (as of 2026-08-11).