HQ 087895: Refractory products; Cruciform checkers; Firebricks; Furnace lining; Arch blocks; Stack blocks; QT refractory tiles; alumina; silica; silicon carbide

Native CBP ruling rendition. Applicability is fact-specific; modification/revocation relationships and original publisher date are retained. Publisher sentinel year0001 means unknown date, not a historical legal adoption.

                                       HQ 087895

                                   December 13, 1990

            CLA-2 CO:R:C:G 087895 JGH

            CATEGORY: Classification

            TARIFF NO.: 6902.20.10

            Mr. James R. Cahill
            Customs Advisory Services, Inc.
            7024 Holly Rd.
            Miami Lakes, Florida 33014

            RE:  Refractory products; Cruciform checkers; Firebricks;
            Furnace lining; Arch blocks; Stack blocks; QT refractory
            tiles; alumina; silica; silicon carbide

            Dear Mr Cahill:

                 This is in  reference to your request, in behalf of
            Corhart Refractories Corporation, for classification of
            certain refractory products of France under the Harmonized
            Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

            FACTS:

                 The refractory products listed were:

            Cruciform Checkers - firebricks of various shapes and sizes
            used to line regenerator chambers of furnaces.  They are
            said to be comprised of a mixture of alumina and silica
            that exceeds 50 percent by weight.

            Arch Blocks (ER1681 SI N/RN) - refractory articles used in
            glass furnace superstructure, with 50.2 to 50.6 percent by
            weight alumina and 14 to 16 percent by weight silica.

            Stack Blocks (ER 2161 RT) - refractory articles used in the
            recuperative stack of a glass furnace.  The function of the
            recuperative stack is to capture waste gases and heat to
            and from the furnace.  The process is similar to the
            regenerator processes of the cruciform bricks used to line
            the inside of regenerator furnaces in the glass industry.
            Stack blocks vary in shape from cylindrical to rectangular
            to wedge and contain by weight 40 to 49 percent alumina and
            silica.

                 QT refractory tiles - used to line the throat aperture
            of a boiler furnace, extending into the boiler opening and
            to the walls of the furnace chamber.  They are made of
            silicon carbide.

            ISSUE:

                 Classification of certain refractory products under the
            HTSUS.

            LAW AND ANALYSIS:

                 The Explanatory Notes to headings 6902 and 6903 state
            that the provisions cover refactory goods (fired articles)
            having the special property of resisting high temperatures
            as met in metallurgy, the glass industry, etc.  Heading
            6902 covers group of refractory products normally used in
            the construction of ovens,kilns, furnaces or other plants
            for the metallurgical, chemical, ceramic, glass and other
            industries.

            HOLDING:

                 Both the  Cruciform Checkers and Arch Blocks listed
            above would be classifiable under the provision refractory
            brick that contain by weight more than 50 percent of a
            mixture of alumina and silica, in subheading 6902.20.10,
            HTSUS, duty free.

                 The Stack Blocks and QT Tiles would be classifiable
            under the provision for other refractory bricks in
            subheading 6902.90.10,HTSUS, duty free.

                                        Sincerely,




                                        John Durant Director
                                        Commercial Rulings Division