Hazmat Certification Testing for Packaging
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, “Aviation Safety is dependent on shipping a dangerous good in the correct packaging. If you choose the wrong packaging, you could severely injure a transportation worker, harm the environment, or cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft.”
Hazmat Certification Testing for Packaging is necessary when the material or product is sensitive. Dangerous substances and materials are initially placed in one of nine hazard classes, better known as UN Classes according to their main hazard type (listed below). An assessment is then made of the relative hazard of a substance or material within the same class. Each substance is given an identification number to ensure identification during transit is possible. These identification numbers are commonly known as UN numbers. The UN suggests that all UN numbers be displayed on all transit documents and included on packages, shipping containers, and vehicles along with an official description of the material or substance.
- Class 1 - Explosives
- Class 2 - Gasses
- Division 2.1 Flammable Gasses
- Division 2.2 Non-Flammable, Compressed Gasses
- Division 2.3 Toxic Gas
- Class 3 - Flammable Liquids
- Class 4 - Flammable Solids
- Division 4.1 Flammable Solids, Self-Reactive Substances, and Solid Desensitized Explosives
- Division 4.2 Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion
- Division 4.3 Substances That in Contact with Water Create Flammable Gasses
- Class 5 - Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxide
- Division 5.1 Oxidising Substances Other Than Organic Peroxides
- Division 5.2 Organic Peroxides
- Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances
- Division 6.1 Toxic Substances
- Division 6.2 Infectious Substances
- Class 7 - Radioactive Material and Fissile Material (Capable of Nuclear Explosion)
- Class 8 - Corrosive Substances
- Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles
Hazmat Certification Testing for Packaging is Overseen by the United Nations
The storage and transportation of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) is overseen and regulated by federal and international law. A comprehensive marking system called the UN marking guide was developed so that HAZMAT packaging can describe what type and how much of a material may be transported within a package. A UN code is a universal system of demarcation developed by the United Nations and used internationally for the classification, packaging, marking, and labeling of dangerous goods to better transport them safely. Rigorous testing is required before a UN certification mark can be given.
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| The United Nations Coding/Marking System | |
| Type of Package | 1 = Drums/Pails 2 = Barrels 3 = Jerricans 4 = Boxes 5 = Bags 6 = Composite Packagings |
| Material of Construction | A = Steel B = Aluminum C = Wood D = Fibre F = Reconstituted Wood G = Fiberboard H = Plastic |
| Category Type | 1 = Closed Head 2 = Open Head |
| Packaging Group for Container Tested | X = Packaging Group I, II, and III Y = Packaging Group II and III Z = Packaging Group III Packaging Group I: Great Danger – High Hazard Level Packaging Group II: Medium Danger – Medium Hazard Level Packaging Group III: Minor Danger – Low Hazard Level |
| Maximum Gross Mass or Specific Gravity | Packaging Intended for Solids: (powders, pills, capsules, tablets) or that have inner packaging, this marking will indicate the maximum gross mass (weight) in kilograms. Packaging Intended for Liquids: Density or Specific Gravity of Material Packed |
| Solids or Inner Packaging | Hydraulic Pressure in Kilo-Pascal (kPa) For Packaging Intended for Solids or That Have Inner Packaging, Upper Case “S” Will Follow the Gross Mass |
| Year of Manufacture | Current Year |
| Location of Manufacture | Country Where Container Was Manufactured |
| Manufacturer Code | Code for UN Certifying Agency or Manufacturer |
For more information on how to read the markings, go to https://www.labelmaster.com/un-markings.
Transportation of Hazardous Materials Regulations – 49 CFR Part 178
Part 178 Specifications for Packagings
This section of the code of federal regulations for the transportation of hazardous materials details the manufacturing and testing specifications for packaging and containers used to transport hazardous goods.
- § 178.600 Purpose and Scope
- § 178.601 General Requirements
- § 178.602 Preparation of Packaging and Packages for Testing
- § 178.603 Drop Test
- § 178.604 Leakproofness Test
- § 178.605 Hydrostatic Pressure Test
- § 178.606 Stacking Test
- § 178.607 Cooperage Test for Bung-Type Wooden Barrels
- § 178.608 Vibration Standard
- § 178.609 Test Requirements for Packaging for Infectious Substances
Related Testing Standards
- ASTM D642
- ASTM D685
- ASTM D880
- ASTM D951
- ASTM D999
- ASTM D3078
- ASTM D3103
- ASTM D3285
- ASTM D4169
- ASTM D4332
- ASTM D4728
- ASTM D5265
- ASTM D5276
- ASTM D5277
- ASTM D5487
- ASTM D6055
- ASTM D6179
- ASTM D6344
- ASTM D6653
- ASTM D7386
- ASTM F88
- ASTM F1140
- ASTM F1886
- ASTM F1929
- ASTM F1980
- ASTM F2096
- ASTM F2250
- ASTM F3039
- ASTM D1596
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Affiliations
The APASS program was designed by Amazon to help support vendors, sellers, and manufacturers in obtaining certification of their products as Frustration Free Packaging (FFP), Ships in Own Container (SIOC), or Prep-Free Packaging (PFP).
At Purple Diamond, we offer a free consultation or a guided tour of our facilities. Consultations can be done over the phone or on zoom, so choose what suits you best. To get in touch, go to our Contact Us page and fill out the form or book an appointment using the calendar below. Our goal is to assist you in any way possible, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you so much for reading down this far and thank you for considering Purple Diamond as your dedicated testing, engineering, and design facility for all of your packaging needs.
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