Hazardous Goods Package Testing
What is Hazardous Goods Package Testing?
How To Certify Your Hazardous Goods Packaged Product For UN/DOT PHMSA, The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- 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
UN Packaging Codes
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 |
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.
Subpart M Testing of Non-Bulk Packagings and Packages
- § 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
Why Purple Diamond?
Purple Diamond is proud to rank among a select few companies authorized by PHMSA as an approved third party package testing laboratory in accordance with Hazardous Materials Regulations. We offer rigorous testing for transporting hazardous goods across a wide range of industries. Our dedicated efforts include everything from helping pharmaceutical customers test their healthcare products within our fully-certified lab to improving consumer packaged products with reliability and fragility testing.
At Purple Diamond, the integrity of your packaged product is our number one priority during hazardous goods package testing. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality results as we develop a comprehensive solution to your specific testing needs.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is an operating administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation that develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation’s 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system and nearly 1 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air.
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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).
