IMDG-CODE-UN-PACKING-CODE

IMDGCODEUNPACKINGCODETheUnitedNationsCommitteeofExpertsontheTransportationofDangerousGoodshasestablishedauniforminternationalsystemforidentifyingandpackagingClass3,4,5,6.1,8and9dangerousgoodsfortransport.TheseUNrequirementsarefoundinstandardCAN/CGSB43.150-97“PerformancePackagingfortheTransportationofDangerousGoods”.Here’sasummary:HowtheUNPackagingSystemWorksTheUNCommitteehasassignedalldangerousgoodstooneofthreePackingGroups:PackingGroupI(highdanger),II(mediumdanger)andIII(lowdanger).ThelistofdangerousgoodsandthePackingGroupforeachcanbefoundintheICAOTechnicalInstructions,theIMDGCodeortheTDGRegulations.TheCommitteehasalsodevelopedwhatisreferredtoas‘UNpackaging’.UNpackagingshavebeenperformancetestedfortheirresistancetodrop,stackingandinternalpressure,theseverityofthetestvaryingwiththePackingGroup.Eachpackagingismarkedwithacodethatindicatesthetypeofpackaging,PackingGroup,form(liquidorsolid),relativedensity,innerpackagings,etc.forwhichthepackagingwastestedbythemanufacturerandcan,therefore,beused.Itistheshipper’sresponsibilitytoselecttheappropriatepackagingfordangerousgoods.ShippersshouldbecomefamiliarwiththecodeusedintheUNpackagemark.ToselectaUNpackagingthatissuitablefortheirproduct,theyneedthefollowinginformation:thePackingGroupfortheirproduct,thecompatabilityoftheirproductwiththepackagingmaterial,thevapourpressureat55ºCor50°Candtherelativedensity(liquids),thenetmass(solids).TheUNPackageMarkHere’satypicalUNpackagemark,UN1A1/Y1.8/100/95/CAN/ABC2-0011.1/0.8/1.1123456789101.UNSymbol2.PackagingCode:1–drumA–steel1–Non-removablehead2–woodenbarrelB–aluminum2–Removablehead3–jerricanC–naturalwood4–boxD–plywood5–bagF–reconstitutedwood6–compositepackagingG–fiberboardH–plasticL–textileM–paperN–metal(otherthansteeloraluminum)P–glass,porcelainorstoneware3.PackingGroup:X–acceptableforPackingGroupsI,IIandIIIsubstancesY–acceptableforPackingGroupsIIandIIIsubstancesonlyZ–acceptableforPackingGroupIIIsubstancesonly4.Therelativedensity(liquids.Iftherelativedensityisn’tmarked,itisconsideredtobe1.2)orthegrossmassinkg(solids)forwhichthepackagingwastested.5.ThehydrostatictestpressureinkPa(liquids)ortheletter‘S’meaningthepackagewastestedforsolidsorinnerpackagings.6.Yearofmanufacture.7.Countrycodeforthecountryauthorizingtheallocationofthemark.8.Nameorregisteredsymbolofthemanufacturer.9.TransportCanadadesignregistrationnumber.10.Nominalthicknessofthematerialofconstruction(metaldrumsonly);tophead/body/bottomheadSelectingtheRightUNPackagingfortheProduct1.SinglePackagings.Singlepackagingsareconstructedofasinglecomponent(e.g.,steeldrums).Whenorderingpackagingfromasupplier,specifyaUNsinglepackagingpermittedfortheproductbyPartIIofstandardCAN/CGSB43.150-97withamarkedPackingGroupatorabovethatfortheproduct;inwhichthematerialincontactwiththeproductiscompatiblewithandimpermeabletotheproduct;withamarkedrelativedensityatorabovethatfortheproduct(liquids);withamarkedtestpressuresuitablefortheproduct(liquids):MarkedTestPressure(kPa)Vp50oftheproductmustbelessthan4/7[testpressure+100kPa](kPa)Vp55oftheproductmustbelessthan2/3[testpressure+100kPa](kPa)6091106100114133150142166200171200250200233325242283350257300withamarkedgrossmassthatisadequatefortheproduct(solids);withanominalthickness1.1/0.8/1.1(tophead/body/bottomhead)orgreaterifit’sasteeldrumover150litrescapacityandtobereusedinCanadafordangerousgoods.Therearealsorequirementsforreconditioningsomesteeldrumsreusedforliquidtransport,seesection18ofstandardCAN/CGSB-43.150-97.PackagingsmaybeusedforproductshavingaformorPackingGroupdifferentfromthatinthemarking,withinthefollowinglimits:-PGIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIliquidswitharelativedensitynotexceedingthegreaterof1.8or[1.5Xthemarkedrelativedensity]*;-PGIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIIliquidswitharelativedensitynotexceedingthegreaterof2.7or[2.25Xthemarkedrelativedensity]*;-PGIIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIIliquidswitharelativedensitynotexceedingthegreaterof1.8or[1.5Xthemarkedrelativedensity]*;-Apackagingforliquidsmaybeusedforsolidproductsifthegrossmass(kg)doesn’texceedthepackaging’scapacity(litres)Xthemarkedrelativedensity;-PGIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIsolidproductsifthegrossmass(kg)doesn’texceedthepackaging’scapacity(litres)X1.5Xthemarkedrelativedensity*;-PGIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIIsolidproductsifthegrossmass(kg)doesn’texceedthepackaging’scapacity(litres)X2.25Xthemarkedrelativedensity*;-PGIIpackagingsforliquidsmaybeusedforPGIIIsolidproductsifthegrossmass(kg)doesn’texceedthepackaging’scapacity(litres)X1.5Xthemarkedrelativedensity*;*packagingsshouldbecapableofwithstandinga3mhighstackingloadatthehigherrelativedensity2.CombinationPackagings.Containershavinginnerpackagingsarecalled‘combinationpackagings’(e.g.,fibreboardboxcontainingbottles):Whenorderingpackagingfromasupplier,specifyaUNcombinationpackagingopermittedfortheproductbyPartIIofstandardCAN/CGSB43.150-97owithamarkedPackingGroupatorabovethatfortheproduct;oinwhichthematerialincontactwiththeproductiscompatiblewithandimpermeabletotheproduct;owithamarkedgr