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UN Markings
The U.S. Department of Transportation Performance Oriented Packaging (POP) Standards require anyone involved with a hazardous materials shipment be able to recognize and identify hazardous materials and appropriate packaging.
The UN marking system indicates several characteristics of a specific packaging, it's proerties and limitations. The UN marking on a package also confirms information on the test levels the packaging has successfully passed. As these test levels are related to the hazard level and physical and chemical characteristics of the substance to be filled, the markings also indicate some of the properties of the materials that may be packed in each container. Each letter and number of the marking helps the user to know if the package is suitable for shipment.
Contact InSight Packaging for more information
Phone#: 1-800-477-1451
What is the definition of a Hazardous Material?
A hazardous material is any solid, liquid or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property or the environment. Hazardous materials may be radioactive, flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, biohazardous, an oxidizer, asphyxiant, pathogen, allergen or may have other characteristics rendering it hazardous under specific circumstances.
Type of Package
1 – Drums
2 – Barrels
3 – Jerricans
4 – Box
Materials
A – Steel
B – Aluminum
C – Natural Wood
D – Plywood
F – Reconstituted Wood
G – Fiberboard
Packaging Group X – I, II and III
Packaging Group Y – II and III
Packaging Group Z – III
H – Plastic
L – Textile
M – Paper, Multiwall
N – Metal other than Steel or Aluminum
P – Glass, Porcelain or Stoneware
5 – Bag
6 – Composite Packaging
7 – Pressure Receptacle
Category 1 – Closed Head
Category 2 – Open Head
Maximum Gross Mass Or Specific GravityMaximum Gross Mass – Solid or packagings that have inner packagings must be marked with the maximum gross mass in kg
Specific Gravity – Stand alone packagings intended to contain liquids must be marked with the specific gravity rounded down to the first decimal.
Solids or Inner Packaging Solids – Marked with “S” in uppercase
Liquids – Marked with Hydrostatic test pressure in kPa rounded downto the nearest 10 kPa
Year of Manufacture - Last two digits of the year the package was manufactured
Location of Manufacture - Country where the item was manufactured