| 49 CFR Part 173 and 178, IATA Sections 5 and 6 |
49 CFR 173.24 states that the packaging for any hazardous material must be
sufficient to ensure containment of the material throughout the entire
transportation cycle. As a shipper, you should recognize the "conditions
incident to transportation" for your selected carrier and ensure that the proper
packaging is used.
Packaging hazardous materials for transport by aircraft is usually more
restrictive than for transport on the ground. UPS may also require a higher
level of packaging safety than that required by the DOT due to its unique system
of moving packages. In addition to DOT or IATA requirements, all packages
submitted to UPS for shipment must be capable of meeting the requirements of the
International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Procedure 1A test protocol. The
ISTA also provides an additional test standard (ISTA Procedure 3A - accepted by
UPS but not required) specific to small package transportation that may be of
interest to shippers.
In most cases, hazardous materials must be packaged in "performance
packaging." This consists of inner receptacles, cushioning and absorbent
materials, and an outer packaging that has been designed, manufactured, and
certified for the containment of specific hazardous material classes and packing
groups. These packaging systems must be tested as designed and shipped as
tested. The regulations refer to these as "specification" or "performance"
packages. Such packages have distinct United Nations (UN) markings on the
packaging components and can be recognized by their unique identification
numbers.
Each hazardous material listed in the chemical table has an associated
packaging authorization reference (the last column). This reference number
relates to the specific section of 49 CFR 173 that lists the authorized inner
and outer components of performance packaging.
Special care must be taken to comply with the DOT or IATA's general
packaging requirements for air shipments, shown in 49 CFR 173.27. These
provisions include general performance requirements for Classes 4 and 8,
quantity limitations, pressure differential testing for packaging designed to
contain liquids, specifications for closures and absorbent materials, quantity
restrictions for inner packaging, and general provisions for handling
cylinders.
UPS imposes additional requirements for packaging:
- Always use new or like-new packaging
- All polyethylene, metal, and fiber drums or pails used as specification or
exception packaging must be overpacked (see 49 CFR 173.25) --UPS does not accept
"single packaging."
- Never mix regulated items of different hazard classes or divisions in the
same outside container unless specifically permitted by 49 CFR
- UPS allows a maximum of three compatible materials in one package
- Some hazardous materials are required to be in DOT Exemption/Special
Permit Packagings for acceptance by UPS (see DOT Exemption/Special
Permit Packagings)
- Highly reactive chemicals must always be packaged alone and not mixed with
any other product, regulated or unregulated
Hazardous materials shipments authorized for non-specification packaging that
require a shipping paper must be in outer packages at the following minimum
levels (overpacks are excluded from this requirement):
- All packages must meet the requirements of International Safe Transit
Association (ISTA) Procedure 1A testing
- Packages weighing no more than 20 lbs. must be in a minimum 200 lbs. Burst
Strength or 32 Edge Crush Test (ECT) certified box
- Packages weighing over 20 lbs. must be in a minimum 275 lbs. Burst Strength
or 44 ECT certified box
- Any non-specification package that displays the ISTA seal indicating the
package has been tested and certified to ISTA Procedure 1A is not subject to the
minimum ECT or burst strength requirements
If you have any questions about shipping hazardous materials with UPS, please
call the UPS Hazardous Materials Support Center 1-800-554-9964. |
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