ATTN: Shippers of Hazardous Materials
On November 8th and 9th , the Third Part Test Labs met with the Department of
Transportation to discuss changes in the test reports for packages containing hazardous materials. The
D.O.T has issued a report format that ALL Third Party Test Labs are to use in the future. The effective
date has yet to be determined. Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. is currently working on moving to the
new reporting format.The new test report format required by D.O.T. will force all Third party Test Labs
to provide all information or risk losing their approval to do such testing. This will mean more work
for the shippers of hazardous materials packages as well as the Third Party Test Labs performing the
certifications on such packages. We at Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory are working on methods and processes
to ensure a smooth transition to the new reporting process. We appreciate your patience and cooperation
during this phase. Click on the links below to review the new reporting format for each type of package
that we test.
Test Report Outline
The below link will provide a general outline of the new reporting format. The report will be broken
down into sections. Each section will contain information about a particular portion or component of
the package. The information within each section may NOT be altered, deleted or placed into another
section of the report.
General Test Report Outline
The above is a “general” format. For more detailed information on what is required on each specific
package type, click the applicable link below.
Samples of Test Reports as Required by D.O.T.
Click on the below link to take you to sample test reports for each type of package listed below. These
examples will be the same reports (both in content and appearance) as what you will receive from Pro-Pack
Testing Laboratory, Inc. when we perform a certification for you. There is not a sample test report
for every type of package that Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. performs certifications on but the
reports will be the same format as those shown here.
The information that is required in the “General Test Report” outline is
IN ADDITION TO the information required for each specific type of package that will be certified.
See each package type below for a list of further information required before a certified test report
can be issued.
For Packagings Certified as conforming to:
Section 178.516: Standards for Fiberboard Boxes
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for fiberboard boxes.
a) Box style (FEFCO/ASSCO code)
i) Number of walls – flute type
ii) Board caliper
iii) Basis weight of each liner and medium
iv) Combined basis weight
b) Method of joining panels
i) Manufacturer's joint
(1) Flap size
(2) Location
c) Dimension external (L x W x H)
d) Dimension internal (L x W x H)
e) Top flap inner gap or meet.
f) Top flap outer overlap or meet.
g) Bottom flap inner gap or meet.
h) Bottom flap outer overlap or meet
i) Stacking height (if different from box height).
j) Handles, material type, number and position.
k) Closure method of box
l) Liner (if present)
i) Material
ii) Thickness
iii) Mass
iv) Closing method
m) Inner partitions (if present)
i) Material
of construction
(1) Type and grade
(2) Thickness
(a) Minimum
(b) Nominal
ii) Number of walls – flute type
iii) Board caliper
iv) Basis weight of each liner and medium
v) Combined basis weight
vi) Dimensions
(1) Length
(2) Width
Section 178.504: Standards for Steel Drums
Section 178.505: Standards for Aluminum Drums
Section 178.506: Standards for metal drums other than steel or aluminum
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for metal drums:
a) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
b) Diameter of drum, external
i) Maximum
ii) Minimum;
c) Height of drum
i) Overall;
ii) Stacking;
d) Rolling hoops on drum;
i) Number;
ii) Location;
iii) Height;
e) Seam type
i) End seam (chime);
ii) Side seam;
f) Handle (s) (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
g) Closure (s) including liner (s) (other than covers of removable
head drums)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
iv) Design;
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
v) Closure Diameter;
vi) Closure Thickness;
vii) Closure Weight;
viii) Closure Liner
(1) Material
(2) Thickness
(3) Weight
h) Cover and closure ring (removable head drums)
i) Style;
ii) Material (including bolt if present);
iii) Dimensions (including bolt if present);
i) Inner liner, lining or coating (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness
iii) Closing method (liner)
Section 178.507: Standard for plywood drums
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for plywood drums:
a) Number of plies
(1) Heads;
(2) Body
b) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
c) Diameter, external
i) Maximum
ii) Minimum;
d) Height
i) Overall;
ii) Stacking;
e) Closure (s) including liner (s) (other than covers of
removable head drums)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
iv) Design;
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
v) Closure Diameter;
vi) Closure Thickness;
vii) Closure Weight;
viii) Closure Liner
(1) Material
(2) Thickness
(3) Weight
f) Cover and closure ring (removable head drums)
i) Style;
ii) Material (including bolt if present);
iii) Dimensions (including bolt if present);
g) Inner liner, lining or coating (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness
iii) Mass
iv)
Closing method (liner)
Section 178.508: Standards for Fiber Drums
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for fiber drums:
a) Number of plies and material of each ply;
i) Heads;
ii) Body
b) Basis weight of fiber plies;
c) Thickness of each ply and total thickness;
(1) Minimum
(2) Nominal;
d) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
e) Diameter, external
i) Maximum
ii) Minimum;
f) Height
i) Overall;
ii) Stacking;
g) Closure (s) including liner (s) (other than covers of
removable head drums)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
iv) Design;
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
v) Closure Diameter;
vi) Closure Thickness;
vii) Closure Weight;
viii) Closure Liner
(1) Material
(2) Thickness
(3) Weight
h) Cover and closure ring (removable head drums)
i) Style;
ii) Material (including bolt if present);
iii) Dimensions (including bolt if present);
i) Inner liner, lining or coating (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness
iii) Mass;
iv) Closing method (liner)
Section 178.509: Standards for Plastic Drums and Jerricans
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for plastic drums
and jerricans:
a) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
b) External dimensions
i) Diameter, external
ii) Maximum
iii) Minimum
c) Body section (non-round packages)
i) Length (maximum and minimum)
ii) Width (maximum and minimum)
d) Height
i) Overall;
ii) Stacking;
e) Handles (s) if present) material, number and location
f) Closures (s) including liner (s) (other than covers
of removable head drums)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
iv) Design;
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
v) Diameter;
vi) Thickness;
vii) Weight;
viii) Liner
(1) Material
(2) Thickness
(3) Weight
g) Cover and closure ring (removable head drums)
i) Style
ii) Material (including bolt if present);
iii) Dimensions (including bolt if present);
h) Inner liner, lining or coating (if present)
i) Material
ii) Thickness
iii) Mass
iv) Closing method (liner)
Section 178.511: Standards for Aluminum and Steel Jerricans
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for metal jerricans:
a) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
b) Dimensions of jerrican, external
i) Length (Maximum and minimum);
ii) Width (Maximum and minimum)
c) Height of jerrican
i) Overall;
ii) Stacking;
d) Seam type
i) End seam (chime);
ii) Side seam;
e) Handle (s) (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
f) Closure (s) including liner (s) (other than covers of
removable head jerricans)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
iv) Design;
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
v) Closure Diameter;
vi) Closure Thickness;
vii) Closure Weight;
viii) Closure Liner
(1) Material
(2) Thickness
(3) Weight
g) Cover and closure ring (removable head jerricans)
i) Style;
ii) Material (including bolt if present);
iii) Dimensions (including bolt if present);
h) Inner liner, lining or coating (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness
iii) Closing method (liner)
Section 178.512: Standards for Steel or Aluminum Boxes
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for steel or aluminum
boxes
a) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
b) Dimension external (L x W x H)
c) Dimension internal (L x W x H)
d) Stacking height
e) Handles, material type number and position
f) Closures (Latches, etc.) number, type, position and
materials
g) Closure Method
h) Liner or lining
i) Material;
ii) Thickness;
iii) Mass;
iv) Closing method;
Section 178.513: Standards for Boxes of Natural Wood
Section 178.514: Standards for Plywood Boxes
Section 178.515: Standards for reconstituted Wood Boxes
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for boxes of natural
wood.
a) Number of plies in base, body and lid (Plywood only)
b) Method of joining panels
c) Dimension external (L x W x H)
d) Dimension internal (L x W x H)
e) Stacking height
f) Handle (s) (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Number;
iii) Location;
g) Closures (Latches, etc.) number, type, position and
materials
h) Closure Method
i) Liner (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness;
iii) Mass;
iv)
Closing Method;
Section 178.517: Standards for Plastic Boxes
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for plastic boxes.
i) Density
b) Gasket – materials of construction (if present)
i) Type of gasket material;
ii) Thickness of gasket and configuration;
c) Dimension external (L x W x H)
d) Dimensions internal (L x W x H)
e) Stacking height (if different from box height)
f) Handles, material type, number and position;
g) Closures (Latches, etc.), number type, position and
materials
h) Closure method
i) Liner or lining (if present)
i) Material;
ii) Thickness;
iii) Mass;
iv) Closing method;
Section 178.518: Standards for Woven Plastic Bags
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for woven plastic
bags
a) Fabric (warp/weft), tapes per 100 mm
b) Material strength elongation
c) Style of bag
d) Dimensions
i) Flat unopened
ii) Gusset, open width
iii) Bottom width, flat unopened
iv) Valve width
e) Closure method (top, base, side)
f) Sewing (if applicable)
i) Style and density of stitches
ii) Type of thread and minimum breaking load
g) Perforations
h) Adhesive, type
i) Coating or liner
i) Material type and grade
ii) Number of liners (s)
iii) Thickness
iv) Type of film grade
v) Grammage of plies
Section 178.519: Standards for Plastic Film Bags
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for plastic film bags
a) Style
b) Dimensions
i) Flat unopened
ii) Gusset, open width
iii) Bottom width, flat unopened
iv) Valve width
c) Closure method (top, base side)
d) Number of plies
e) Material strength elongation
Section 178.520: Standards for textile bags
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for textile bags
i) Material type and grade
b) Style
c) Dimensions
i) Flat unopened
ii) Gusset, open width
iii) Bottom width, flat unopened
iv) Valve width
d) Closure method (top, base side)
e) Sewing style and threads per inch
f) Type of thread and breaking strength
g) Coating
i) Material
ii) Thickness or weight
h) Liner
i) Number of plies
ii) Material
iii) Thickness
Section 178.521: Standards for Paper Bags
View Standard
1) Specific test report requirements for paper bags
a) Number of plies
b) Basis weight of plies
c) Coating
i) Material
ii) Thickness or weight
d) Liner
i) Material
ii) Thickness
e) Style
f) Dimensions
i) Flat unopened
ii) Gusset, open width
iii) Bottom width, flat unopened
iv) Valve width
g) Closure method (top, base side)
h) Glue type
i) Sewing
style and threads per inch
j) Type of
thread and breaking strength
Section 178.522: Standards for Composite Packagings with Inner Plastic Receptacles
Section 178.523: Standards for Composite Packagings with Inner Glass, Porcelain or
Stoneware Receptacles
View Standard
Specific test report requirements for composite packagings.
1) The test report requirements for the outer package design
type as indicated in the appropriate
packaging section.
2) The test report requirements for the inner receptacle
are as indicated in the inner packaging section.
Specific Test report requirements for inner packagings and inner receptacle (s)
a) Package type and style.
b) Material of construction;
i) Type and grade;
ii) Thickness;
(1) Minimum;
(2) Nominal;
c) Materials of construction gasket, (if present)
i) Type of material;
ii) Thickness and configuration;
d) Method of construction;
e) Capacity
i) Nominal;
ii) Maximum;
f) Cross Sectional dimensions
i) Diameter, external
(1) Maximum;
(2) Minimum;
g) Body section (non-round packages);
i) Length, Maximum and Minimum
ii) Width, Maximum and Minimum
h) Height
i) Handles (s) if present material, number and location
j) Closure (s) including liner (s)
i) Material
ii) Number
iii) Location
iv) Design
(1) Thread type
(2) Thread style
(3) Thread pitch
(4) Diameter
(5) Thickness
k) Mass
i) Body
ii) Closure (s)
l) Closure means and methods
i) Equipment used;
ii) Repeatable method.
Closure Information:
“Hand Tight” is no longer acceptable when
listing a cap tightness/torque on UN Certified Test Reports. All Third Party Test Labs were instructed
to inform shippers of hazardous materials that a “reproducible and consistent” means of describing closures
must be listed when describing closures. If an actual torque value cannot be provided, then some other
means must be described that is repeatable. An example of this would be to say “turn cap 3.5 revolutions
upon contact with top of jug”. Without an exact reproducible value for closures, Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory,
Inc. will not be able to issue a certified test report.
Basis Weight for Corrugated Materials
D.O.T has issued an approval that will allow a plus or minus
tolerance of 5% from the measured basis weight in the initial design qualification test report. IMPORTANT:
This means that if you have a 200 lb board grade box (which is made from 42 lb liners) and the actual
weight that Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. gets when performing the basis weight test is 44.5 lbs,
then you will be allowed a 5% plus or minus tolerance from the measured value of 44.5 and NOT the nominal
value of 42 for the lifetime of that certification. In addition, if the approval is used at any point
(you take advantage of the plus or minus 5%), the marking for this package will then be “4GW” and not
just “4G” as it is now.
Note: D.O.T. is considering removing the requirement for the
“4GW” marking but for now it is required.
Drawings and Specifications
Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. must receive drawings and/or specifications
for every single component of your package. This includes all outer and inner containers, all closures
for the inner and outer packagings, and any inner packagings (pads, partitions, bubble wrap, foam, bags,
etc). This means that for every single component of the entire package (both outer and inner containers),
there must be a model or part number and manufacturer listed in the certified test report provided by
Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc.
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