UN certified containers
product(s)If containers are used for the transport of hazardous (waste) substances, they fall under the packaging rules of the ADR when transported over land. Requirements are set for labelling and printing, (liquid) density and resistance to falling and stacking at high and low temperatures. Over the years, we have built up considerable expertise in this area.
Transport of hazardous substances
Packaging for the cross-border transport of dangerous goods, i.e. hazardous substances, must be certified according to United Nations (UN) standards. The international agreements for the transport of dangerous goods require packaging to meet a certain design and to be certified by a national competent authority. Over the years, Engels has built up considerable expertise in this field with its range of UN certified bins, drums and pallet boxes.
What does the UN mark mean?
The transport of dangerous goods is only permitted in UN-approved packaging. The UN mark indicates that the packaging corresponds to a prototype that has been tested and complies with the regulations. Please note that there is a difference between a UN mark and a UN number. A UN mark is assigned to a packaging, a UN number is the number assigned to hazardous substances and goods.
There are three categories of packaging groups:
- Packing group I for very dangerous substances
- Packing group II for dangerous substances
- Packing group III for less dangerous substances
Packaging in packaging group I has to pass more stringent tests than packaging in groups II and III. This concerns, for example, drop, stacking or air pressure tests. After the inspection, the packaging (in English therefore UN-approved bins, drums and pallet boxes) are provided with a UN mark. The UN mark on UN-approved packaging consists of a code from which you can read what type of packaging it is and to what extent it has been tested.
The requirements are related to:
- Labelling and printing
- (Liquid) density
- Drop and stack resistance at high and low temperatures
Validity
For rigid plastics IBCs and combination IBCs, there is limited validity in use of UN approved packaging (UN mark 11h2). For English UN approved containers, there is unlimited validity in use, except if there is a change in the design. For example, if the material use or the construction of the packaging changes and deviates from the first approved prototype, then the UN certification mark expires and the UN approved packaging must be retested.
The validity of the approval report (certificate) that an approval authority records after awarding a UN mark varies from country to country. For Engels, all our test reports are valid indefinitely, because they are issued in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is of course ensured that the conditions for unlimited validity are met.
For example:
UN 4H2/Y30/S/17/
B/ENGELS-080099
This UN-mark concerns the series of transport containers with base dimensions 600x400 with reinforced lid and triangular lock.
with following specifications;
| UN | United Nations |
| 4H2 | Rigid plastic boxes |
| Y | Packaging group II/III |
| 30 | Maximum permitted gross weight of the packaging including the content in kg |
| S | Approved for solids |
| 15 | Last two digits of the year of manufacture |
| B | Country where the UN certificate was issued |
| ENGELS | Manufacturer's name or code |
| 080099 | Certificate registration number |
How ensures Engels that their packaging is UN-approved ?
Engels follows all procedures to UN certify its products and keep them certified to comply with the rules of ADR. We must ensure that Engels' UN-certified packaging continues to meet a number of necessary conditions. We have the testing of UN bins up to 100 kg under our own management. The drop test machine required for this is located in our premises. We test all larger/heavier products at the Belgian Packaging Institute (https://ibebvi.be/en).
A short description of the conditions for certification and an overview of the substances that may be transported and stored in UN certified containers can be found in the Test Reports/UN Certifications section of this site.