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The UN markings tell the user many things, including what type of packaging it is and to what level of testing it has passed.
The manufacturers’ packaging marking detailed in 178.503 must be on every packaging that is represented as being manufactured to conform to a UN standard.
Marking requirements. The marking must be durable, legible, and clearly visible. The marking must include:
Examples. This is a fiberboard box (4G), tested for Packing Groups II and III (Y), with a maximum mass of 145 kilograms, designed to contain an inner packaging(S), and manufactured in 1983 (83). It was manufactured in the United States (USA) by a manufacturer whose registered symbol is “RA.” This is a steel non-removable head drum (1A1) designed as a single package for liquids, tested for Packing Groups II and III (Y) for materials with a specific gravity up to 1.4, hydrostatically tested to 150 kPa, and manufactured in 1983 (83). The drum was manufactured in the United States (USA) by a manufacturer whose registered symbol is “VL824.” The minimum thickness of the material is 1 millimeter.
This marking indicates a steel, non-removable head drum (1A1), designed as a single packaging for liquids, tested for packing groups II and III (Y), for materials with a specific gravity of 1.4. It was hydrostatically tested to 150 kPa and was manufactured in 1992 (92). The drum was reconditioned in the United States (USA) by a reconditioner whose registered symbol is “RB” in 1993 (93). The drum was reconditioned (R) and successfully passed the leak proofness test (L).
Any packaging required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations to conform to a UN standard must be marked in a manner such as illustrated above.