Some companies offer support in obtaining approved packaging for the shipment of dangerous goods. Finding one can appear to be a daunting task.
Faced with such a wide range of possibilities, how does one choose who to contact in order to test their packaging for shipping dangerous goods? Some guidelines can be identified to reach a decision:Security
Approval
Testing
Validity
The way how these are dealt with makes the real difference.
Shipping dangerous goods involves a series of precautionary measures in order to maintain high levels of safety. For this reason, several requirements that must be respected have been put in place: the company responsible for preparing the shipment must guarantee that the dangerous goods fall within the parameters established in the relevant regulations. It is therefore essential to ensure that those responsible for packing dangerous goods are actually prepared and have trained staff for all the procedures. If not, the risk of incurring fines and/or, more specifically, causing damage by incorrectly following the procedures, is rather high. Consequently, staff training is definitely an important point, as it deals with the selecting and testing the right packaging and its correct use.
UN approval is essential: it is a certificate that together with a test report and a mark printed on the packaging, identifies the container as “suitable" for the transport of dangerous goods. Without it, it is not legal to proceed with the shipment, except in some special cases. To obtain a certificate within 45-60 days, it is essential to test the packaging, so that it is in line with all the regulations in place. The approval certifies that the packaging has passed its tests successfully, but before you can use the approved packaging, it is also vital to check whether it can be used to ship your product. For example, for a UN 4G approved packaging (box or cardboard crate), it is necessary to check the test report and establish if the intended internal packaging(s) to be used is listed, and that it is produced by the same manufacturer with the same specifications as tested in combination with the box. If this information is not present, it is not possible to use that box. It is important to highlight that the production of the packaging following the type approval test must respect all the parameters and specifications used on the prototypes during the testing phase, and that the same packaging is always produced by the same manufacturer in the same plant, as specified on the certificate of approval. Not doing so would render the packaging invalid, with corresponding consequences.
Testing packaging for dangerous goods is an operation that involves several processes, ones that can only be carried out by specialists in the sector. Testing dangerous goods packaging involves complex operations. Taking advantage of qualified and capable companies to get approval makes this process “simpler”, as the experience helps to immediately identify the necessary packaging and settle any possible problems that might arise during the approval process. Once the tests have been carried out and approval is obtained, (valid for 1 year), production checks are done by the certification body, since it must verify that the packaging and its components are produced in the exact same way as the prototype used in the testing phase. The certifying body also checks the traceability of the raw materials. Failure to carry out these checks leads to measures being taken and/or penalties. In line with this, approvals attained through Serpac never expire.
Not all certificates are the same. Some certification bodies, provide a partial type approval service, this being applicable only for certain modes of transport, for example ADR (road) or IMDG (maritime). These certifications limit the customer in the use of packaging and may expose one to penalties or blocked goods if they are shipped using an alternative transport method. It is necessary to verify that the approval is valid for each mode of transport (ADR, RID, ADN, IMDG and ICAO / IATA) to guarantee high safety standards for the company that ships, and for those who must transport the goods.
It is now clear what cannot be ignored when it comes to transporting dangerous goods. There is often the temptation to settle on the first company that comes up after a quick internet search. However, by doing so, we run the risk of only making do, when there is the choice of working with a better partner.
Serpac focuses on the customer’s needs, putting itself in a position to comply with all the aforementioned criteria. A consulting service carried out by highly qualified personnel guaranteeing transport safety. The constant updating of regulations is made available, as well as complete support for the preparation in accordance with the UN certification. Testing packaging for dangerous goods is an aspect not to be overlooked, on the other hand, it is a business extra.
Serpac’s key feature when it comes to transporting dangerous goods is that it ensures results on two fronts: the first, that of the dangerous material, the other, the customer on the way to obtaining approval.