ASTM D4919-03

Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings

ABSTRACT
This guide identifies the key information required to ensure that selected packaging will pass the United Nations (UN) packaging certification at the level that is appropriate for its intended use. This guide covers test procedures for transportation of hazardous material packagings for net masses except those used for infectious substances, radioactive materials, cylinders, and other receptacles for gases and does not replace domestic or international requlatory requirements for hazardous material packagings. The UN performance tests are based on the degree of hazard posed by the proposed materials to be packaged which are also assigned to a specific packing group. Only packaging designs that meet the UN performance standards are to be marked with a UN mark. Tests include drop test, leakproofness test, stack test, vibration test, pressure differential test, hydrostatic pressure test, and cobb water absorption test.
SCOPE
1.1 The main focus of this guide is to identify the key information required for United Nations (UN) packaging certification to ensure the selected packaging will be certified to the appropriate level for its intended use. This document also provides guidance for locating relevant sections of the United States Department of Transportation Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Consult with a regulatory specialist whenever needed.
1.2 This guide is intended to assist in determining the appropriate performance tests required to certify packaging designs to the United States Department of Transportation Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations performance oriented packaging standards based on the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
1.3 This guide covers the testing for transportation of hazardous materials packagings for net masses not exceeding 400 kg (880 lb) or capacities not exceeding 450 L (119 gal), excepting packagings for infectious substances, radioactive materials, cylinders and other receptacles for gases.
1.4 This guide does not replace domestic or international regulatory requirements for hazardous materials packaging but is strongly recommended to be used in conjunction with those regulations.
1.5 The user of this guide must be trained in accordance with the United States Department of Transportation Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations as required by 172.700 and should be familiar with other applicable hazardous materials regulations such as; International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and carrier rules such as International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-2003
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.21 - Shipping Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4919-89(1997) - Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D4919-03(2008) - Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings (Withdrawn 2017)
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM D8135-17(2023) - Standard Guide for Selection of Substitute, Non-hazardous, Particulate Solid Filling Substances for Packagings Subjected to the United Nations Performance Tests
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6198-18 - Standard Guide for Transport Packaging Design
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5998-16 - Standard Specification for Molded Polyethylene Shipping and Storage Drums
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7660-20 - Standard Guide for Conducting Internal Pressure Tests on United Nations (UN) Packagings
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D8409-21 - Standard Guide for Conducting Stacking Tests on UN Packagings Using Guided or Unguided Loads
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D8134-18 - Standard Guide for Conducting Internal Hydrostatic Pressure Tests on United Nations (UN) IBC Design Types
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7790-19 - Standard Guide for Preparation of Plastic Packagings Containing Liquids for United Nations (UN) Drop Testing
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7387-20 - Standard Test Method for Vibration Testing of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) Used for Shipping Liquid Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7887-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Substitute, Non-hazardous, Liquid Filling Substances for Packagings Subjected to the United Nations Performance Tests
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 4919 – 03
Standard Guide for
1
Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4919; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 The main focus of this guide is to identify the key
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
information required for United Nations (UN) packaging
certification to ensure the selected packaging will be certified
2. Referenced Documents
totheappropriatelevelforitsintendeduse.Thisdocumentalso
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
provides guidance for locating relevant sections of the United
D 323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
States Department of Transportation Title 49 Code of Federal
ucts (Reid Method)
Regulations (CFR). Consult with a regulatory specialist when-
D 642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resis-
ever needed.
tance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit
1.2 This guide is intended to assist in determining the
Loads
appropriate performance tests required to certify packaging
D 685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products
designstotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofTransportationTitle
for Testing
49 Code of Federal Regulations performance oriented packag-
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
ing standards based on the United Nations Recommendations
ments
on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
D 999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping
1.3 This guide covers the testing for transportation of
Containers
hazardous materials packagings for net masses not exceeding
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
400 kg (880 lb) or capacities not exceeding 450 L (119 gal),
tainers and Systems
excepting packagings for infectious substances, radioactive
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
materials, cylinders and other receptacles for gases.
Packaging Components for Testing
1.4 This guide does not replace domestic or international
D 4359 Test Method for DeterminingWhether a Material Is
regulatory requirements for hazardous materials packaging but
a Liquid or a Solid
is strongly recommended to be used in conjunction with those
D 4577 Test Method for Compression Resistance of a
regulations.
Container Under Constant Load
1.5 The user of this guide must be trained in accordance
D 4991 Test Method for Leakage Testing of Empty Rigid
with the United States Department of Transportation Title 49
Containers by Vacuum Method
Code of Federal Regulations as required by 172.700 and
D 5276 Test Method for DropTest of Loaded Containers by
should be familiar with other applicable hazardous materials
Free Fall
regulations such as; International Civil Aviation Organization
D 5570 Test Method for Water Resistance of Tape and
(ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dan-
Adhesives Used as Box Closure
gerous Goods by Air, and the International Maritime Danger-
2.2 ISO Standard:
ous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and carrier rules such as
ISO 535 Determination of Water Absorption of Paper and
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous
3
Board (Cobb Method)
Goods Regulations.
2.3 United Nations Document:
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD10onPackagingand contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Container Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Environment.
3
Current edition approved April 10, 2003. Published August 2003. Originally Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 1989 as D 4919 – 89 (1997). 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D4919–03
United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dan- 3.8.2.2 Performance Standard “Y” Packaging—May be
4
gerous Goods used to transport hazardous materials in Packing Groups II and
2.4 Regulatory Documents: III.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
...