ASTM D4919-23

Standard Guide for Testing of Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods) 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.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The UN performance tests are based on the degree of hazard presented by the proposed hazardous material(s) to be packaged.  
4.2 Substances and articles which are hazardous are assigned to a specific packing group as defined in 3.8.1 and may be determined by referencing 49 CFR 172.101 hazardous materials table.  
4.3 Only packaging designs that have been successfully tested to the UN performance standards as defined in 3.8.2 may have the UN specification mark applied to the outer packaging. Hazardous Materials may not be transported in a packaging that does not bear the appropriate UN specification markings unless otherwise authorized by the applicable competent authority.  
4.4 Packages successfully tested to the UN performance standards may or may not withstand the North American distribution environment. To further evaluate the suitability of the package it is strongly recommended that additional tests as detailed in Practice D4169 or other carrier specified test requirements be conducted.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide identifies 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 and 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 provides assistance 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 (dangerous goods) 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 (49 CFR) 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 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2023
• ICS: 55.020 - Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.22 - Hazardous Materials

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4919 − 23
Standard Guide for
Testing of Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)
1
Packagings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4919; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
1.1 This guide identifies the key information required for
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
United Nations (UN) packaging certification to ensure the
and are not considered standard.
selected packaging will be certified to the appropriate level for
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
its intended use and provides guidance for locating relevant
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sections of the United States Department of Transportation
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Consult with a
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
regulatory specialist whenever needed.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2 This guide provides assistance in determining the ap-
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
propriate performance tests required to certify packaging
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
designs to the United States Department of Transportation Title
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
49 Code of Federal Regulations performance oriented packag-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ing standards based on the United Nations Recommendations
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.3 This guide covers the testing for transportation of
hazardous materials (dangerous goods) packagings for net
2. Referenced Documents
masses not exceeding 400 kg (880 lb) or capacities not 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
exceeding 450 L (119 gal), excepting packagings for infectious
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products
substances, radioactive materials, cylinders and other recep-
(Reid Method)
tacles for gases.
D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance
1.4 This guide does not replace domestic or international
of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit Loads
regulatory requirements for hazardous materials packaging but
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products
is strongly recommended to be used in conjunction with those
for Testing
regulations.
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
ments
1.5 The user of this guide must be trained in accordance
D999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Con-
with the United States Department of Transportation Title 49
tainers
Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) as required by 172.700
D4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
and should be familiar with other applicable hazardous mate-
tainers and Systems
rials regulations such as: International Civil Aviation Organi-
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
zation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of
Packaging Components for Testing
Dangerous Goods by Air, and the International Maritime
D4359 Test Method for Determining Whether a Material Is
Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and carrier rules such as
a Liquid or a Solid
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous
D4577 Test Method for Compression Resistance of a Con-
Goods Regulations.
tainer Under Constant Load
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and
2
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.22 on Hazardous Materials. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 15, 2023. Published April 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D4919 – 17. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4919-23. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4919 − 17 D4919 − 23
Standard Guide for
Testing of Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)
1
Packagings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4919; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 The main focus of this guide is to identify This guide identifies 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 use and 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 provides assistance 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 (dangerous goods) 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 (49 CFR) 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 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.7 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 healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory requirementslimitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.22 on Hazardous Materials.
Current edition approved April 1, 2017March 15, 2023. Published June 2017April 2023. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20082017 as
D4919 – 03D4919 – 17.(2008) which was withdrawn January 2017 and reinstated in April 2017. DOI: 10.1520/D4919-17. DOI: 10.1520/D4919-23.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4919 − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit Loads
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products for Testing
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
D999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
D4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers
...