Non-UN Packaging for DG Shipment, When ?

ANSWER – 1 : When the “LTD QTY” provisions of the Regulations are used it is not necessary to use UN Specification packaging. Limited Quantity packaging is required to pass a straightforward drop test and a stacking test. An indication that it is a package using Limited Quantity provisions is required on the outside of the package. Note that these provisions are not permitted to and from France and several airlines do not accept them.

ANSWER – 2 : When Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities provisions are used, the packages do not need to be UN Specification packages, but they do require drop and stacking tests. No marking is required except new 2009 EQ label. A special label with a red hatched border is used to indicate Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities.

ANSWER – 3 : Packages used to contain Radioactive Material are required to use IAEA Specification packages, many of which have to undergo accident survival testing. All such tests are included in Sub-section 10.6 of IATA DGR 50th edition 2009. Some Radioactive Material, mainly LSA waste, is permitted in UN certified packaging.

ANSWER – 4 : Packaging for Infectious Substances must meet the specifications of DGR 6.5, which include drop and puncture tests. These have UN package markings as per DGR 6.0.6. It should be noted that the marking may additionally show the package type code, between the UN symbol and the Class 6.2 marking.

ANSWER – 5 : Where the applicable Packing Instruction does not indicate that a UN Specification Package is required, or a “LTD QTY” package, the package utilised must normally meet the general specifications shown in DGR 5.0.2. See PI 200, 805 or 904.

ANSWER – 6 : There are other Packing Instructions that indicate that the dangerous goods assigned to them may not require any packaging, such as 900.

ANSWER – 7 : Small lithium metal and lithium ion batteries are excepted from most of the requirements of the ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA DGR provided that they comply with all of the requirements set out in Part 1 of Packing Instructions 965, 966 and 967 for lithium ion batteries and Part 1 of Packing Instructions 968, 969 and 970 for lithium metal batteries in the 50th edition of the IATA DGR.Packages containing lithium batteries, or lithium batteries contained in, or packed with,equipment that meet the provisions of Part 1 of these packing instructions are not required to have a Class 9 hazard label and there is no requirement for a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods for consignments of these batteries. However, in the event of an incident involving these batteries, the incident reporting requirements apply.