UN Ratings: Switching Liquids & Solids (Part 3 of 3)

In our last blog, Understanding UN Ratings, we showed you the specifics on how to properly read a UN Rating by breaking it down into every section. Now you know that they are not as hard to read as once previously thought.

But what if you have a container that does not match your material? Can you still use it? Yes, you can, and we're going to tell you how!

When deciding on if you can use a container that is not the perfect match there is one rule of thumb that you need to know.

You can always pick a packaging group higher than what your material requires and still comply with the UN rating!

Let’s refer below for example:

If you have material that is packing group lll you can use an X-, Y-, and Z-rated container.

Because Packing Group lll says that your material needs the lowest danger rating the higher rating will be more than okay for your material. You can look at it as being over qualified.

If you have a material that is packing group ll you can use an X- or Y-rated container.

Same instance for Packing Group ll, it states that your material needs at least a medium danger rated container meaning a great danger packaging would suffice.

If you have material that is packing group l you can use a X-rated container only.

Because this is the highest rating, the lower ratings would not be able to withstand the danger level. There is no rating higher than Packing Group l.

Packing Group Level Equivalent section labels what hazard level your product falls under and how dangerous it is.

Packing Group l	X	Great Danger
Packing Group ll	Y	Medium Danger
Packing Group lll	Z	Minor Danger

Now that you know the general rule of thumb for switching packaging, we can further inform you on the specifics of what will comply and how to re-calculate them.

Liquids

Packing Group l packaging can be used for Packing Group ll material ≤ Original Specific Gravity × 1.5

Packing Group l packaging can be used for Packing Group lll material ≤ Original Specific Gravity × 2.25

Packing Group ll packaging can be used for Packing Group lll materials ≤ Original Specific Gravity × 1.5

Solids

What if you wanted to fill your packaging that has been marked specifically for liquids, for a solid?

Here are the specifics below:

Packing Group l packaging marked for liquids can be filled with Packing Group ll solids to a gross mass (kg) ≤ Capacity in Liters × 1.5 × Original Specific Gravity

Packing Group l packaging marked for liquids can be filled with Packing Group lll solids to a gross mass (kg) ≤ Capacity in Liters × 2.25 × Original Specific Gravity

Packing Group ll packaging marked for liquids can be filled with Packing Group lll solids to a gross mass (kg) ≤ Capacity in Liters × 1.5 × Original Specific Gravity

*If there is not an indication on the marking use the number 1.2 instead for all three above

At The Cary Company we help our customers make sure they are using the proper UN rating. Even though UN ratings are specific there are ways you can reuse your packaging without having to throw it away. The specifics we listed today can help you know the details on reusing your packaging in order to save money and become more efficient.

After reading this article, if you have any questions comments or concerns please feel free to contact us anytime at The Cary Company!