Dangerous Goods by Road
Use of overpacks
Use of overpacks
For an overpack containing dangerous goods packed in excepted quantities, the following applies:
Unless the marks representative of all dangerous goods in an overpack are visible, the overpack shall
be:
– marked with the word “OVERPACK”. The lettering of the “OVERPACK” mark shall be at
least 12 mm high. The mark shall be in an official language of the country of origin and also, if
that language is not English, French or German, in English, French or German, unless
agreements, if any, concluded between the countries concerned in the transport operation
provide otherwise; and
– marked with the marks required by this Chapter.
The other provisions of 5.1.2.1 apply only if other dangerous goods which are not packed in excepted
quantities are contained in the overpack and only in relation to these other dangerous goods.
Maximum number of packages in any vehicle or container
The number of packages in any vehicle or container shall not exceed 1 000.
Documentation
If a document or documents (such as a bill of lading, air waybill or CMR/CIM consignment note)
accompanies(y) dangerous goods in excepted quantities, at least one of these documents shall include
the statement "Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities" and indicate the number of packages.
Packing and tank provisions
USE OF PACKAGINGS, INCLUDING INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINERS (IBCs) AND LARGE PACKAGINGS
General provisions for the packing of dangerous goods in packagings, including IBCs and large packagings
NOTE: For the packing of goods of Classes 2, 6.2 and 7, the general provisions of this section only
apply as indicated in 4.1.8.2 (Class 6.2), 4.1.9.1.5 (Class 7) and in the applicable packing instructions
of 4.1.4 (P201 and LP200 for Class 2 and P620, P621, IBC620 and LP621 for Class 6.2).
Dangerous goods shall be packed in good quality packagings, including IBCs and large packagings,
which shall be strong enough to withstand the shocks and loadings normally encountered during
carriage, including trans-shipment between cargo transport units and between cargo transport units
and warehouses as well as any removal from a pallet or overpack for subsequent manual or
mechanical handling. Packagings, including IBCs and large packagings, shall be constructed and
closed so as to prevent any loss of contents when prepared for transport which might be caused under
normal conditions of transport, by vibration, or by changes in temperature, humidity or pressure
(resulting from altitude, for example). Packagings, including IBCs and large packagings, shall be
closed in accordance with the information provided by the manufacturer. No dangerous residue shall
adhere to the outside of packagings, IBCs and large packagings during carriage. These provisions
apply, as appropriate, to new, reused, reconditioned or remanufactured packagings and to new, reused,
repaired or remanufactured IBCs, and to new, reused or remanufactured large packagings.
Parts of packagings, including IBCs and large packagings, which are in direct contact with dangerous
goods:
(a) shall not be affected or significantly weakened by those dangerous goods;
(b) shall not cause a dangerous effect e.g. catalysing a reaction or reacting with the dangerous
goods; and
(c) shall not allow permeation of the dangerous goods that could constitute a danger under normal
conditions of carriage.
Where necessary, they shall be provided with a suitable inner coating or treatment.
NOTE: For chemical compatibility of plastics packagings, including IBCs, made from polyethylene
see 4.1.1.21.
Unless otherwise provided elsewhere in ADR, each packaging, including IBCs and large packagings,
except inner packagings, shall conform to a design type successfully tested in accordance with the
requirements of 6.1.5, 6.3.5, 6.5.6 or 6.6.5, as applicable. The packagings for which the test is not
required are mentioned under 6.1.1.3.
When filling packagings, including IBCs and large packagings, with liquids, sufficient ullage (outage)
shall be left to ensure that neither leakage nor permanent distortion of the packaging occurs as a result
of an expansion of the liquid caused by temperatures likely to occur during transport. Unless specific
requirements are prescribed, liquids shall not completely fill a packaging at a temperature of 55 °C.
However, sufficient ullage shall be left in an IBC to ensure that at the mean bulk temperature of 50 °C
it is not filled to more than 98% of its water capacity. For a filling temperature of 15 °C, the
maximum degree of filling shall be determined as follows, unless otherwise provided, either:
(a)
|
Boiling point (initial boiling point) of
the substance in °C
|
< 60 |
≥ 60 < 100 |
≥ 100 < 200 |
≥ 200 < 300 |
≥ 300 |
|
Degree of filling as a percentage of the
capacity of the packaging
|
90 |
92 |
94 |
96 |
98 |
or
Inner packagings shall be packed in an outer packaging in such a way that, under normal conditions of
carriage, they cannot break, be punctured or leak their contents into the outer packaging. Inner
packagings containing liquids shall be packed with their closures upward and placed within outer
packagings consistent with the orientation marks prescribed in 5.2.1.10. Inner packagings that are
liable to break or be punctured easily, such as those made of glass, porcelain or stoneware or of
certain plastics materials, etc., shall be secured in outer packagings with suitable cushioning material.
Any leakage of the contents shall not substantially impair the protective properties of the cushioning
material or of the outer packaging.
Where an outer packaging of a combination packaging or a large packaging has been successfully
tested with different types of inner packagings, a variety of such different inner packagings may also
be assembled in this outer packaging or large packaging. In addition, provided an equivalent level of
performance is maintained, the following variations in inner packagings are allowed without further
testing of the package:
(a) Inner packagings of equivalent or smaller size may be used provided:
(i) the inner packagings are of similar design to the tested inner packagings
(e.g. shape - round, rectangular, etc.);
(ii) the material of construction of the inner packagings (glass, plastics, metal, etc.) offers
resistance to impact and stacking forces equal to or greater than that of the originally
tested inner packaging;
(iii) the inner packagings have the same or smaller openings and the closure is of similar
design (e.g. screw cap, friction lid, etc.);
(iv) sufficient additional cushioning material is used to take up void spaces and to prevent
significant movement of the inner packagings; and
(v) inner packagings are oriented within the outer packaging in the same manner as in the
tested package.
(b) A lesser number of the tested inner packagings, or of the alternative types of inner packagings
identified in (a) above, may be used provided sufficient cushioning is added to fill the void
space(s) and to prevent significant movement of the inner packagings.
Use of supplementary packagings within an outer packaging (e.g. an intermediate packaging or a
receptacle inside a required inner packaging) additional to what is required by the packing instructions
is authorized provided all relevant requirements are met, including those of 4.1.1.3, and, if
appropriate, suitable cushioning is used to prevent movement within the packaging.
Dangerous goods shall not be packed together in the same outer packaging or in large packagings,
with dangerous or other goods if they react dangerously with each other and cause:
(a) combustion or evolution of considerable heat;
1 Relative density (d) is considered to be synonymous with specific gravity (SG) and will be used throughout this
Chapter.
(b) evolution of flammable, asphyxiant, oxidizing or toxic gases;
(c) the formation of corrosive substances; or
(d) the formation of unstable substances.
NOTE: For mixed packing special provisions, see 4.1.10.
The closures of packagings containing wetted or diluted substances shall be such that the percentage
of liquid (water, solvent or phlegmatizer) does not fall below the prescribed limits during transport.