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 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations 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.
ASTM D4919-23 Referenced Document
ASTM D323 Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
ASTM D4169 Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
ASTM D4332 Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
ASTM D4359 Standard Test Method for Determining Whether a Material Is a Liquid or a Solid
ASTM D4577 Standard Test Method for Compression Resistance of a Container Under Constant Load*, 2023-10-01 Update
ASTM D4991 Standard Test Method for Leakage Testing of Empty Rigid Containers by Vacuum Method
ASTM D5276 Standard Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
ASTM D5570 Standard Test Method for Water Resistance of Tape and Adhesives Used as Box Closure
ASTM D642 Standard Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit Loads
ASTM D685 Standard Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products for Testing
ASTM D7660 Standard Guide for Conducting Internal Pressure Tests on United Nations (UN) Packagings
ASTM D7790 Standard Guide for Preparation of Plastic Packagings Containing Liquids for United Nations (UN) Drop Testing*, 2023-11-01 Update
ASTM D7887 Standard Guide for Selection of Substitute, Non-hazardous, Liquid Filling Substances for Packagings Subjected to the United Nations Performance Tests
ASTM D8135 Standard Guide for Selection of Substitute, Non-hazardous, Particulate Solid Filling Substances for Packagings Subjected to the United Nations Performance Tests
ASTM D8409 Standard Guide for Conducting Stacking Tests on UN Packagings Using Guided or Unguided Loads
ASTM D996 Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
ASTM D999 Standard Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
ISO 535 Paper and board — Determination of water absorptiveness — Cobb method
ASTM D4919-23 history
2023ASTM D4919-23 Standard Guide for Testing of Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods) Packagings
2017ASTM D4919-17 Standard Guide for Testing of Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods) Packagings
2003ASTM D4919-03(2008) Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings
2003ASTM D4919-03 Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings
1989ASTM D4919-89(1997) Standard Specification for Testing of Hazardous Materials Packagings