Caustic Materials
- Hazard class
- Class 8, corrosive substances
- UN approval
- Composite packaging 4B, Packing Group I (X)
- Contents
- Solids and liquids in inner packagings
- Transport
- Road, rail, sea and air
- Certificate
- BAM D/BAM 8311/4B1
- Re-testing
- None needed; aluminum does not age
Outer packaging for Class 8
Caustic and other corrosive materials are Class 8 in the UN dangerous goods system, assigned to Packing Group I, II or III by how severe they are. Because the K470 is approved for Packing Group I, it is approved for all three.
The approval covers the K470 as combination packaging. The corrosive stays in its own inner packaging, such as a bottle rated for that substance, and the aluminum case is the certified outer container.
Keep the substance in the inner packaging
Strong acids and alkalis attack bare aluminum, which is why the regulations put the job of containing the substance on the inner packaging. Choose inner packaging, and any absorbent, rated for the specific material, and keep the contents, fill and gross mass within what the certificate allows.
What the aluminum case adds is the outer protection: it absorbs impact energy without cracking or rupturing, so the inner bottles survive the drop the certification tests for.
How UN packing works
ZARGES cases are approved as UN composite packaging (codes 4B, 4BU, 4BV, 4BW and 50B). The approval is for combination packaging: the hazardous material goes in its own inner packaging rated for that substance, such as a sealed bag or a bottle, and the aluminum case is the certified outer container. The case and the inner packaging meet the certification together.
The K470 is certified to the X rating, Packing Group I, under BAM certificate D/BAM 8311/4B1. X is the highest of the three UN packing groups, so an X-rated case is approved for Groups I, II and III, by road, rail, sea and air.
FAQ
Can I ship corrosive materials in a ZARGES case?
The K470 is UN-approved outer packaging for dangerous goods in Packing Groups I, II and III, which covers Class 8 corrosives in suitable inner packagings. The shipper remains responsible for the rules for the specific substance and mode.
Does aluminum resist caustic chemicals?
Not on its own: strong acids and alkalis attack bare aluminum. The corrosive must be in its own inner packaging rated for that substance; the aluminum case is the certified outer container.
How do I know a ZARGES case is UN certified?
Look for the UN marking on the case: 4B/X, the tested gross mass, S, the year of manufacture, D and BAM 8311-ZARGES. A case without that label is not UN certified. ZARGES USA tests and labels cases at its Charlotte, NC facility for $75 per case.
Does a UN-certified aluminum case need periodic re-testing?
No. Aluminum does not age the way plastic does, so a certified aluminum case does not need periodic re-testing. A visual check for external damage before each shipment is sufficient.
