Marking of intermediate bulk containers.

(a) The manufacturer shall:

(1) Mark every intermediate bulk container in a durable and clearly visible manner (applied in a single line or in multiple lines provided the correct sequence is followed) with the following information in the sequence presented:

(i) The United Nations symbol as illustrated in § 178.503(e)(1). For metal intermediate bulk containers on which the marking is stamped or embossed, the capital letters ‘UN' may be applied instead of the symbol.

(ii) The code number designating intermediate bulk container design type according to § 178.702(a).

(iii) A capital letter identifying the performance standard under which the design type has been successfully tested, as follows:

(A) X—for intermediate bulk containers meeting Packing Group I, II and III tests;

(B) Y—for intermediate bulk containers meeting Packing Group II and III tests; and

(C) Z—for intermediate bulk containers meeting only Packing Group III tests.

(iv) The month (designated numerically) and year (last two digits) of manufacture.

(v) The country authorizing the allocation of the mark. The letters ‘USA' indicate that the intermediate bulk container is manufactured and marked in the United States in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter.

(vi) The name and address or symbol of the manufacturer or the approval agency certifying compliance with subparts N and O of this part. Symbols, if used, must be registered with the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.

(vii) The stacking test load in kilograms (kg). For intermediate bulk containers not designed for stacking, the figure “0” must be shown.

(viii) The maximum permissible gross mass or, for flexible intermediate bulk containers, the maximum net mass, in kg.

(2) The following are examples of symbols and required markings:

(i) For a metal intermediate bulk container containing solids discharged by gravity made from steel:

ER26JY94.000

(ii) For a flexible intermediate bulk container containing solids discharged by gravity and made from woven plastic with a liner:

ER26JY94.001

(iii) For a rigid plastic intermediate bulk container containing liquids, made from plastic with structural equipment withstanding the stack load and with a manufacturer's symbol in place of the manufacturer's name and address:

ER26JY94.002

(iv) For a composite intermediate bulk container containing liquids, with a rigid plastic inner receptacle and an outer steel body and with the symbol of a DOT approved third-party test laboratory:

ER26JY94.003

(b) Additional marking. In addition to markings required in paragraph (a) of this section, each intermediate bulk container must be marked as follows in a place near the markings required in paragraph (a) of this section that is readily accessible for inspection. Where units of measure are used, the metric unit indicated (e.g., 450 liters) must also appear.

(1) For each rigid plastic and composite intermediate bulk container, the following markings must be included:

(i) Rated capacity in liters of water at 20 °C (68 °F);

(ii) Tare mass in kilograms;

(iii) Gauge test pressure in kPa;

(iv) Date of last leakproofness test, if applicable (month and year); and

(v) Date of last inspection (month and year).

(2) For each metal intermediate bulk container, the following markings must be included on a metal corrosion-resistant plate:

(i) Rated capacity in liters of water at 20 °C (68 °F);

(ii) Tare mass in kilograms;

(iii) Date of last leakproofness test, if applicable (month and year);

(iv) Date of last inspection (month and year);

(v) Maximum loading/discharge pressure, in kPa, if applicable;

(vi) Body material and its minimum thickness in mm; and

(vii) Serial number assigned by the manufacturer.

(3) Markings required by paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section may be preceded by the narrative description of the marking, e.g. “Tare Mass: * * *” where the “* * *” are replaced with the tare mass in kilograms of the intermediate bulk container.

(4) For each fiberboard and wooden intermediate bulk container, the tare mass in kg must be shown.

(5) Each flexible intermediate bulk container may be marked with a pictogram displaying recommended lifting methods.

(6) For each composite intermediate bulk container, the inner receptacle must be marked with at least the following information:

(i) The code number designating the intermediate bulk container design type, the name and address or symbol of the manufacturer, the date of manufacture and the country authorizing the allocation of the mark as specified in paragraph (a) of this section;

(ii) When a composite intermediate bulk container is designed in such a manner that the outer casing is intended to be dismantled for transport when empty (such as, for the return of the intermediate bulk container for reuse to the original consignor), each of the parts intended to be detached when so dismantled must be marked with the month and year of manufacture and the name or symbol of the manufacturer.

[Amdt. 178-103, 59 FR 38068, July 26, 1994, as amended by Amdt. 178-119, 62 FR 24743, May 6, 1997; 64 FR 10782, Mar. 5, 1999; 65 FR 50462, Aug. 18, 2000; 65 FR 58632, Sept. 29, 2000]