Most packagings intended for the transportation in commerce of a hazardous material must be designed, manufactured, and tested to meet either a DOT specification or a UN standard, which is then known as a specification packaging (Don’t confuse “specification packaging” with “DOT specification”, not all “specification packaging” is a “DOT specification” packaging, some may meet a UN standard).  A specification packaging must display a specification marking that meets the requirements of both of the following found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

• The applicable regulations for the type of packaging; e.g. cylinders, portable tanks, non-bulk, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), large packagings, and more throughout part 178.
• The general specification marking requirements for all packagings found at §178.3

In this article I will identify and describe the requirements of 49 CFR 178.3 – specifically, those of §178.3(a) – for the display of the specification marking – either a DOT specification or a UN standard – on a specification packaging.

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