The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) of the USDOT/PHMSA require most packagings used for the transport in commerce of a hazardous material (HazMat) to meet a DOT specification or a UN standard.  Some HazMat are subject to a packaging exception and others – though fully regulated – are allowed to be transported in other forms of specification packaging, e.g., a packaging in compliance with a special permit; these do not require DOT specification or UN standard packaging.

Most shipments of HazMat, however, will require a DOT specification or UN standard packaging.  Those that are non-bulk packagings must be manufactured to a standard identified in 49 CFR 178, subpart L and be able to pass certain tests specified in §178, subpart M.  One of those required tests is the leakproofness test. (more…)

The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) of USDOT/PHMSA require certain packagings (mostly single and composite packagings intended for the transport of liquid hazardous materials) to undergo a leakproofness test prior to use or reuse.

The requirements for the leakproofness test are found at 49 CFR 178.604.  §178.604(d) identifies the test method to use.  It also reads, “Other methods, at least equally effective, may be used in accordance with appendix B of this part.”  So, in addition to the method prescribed in §178.6o4, the leakproofness test methods of appendix B to part 178 are authorized.

What follows is a list of the alternative leakproofness test methods of Appendix B to Part 178.  For a more complete description, refer to the regulation.

• Helium test
• Pressure differential test
• Solution over seams
• Solution over partial seams test