Approval of Packaging for Dangerous Goods Transport

ADR / RID / ADN / IMDG / IATA regulations


CSI has been operating in the sector of UN marking of packaging for the transport of dangerous goods since 2002, as an Approval Body and as a Test Laboratory.

The transport of dangerous goods is subject to specific rules and regulations, structured according to the type of goods to be transported, the packaging used and the transport vehicles to be used.

The transport of dangerous goods by wheel is regulated by the European Agreements ADR (Accord Dangereuses Route) and RID (Règlement International concernant le transport des marchandieses dangereux par chemin de fer), whose contents are updated every two years by the Working Party 15 of the UNECE commission.

In addition to ADR (Road Transport) and RID (Transport by Rail) there are other regulations for the transport of dangerous goods: the IMDG code (Maritime transport), the ICAO / IATA Technical Instructions (Instructions for the Air Transport of Goods Hazardous) and the ADN code (Transport on Internal Waterways).

  1. the classification of dangerous goods, substances and mixtures;
  2. the conditions of packaging of the goods, characteristics of the packaging and containers;
  3. the procedures and tests for the approval of packaging for the transport of dangerous goods;
  4. the construction methods of vehicles and tanks;
  5. the requirements for the transport vehicle, including travel documents.

Each type of product corresponds to a different solution which also varies according to the danger of the goods transported and the method of transport chosen (by road, by rail, by inland waterway, by sea and by air). Depending on the quantities of goods contained, it will be necessary to use approved packaging which must bear the mandatory UN marking.

But what does it mean "to homologate"?

It indicates the approval of a package by an authorized body, such as CSI. To obtain this validation, the Body will perform a series of mechanical resistance tests on the packaging which will then give rise to a certificate of approval.

CSI, availing itself of the acknowledgments by the Italian Ministries of Transport, is a Technical Testing and Approval Body for each type of packaging and for all modes of transport.

It is also recognized as a Technical Service for inspections and tests on packaging for the transport of dangerous goods by the Luxembourg Ministry of Transport.

Approval procedure

  • initial visit to the company
  • examination of the technical file
  • execution in the CSI laboratories of drop tests, overlapping of the contents, conditioning in the climatic
  • chamber, tightness and vibration tests
  • issuing of the test report
  • issuing of the approval
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