UN testing criteria for drop tests state that "where more then one orientation is possible for a given drop test, the orientation most likely to result in failure of the packaging must be used." As with all performance oriented tests, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to establish the orientation believed to be weakest. To this end, two orientations of drop were believed to be the weakest points. Dropping at either of these two points has served the steel drum well as drum failures are more the result of human failure than structural failure. However, members of the steel drum community have proceeded to find which one is the most severe drop point. The two choices are with the ring gap facing the contact surface (6 O‘clock) or the ring gap about 30 degrees off center (4 O’clock or 8 O‘clock). With no field incidents demonstrating the need to identify either drop orientation, some believe that the drum manufacturing and testing community is focusing too heavily on non-issues, and delaying their responsiveness to critical issues that can be identified in the field. Insure that your shipments will have a lower amount of failure risk by making sure that the drum integrity (steel thickness, ring style, gasket) are of sufficient strength to pass the rigors of domestic and international transit. Just passing a drop test will not aid in passing the #1 reason for drum failure……..fork lift puncture!

October 9th, 2001 8:15 am Filed under: Uncategorized by Howard Skolnik