Gasket Inspection at Closing is Critical!

When closing an open or closed head drum for shipment, it’s critical to follow the manufacturer’s specific Closure Instruction for the drum. In the case of the Skolnik Open Head Closure procedure, fillers are instructed to insure that the cover gasket is properly fitted into the cover groove. While most new drums are shipped with the gasket in place, it is still important that fillers recognize that tested drums are fitted with fresh gaskets and therefore, the fresher the gasket when filling, the better the closure. While most gaskets are made from rubber derivatives, gasket properties can change with use, time, temperature and age. However, given these potential changes, the gasket is expected to perform in compliance with the marked rating of the drum. When filling, if there is doubt about the gasket integrity, call the original manufacturer and purchase replacement gaskets. It’s worth a few dollars to insure a secure closure.