When shipping hazardous materials it is important that the container be of proper size as well as compliant with all UN regulations. Safely transporting materials is the number one goal of a steel drum and all efforts work towards the delivery of a proper sealed, intact container. There are, however, some unforeseeable incidents that cause a disruption in transport. A drum may be dropped or punctured causing damage or a leak, and rendering the drum unsafe for further transport. It may prove noncompliant with necessary regulations halting any continuation of transport. It is these unfortunate moments for which Overpack Salvage Drums are made.
A Salvage Drum is an outer container used to store otherwise damaged, leaking or non-compliant drums and prevents any hazardous materials from causing environmental or financial damage. According to the 49 CFR 173.3 (1)(c)(7) “ the drum must be a UN 1A2, 1B2, 1N2 or 1H2 tested and marked for Packing Group III or higher performance standards for liquids or solids and a leakproofness test of 20 kPa (3 psig).” This means that every Salvage Drum has gone through a series of severe testing and resulted in earning the proper UN ratings, usually a ‘T’ rating. This rating is achieved by filling the drum with water and dropping it from a designated height onto a critical spot. Should the drum show no sign of leaking or serious damage it is awarded the ‘T’ rating and can safely be used in overpacking. This test must occur once every year, but with Skolnik Industries’ ability to test in house, a drum can be tested as per the customer’s requests.
Although the most commonly used Salvage Drum is an 85 gallon open head, the containers come is various sizes. It is important to know which size container will be needed in case of an incident, and also that the drum will perform accordingly. For example, the 85 gallon Salvage Drum is used to overpack a 55 gallon drum, a 55 gallon will overpack a 30 gallon drum. Properly tested drums can be used for either solid or liquid due to the absorbent material placed inside the salvage drum. This material allows a salvage drum to hold damaged or leaking drums containing liquids; the contents should never come into contact with the interior of Salvage Drum. If a Salvage Drum does not have the proper amount of absorbent material it risks the integrity of the drum and should not be used in overpacking.
When an unfortunate incident occurs it is important for any hazardous materials to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. The proper size salvage drum can give transporters peace of mind that leaking or damaged containers will arrive safely to their destination. Always make sure the Salvage Drums meet UN requirements and that any person handling the containers know the proper closure procedures. Safety is the number one concern in transporting hazardous materials, and the proper Salvage Drum can make all the difference when it comes to reducing risk.