It’s important to understand the basic facts and best practices of overpack shipping if you’re arranging to ship hazardous or fragile goods. Let’s do a quick overview of what you need to know.
Overpack Shipping Basics
The PHMSA — the government agency that regulates hazmat shipping in the United States — defines overpacks thusly: “An enclosure that is used by a single consignor to provide protection or convenience in the handling of a package. It may consolidate two or more packages.”
Basically, you’re creating a buffer by enclosing your products in a protective shell, bundling many of them together or both. Many of the biggest names in industry use overpacks to ship their goods. That’s because hazmat overpack boxes offer a wide range of opportunities for improving safety, protecting your product and sometimes even lowering prices.
Why Use Overpacks for Shipping?
Overpacks offer a variety of benefits that make hazardous and fragile goods easier to ship, like:
- Protecting your goods from damage in transit. Many shippers will use two or even more layers of overpack, such as packing four jerricans in an overpack box, then shrink-wrapping a pallet full of those boxes.
- Improved employee safety when handling hazardous goods. Overpacks reduce the risk of injury associated with spilled and damaged containers. Again, the extra layer of protection can make a big difference in avoiding serious harm if an accident does occur.
- Consolidating shipments of unusually-shaped items to make handling easier. Shipping a pallet of chemicals packaged in drums is often much easier if those drums are packed in overpack boxes.
- Extra savings. In addition to easier handling, consolidating goods into overpacks may save enough space to reduce your shipping and handling fees, though this will vary depending on your carrier and other factors.)
What Does the Law Require for Overpack Shipping?
Federal regulations dictate how overpacks must be labelled and marked. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the full text of the federal law on overpack shipping as well as any applicable state laws. To summarize these regulations, when shipping in an overpack, your overpack must have:
- Clear labelling with the word “OVERPACK” in text at least 0.5 inches high
- Orientation marks on at least two opposite sides to instruct handlers on correct orientation
- Filling holes for any vessels inside oriented up with orientation marks in this direction
- Labelling with the proper name and shipping number for all goods contained within
- U.N.-standard hazmat labels denoting any toxic, corrosive, radioactive or otherwise dangerous materials inside.
The above standards — and the ones in your applicable state laws — affect how your overpacks must be labelled and packaged. However, individual freight carriers also often require overpacks to meet certain standards.
Freight Carrier Regulations for Overpacks
The major U.S. freight carriers each have their own set of regulations for goods in overpacks. Carriers adopt these common-sense regulations to maintain their safety standards, and you’ll need to make sure your overpacks measure up. While you should always check with your carrier for their specific regulations, consider the following common rules as you plan your shipping practices:
- For hazmat shipping, carriers often require the use of overpacks for employee and environmental safety.
- Many carriers limit the number of different types of hazmat goods that can be shipped within a single overpack unit. This is particularly true of items containing lithium batteries.
- Overpacks often need to be secured with plastic or metal bands on all four sides.
- Some carriers may require additional labeling on overpacks above and beyond that required by state and federal law.
Extensive Overpack Options from AirSea Containers
Hazmat shipping can be tricky and even nerve-wracking, but a good overpack solution is a great first step to a smooth ride. When you want the safest and most cost-effective hazardous materials shipping solutions, you want the country’s No. 1 name in hazmat packaging — AirSea Containers.
We offer:
- Box-only models for adding your own jerricans
- Complete overpack kits with jerricans or jugs included
- Overpack boxes for 5-gallon and 55-gallon drums
- Heavy-duty DOT- and IATA-compliant custom hazmat labels
We can even create custom solutions for clients with particular needs. Just call us at (866)- 801-2581 or contact us online to request a quote from the most trusted name in hazmat shipping.
