Packaging

According to 49CFR173.199, transportation of Category B infectious substances are subject to the incident reporting requirements in 49 CFR 171.15 and 49CFR 171.16 and 49CFR 175.85 concerning cargo location and need to comply with the following standards:

• Must be packaged in a triple packaging consisting of a primary receptacle, a secondary packaging, and a rigid outer packaging.
  

• Under normal conditions of transport, primary receptacles cannot break, be punctured, or leak their contents into the secondary packaging.
  

• Secondary packagings must be secured in rigid outer packagings with suitable cushioning material.
  

• The completed packaging must be capable of complying the following conditions:

  • Passing the drop tests in 49CFR178.609(d) and 49CFR178.609(h) at a height of 1.2 meters (3.9 feet). There must be no leakage from the primary receptacle, which must remain protected by absorbent material, in the secondary packaging.
    

  • Not releasing hazardous material into the environment, under normal condition in transportation.
    

  • Not reducing effectiveness of the completed package for minimum and maximum temperatures, changes in humidity and pressure, and shocks, loadings and vibrations normally encountered during transportation. Having an outer packaging surface with a minimum dimension of 100 mm by 100 mm (3.9 inches).
    

  • The maximum quantity for a primary receptacle is 500 ml or 500g and outer packaging must not contain more than 4 L or 4 kg.

  

 

Figure 2.5.1: Packaging of Category B of infectious substances