Dear RIPA IBC Product Group Member,

The Commodity Classification Standards Board has adopted in draft-final form the following definition of “Intermediate Bulk Container.” The proposal to add the new rule for IBCs was approved on June 2 and, assuming there are no requests for reconsideration or arbitration by July 2, the provisions will be published in Supplement 3 to NMF 100-AI, effective August 22, 2009.

DEFINITION OF OR SPECIFICATIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINERS (IBCs)
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are large flexible, semi-rigid or rigid portable packages that permit handling with mechanical equipment and may be constructed from a wide variety of materials including fabric, fibreboard, metal, plastic or wood, or a combination thereof. The receptacle of an IBC should have a volumetric capacity of not more than 3,000 liters (793 gallons or 106 cubic feet) and not less than 450 liters (119 gallons or 15.9 cubic feet) or a maximum net mass of not less than 400 kilograms (882 pounds). They must provide for mechanical equipment to safely pick up the container and be constructed so as to sufficiently contain and protect the product. IBCs intended for stacking must have an integral stacking alignment or securing design feature. Sufficient outage must be left within IBC to ensure that the package will not leak or be permanently distorted as a result of liquid expansion due to change in temperatures likely to be encountered during transportation. IBCs designed for the transport of solid materials must be sift-proof and water-resistant. Bottom valves must be secured in the closed position, have a secondary means of sealing and must sufficiently protect against damage (e.g. shearing).

IBCs used for the transportation of hazardous materials must be in conformance with the applicable requirements of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). ASTM D7387, Standard Test Method for Vibration Testing of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) Used for Shipping Liquid Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods), may be used to test the integrity of the IBC, providing the 49 CFR requirements have been met.

Paul W. Rankin, President
Reusable Industrial Packaging Association
8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 450
Landover, MD 20785
301.577.3786