UN Markings Guide

It is important to select the correct package for materials that require UN-Rated packaging. The marking that is applied to a UN package indicates the type of package and the levels to which the packaging has been approved. The following describes the sequence of numbers and letters that appear in a UN marking and what they designate.

 

Combination Packaging or Single Packaging for Solid Hazardous Materials Example of UN Marking for Solid Hazardous Materials in single or composite packaging or combination packaging for all materials.
Liquid Hazardous Materials Example of UN Marking for Liquid Hazardous Materials in single or composite packaging.

 

How to Read UN Markings
Character	Description
Type of Package	1 - Drums 2 - Barrels	3 - Jerricans 4 - Boxes	5 - Bags 6 - Composite Packagings
Material	A - Steel B - Aluminum C - Natural Wood D - Plywood	F - Reconstituted Wood G - Fiberboard H - Plastic L - Textile	M - Paper, Multiwall N - Metal other than Steel or Aluminum P - Glass, Porcelain or Stoneware
Category	1 - Closed Head	2 - Open Head
Packing Group	X - Packing Groups I, II, and III Y - Packing Groups II and III Z - Packing Group III only
Maximum Gross Mass or Specific Gravity	Maximum Gross Mass - Solids or packagings that have inner packagings must be marked with the maximum gross mass (weight) in kilograms. Specific Gravity - Stand alone packagings intended to contain liquids must be marked with the specific gravity rounded down to the first decimal.
Solids or Inner Packaging	Solids - An "S" in upper case should follow the maximim gross mass. Liquids - Liquids should reflect the Hydrostatic test pressure in kPa (kilopascals), rounded down to the nearest 10 kPa.
Year of Manufacture	The last two digits of data indicate the year the packaging was manufactured.
Location of Manufacture	Country where the item was manufactured.
Manufacturer Code	Code for UN certifying agency or manufacturer.