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Service · Compliance
A used tote can legally carry regulated cargo. The plate has to say so.
Regulated liquids need a container with a valid design-type marking and a current periodic test. That is a paperwork and testing problem, not a reason to buy new. We inspect, leakproofness test, re-mark and record in house, which keeps thousands of perfectly serviceable UN-rated containers in regulated service instead of in a scrap bale.
Short answer
Leakproofness test and external inspection at intervals not exceeding 2.5 years, full periodic inspection at 5 years. We test, mark and issue records in house.
- Design type
- 31HA1 / Y
- Test interval
- 2.5 yr
- Periodic
- 5 yr
- Records
- Same day
Form 01 · Spec request
Book recertification.
Give us the count and, if you can, a photograph of one plate. Design type and manufacture date determine what testing is due and what it will cost.
What the plate means
Reading a design-type marking.
Every rated IBC carries a code that records what it is, what it may carry and when it was made. Learn to read it and you can assess a container in ten seconds.
| Segment | Means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | IBC for liquids, filled or discharged under gravity or pressure | Confirms it is a liquid-rated IBC, not a solids IBC (11) |
| HA1 | Composite: rigid plastic inner with outer metal frame | Identifies construction; HZ2 and 31A differ materially |
| Y | Packing group II and III cargo | X covers I, II and III; Z covers III only |
| 03 26 | Month and year of manufacture | Drives the 5-year periodic clock |
| USA | Country of design-type approval | Where the approval was issued |
| M1234 | Manufacturer or approval reference | Traces the approval holder |
The process
From arrival to marked and released.
- 01
Identify
Plate photographed and transcribed, design type and manufacture date recorded, previous test dates established from markings and paperwork.
Step 01 - 02
Inspect
External and internal inspection: cage integrity, welds, feet, deck, receptacle wall, crazing, closures, gasket seats and outlet condition.
Step 02 - 03
Test
Sealed and pressurised to the required leakproofness test pressure and held while closures, seams and the outlet are checked for decay and leakage.
Step 03 - 04
Mark & record
Passed containers are marked with the test date and released with a written record against the serial number. Failures are reported unit by unit with the reason.
Step 04
Common failures
Why units do not pass
- Illegible, painted over or missing design-type plate
- Crazing or stress whitening in the receptacle wall
- Cracked or previously repaired welds in load-bearing cage members
- Deformed outlet boss causing seal decay under test
- Deck or foot damage that compromises the base assembly
- Repairs or modifications that alter the approved design type
Practical advice
How to keep a fleet certified
- Record the plate date at purchase, not at the first audit
- Test on a calendar, batching units so a truck is never idle
- Never paint, label over or pressure-blast a marking plate
- Replace gaskets and valves proactively — see parts
- Combine testing with a wash run so units move once
- Or hand the whole problem to a managed programme
Questions
Recertification, answered.
01How often does an IBC need retesting?
Under US and international rules a composite IBC used for regulated liquids requires a leakproofness test and external inspection at intervals not exceeding two and a half years, and a full periodic inspection including that test at intervals not exceeding five years from the date of manufacture and from each subsequent periodic test. Always confirm against the current regulation text for your jurisdiction and cargo.
02Can any used tote be recertified?
No. The container must have a legible design-type marking, an intact and undamaged inner receptacle, a structurally sound cage and no repairs that alter the design type. A tote with an illegible plate cannot be recertified — it can only be sold for non-regulated service or reclaimed.
03What does the leakproofness test involve?
The container is sealed, pressurised with air to the required test pressure, and held while it is checked for decay and for leakage at the closures and outlet. Pass or fail is recorded against the serial number, and a passed unit is marked with the test date.
04Does rebottling reset the design type?
Fitting a replacement inner receptacle from an approved design-type family and re-marking accordingly is a recognised route back to rated service, provided the assembly matches the approval. We do this in house and issue the records with the container.
05Who keeps the records?
We keep ours and you get yours. Test records travel with the container and are reissued on request, because the inspector who eventually asks for them will ask you, not us.
Regulatory intervals and requirements summarised here are provided for general guidance. Always verify against the current applicable regulation for your jurisdiction, mode of transport and specific cargo before shipping.
Marking reference
Reading a design-type plate character by character.
The plate is the container's legal identity. Learn the segments and you can assess regulatory status in about ten seconds.
| Code | Meaning | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | IBC for solids, gravity filled or discharged | Bulk powder and granule containers |
| 13 | IBC for solids, filled or discharged under pressure | Pneumatic transfer units |
| 21 | IBC for solids under pressure | Specialist solids handling |
| 31 | IBC for liquids | Every liquid tote on this site |
| Code | Construction | Example | Repair implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Steel | 31A — all-metal IBC | Weld repair by a competent welder |
| B | Aluminium | 31B | Uncommon in general industry |
| H | Rigid plastic | 31H1 — plastic IBC with structural equipment | Limited repair options |
| HA1 | Composite: rigid plastic inner, steel outer | 31HA1 — the standard tote | Cage repair routine; bottle replaceable |
| HZ2 | Composite: flexible inner, outer casing | 31HZ2 | Less common |
| N | Metal other than steel or aluminium | 31N | Rare |
| Segment | Example | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing group | Y | Approved for PG II and III | X covers I–III; Z covers III only |
| Date | 0326 | March 2026 | Starts the five-year periodic clock |
| Country | USA | State issuing the design-type approval | Which authority stands behind it |
| Manufacturer ref | M1234 | Approval holder code | Traceability |
| Maximum gross mass | 1135 kg | Weight limit when filled | Not a volume limit |
| Stacking test load | 2500 kg | What the design carried when stacked | Governs stacking in service |
| Test pressure | 100 kPa | Where the design is pressure rated | Applies to pressure discharge |
| Last periodic test | Separate stamp | Whether the container is in test | The plate alone is not enough |
Fleet scheduling
Batching testing instead of discovering it.
Testing fifteen containers on one visit costs a fraction of testing one container fifteen times. Without a schedule, the second pattern is what happens.
| Manufacture date | Units | 2.5-year check | 5-year periodic | Action this quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Q3 | 18 | Overdue | Due now | Batch test |
| 2022 Q1 | 24 | Current | 2027 Q1 | Schedule |
| 2022 Q4 | 11 | Current | 2027 Q4 | Schedule |
| 2023 Q2 | 31 | Due next quarter | 2028 Q2 | Book with the next wash run |
| 2019 Q2 | 6 | Overdue | Overdue | Test or move to non-regulated service |
| Illegible plate | 3 | N/A | N/A | Non-regulated service only |
Failure modes
Why units do not pass, and what happens to them.
| Reason | Recoverable? | Route | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illegible or missing plate | No | Non-regulated service or reclaim | Never paint, label over or blast a plate |
| Crazing in the receptacle wall | No | Rebottling | Match chemistry to the container |
| Stress whitening | No | Rebottling | Do not overload or overstack |
| Cracked weld in a load-bearing member | Usually | Cage shop, then retest | Careful handling |
| Deformed outlet boss | Sometimes | Refit and retest | Do not force adapters |
| Base or foot damage | Usually | Cage shop, then retest | Level standing, correct lifts |
| Repair departing from the design type | No | Non-regulated service | Restore to type, do not modify |
| Pressure decay after gasket replacement | No | Rebottling or reclaim | — |
Intervals and requirements summarised on this page are general guidance. Verify against the current regulation applicable to your jurisdiction, transport mode and cargo before shipping regulated material.
Extended FAQ · 7 questions
More questions, answered
01How often does a rated container need retesting?
Generally a leakproofness test with external inspection at intervals not exceeding two and a half years, and a full periodic inspection including that test at intervals not exceeding five years from manufacture and from each subsequent inspection. Verify against the regulation applicable to your jurisdiction and cargo.
02Can any used container be recertified?
No. It needs a legible design-type marking, an intact undamaged inner receptacle, a structurally sound cage and no repairs that alter the design type. A container with an illegible plate cannot be recertified at all.
03What does the leakproofness test involve?
The container is sealed, pressurised with air to the required test pressure and held while closures, seams and the outlet are checked for decay and leakage. Pass or fail is recorded against the serial, and a passed unit is marked with the test date.
04Does age alone disqualify a container?
No. There is a testing schedule, not an expiry date. We routinely recertify containers over a decade old, provided they have been kept in test and remain structurally sound.
05Can a marking plate be replaced?
Not by us and not by you. A design-type marking is issued against a specific container by the approval holder. A container whose marking is lost has lost it permanently — which is why we are insistent about protecting them.
06Who keeps the test records?
We keep ours and you get yours. Records travel with the container and are reissued on request, because the inspector who eventually asks for them will ask you, not us.
07Can testing be combined with a wash run?
Yes, and it is the sensible way to do it. Testing added to a wash run costs three to five days and one movement instead of two, so units leave your site once rather than twice.
Next step
Photograph one plate. Send it to us.
Design type and date are all we need to tell you what testing is due across the fleet and what it will cost.