UN portable tanks – Requirements

Information on UN Portable Tanks as well as the requirements to be registered by Transport Canada.

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General

Identifying a specification UN portable tank

UN portable tanks used for dangerous goods are permanently marked with information with respect to their specifications.

Each UN portable tank must have permanently marked on the metal identification plate the following:

  1. Owner information:
    1. he owner's name
    2. the owner's registration number
  2. Manufacturing information:
    1. the country of manufacture
    2. the year of manufacture
    3. the manufacturer's name or mark
    4. the manufacturer's serial number
  3. Approval information:
    1. the United Nations packaging symbol (this symbol shall not be used for a purpose other than certifying that packaging complies with the applicable requirements of this Standard)
    2. the approval country (ex: Canada)
    3. the authorized body for the design approval (Design Reviewer's name and registered mark)
    4. the design approval number (issued by the Design Reviewer)
    5. the pressure vessel code to which the shell is designed (ex: ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1)
    6. (1) (if applicable)
    7. T Code (if applicable)
  4. Pressures:
    1. the MAWP (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)
    2. the test pressure (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)Footnote *
    3. the initial pressure test date (month and year)
    4. the identification mark of the initial pressure test witness (Independent Inspector)
    5. the external design pressure (if applicable) (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)Footnote *
    6. the MAWP for the heating/cooling system (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)Footnote * (when applicable)
  5. Temperatures:
    1. the design temperature range (if applicable) (in °C)Footnote *
    2. the design reference temperature (if applicable) (in °C)Footnote *
    3. the minimum design temperature (if applicable) (in °C)Footnote *
  6. Materials:
    1. the shell material(s) and material standard reference(s)
    2. the equivalent thickness in reference steel (in mm)Footnote *
    3. the lining material (if applicable)
  7. Capacity:
    1. the tank water capacity at 20 °C (in litres)Footnote *. This indication shall be followed by the symbol "S" when the tank is divided by surge plates into sections of not more than 7500 L capacity (if applicable)
    2. the capacity of each compartment at 20 °C (if applicable) (in litres)Footnote *. This indication shall be followed by the symbol "S" when the compartment is divided by surge plates into sections of not more than 7500 L capacity
  8. Insulation (if applicable):
    1. either "Thermally Insulated" or "Vacuum Insulated" (as applicable)
    2. the effectiveness of the insulation system (heat influx) (in watts)Footnote *
  9. Hold times (applicable to each refrigerated liquefied gas permitted to be transported in the portable tank):
    1. the name, in full, of the refrigerated liquefied gas
    2. the reference holding time (in days or hours)Footnote *
    3. the initial pressure (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)Footnote *
    4. the degree of filling (in kg)Footnote *
  10. Periodic inspections and tests:
    1. the type (if applicable) of the most recent periodic test
    2. the date of the most recent periodic test (month and year)
    3. the test pressure (in bar gauge or kPa gauge)Footnote * of the most recent periodic test (if applicable)
    4. the identification mark of the authorized body (Independent Inspector) that witnessed the most recent test
 
Example of metal identification plate

Owner

  

Owner’s registration number

 

Manufacturing information

Country of manufacture

  

Year of manufacture

 

Manufacturer

 

Manufacturer’s serial number

 

Approval information

Approval country

CANADA

Authorized body for design approval

 

Design approval number

 

Shell design code (pressure vessel code)

ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1

TC IMPACT APPROVED (if applicable)

(Other approval information, as applicable)

Pressures

MAWP

bar or kPa

Test pressure

bar or kPa

Initial pressure test date:

(mm/yyyy)

Witness stamp:

 

External design pressure

bar or kPa

MAWP for heating/cooling system (if applicable)

bar or kPa

Temperatures

Design temperature range

°C                    to                    °C

Materials

Shell material(s) and material standard references

 

Equivalent thickness in reference steel

mm

Lining material (if applicable)

 

Capacity

Water capacity at 20 °C

litres

‘S’ (if applicable)

Water capacity of compartment ___ at 20 °C

(as applicable, for multi-compartment tanks)

litres

‘S’ (if applicable)

Periodic inspections/tests

Test type

Test date

Witness stamp and test pressure*

Test type

Test date

Witness stamp and test pressureFootnote *

 

(mm/yyyy)

 

bar or kPa

 

(mm/yyyy)

 

bar or kPa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design and Construction requirements

UN portable tanks need to be designed and constructed in accordance with the Standard CSA B625.

Selection and use

The selection and use of UN portable tanks must be done in accordance with the Standard CSA B625. Certain dangerous goods of Class 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 may be transported using UN portable tanks.

For the selection and use of Explosives (Class 1), you must refer to the standard CGSB-43.151 - Packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of Explosives (Class 1).

Registration

Who needs to register:

  • UN portable tank manufacturing, modification, inspection, test, and/or repair facility
  • UN portable tank impact test facility
  • UN portable tank independent inspector and/or design reviewer

To register, the applicant must submit a completed application form. Once issued, the Certificate of Registration is valid for five years, after which the facility must apply for renewal.

Manufacturers of auxiliary equipment such as service equipment, structural equipment, and other parts manufacturers do not need to be registered.

Amending, renewing or cancelling a registration

A registration can be amended, renewed or cancelled by completing the application form.

Contact us

Inquiries pertaining to applications for registration

Telephone: 1-855-298-1520
Email: MOCregister-Registrecontenant@tc.gc.ca

Technical inquiries

Email: tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca
Please include the text "UN Portable Tanks" in the subject line

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