Excepted Quantities - Packaging

Closures must be held securely, tightly, and effectively in place with tape, shrink plastic, wire, or other positive means.

Liquids must not completely fill inner packaging at a temperature of 55° C (130° F).

Securely pack each inner packaging in an intermediate packaging with cushioning material; the intermediate packaging must completely contain the contents in case of breakage or leakage (regardless of packaging orientation). For liquid hazardous materials, the intermediate packaging must contain sufficient absorbent cushioning material to absorb the entire contents in the inner packaging.

You must securely pack the intermediate packaging in a strong, rigid outer packaging (such as fiberboard, wood, and so on).

You can use an overpack that can contain packages of non-hazardous material, as long as all materials in the same outer packaging and overpack are compatible.

Two of the three outside dimensions of the outer package must measure at least 100 mm (4 inches); for a cylinder shape, it must have a minimum height and diameter of 100 mm each.

A package containing hazardous materials in Excepted Quantities must not contain other hazardous materials that are regulated by AFMAN 24-604 (this requires a Shipper's Declaration For Dangerous Goods).

For different materials in one outer packaging, refer to A19.2.11 for a formula to determine quantities that can be included. You must calculate what is called a "Q" value to make sure that the net quantity of each different hazardous material does not exceed the "Q" value of 1.

The complete package (inner and outer packaging) must be capable of withstanding the test specified in A19.2.12.1, without breakage or leakage of the inner packaging and significant reduction in effectiveness. Refer to A19.2.12 for more details.

Read A19.2.12 for information on package performance tests.

Figure A19.1 is an example of the Excepted package Marking. A19.2.13 lists requirements for package marking of excepted quantities of hazardous materials. Markings, labels, and documentation required by Attachments 14, 15, and 17 do not apply to excepted quantity shipments.

To learn more about Shipping HAZMAT visit our Shipping HAZMAT By Military Aircraft Online Training web page.