Class 8 - Packaging Group Criteria

Substances are assigned to Class 8 packing groups based on experience and taking into account other hazards such as inhalation risk. New substances, including mixtures, can be assigned to packing groups based on the length of time it takes to cause full thickness destruction of human skin. Data from experiments can be obtained from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals No. 404, "Acute Dermal Irritation/Corrosion," 2002, or No. 435, "In Vitro Membrane Barrier Test Method for Skin Corrosion," 2006.

Packing groups are assigned based on the following descriptions:

Packing Group I - Substance causes full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 60 minutes, starting after an exposure time of 3 minutes or less.

Packing Group II - Substance causes full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 14 days, starting after an exposure time of more than 3 minutes but less than 60 minutes.

Packing Group III - Substance causes full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 14 days, starting after an exposure time of more than 60 minutes but less than 4 hours, or substance does not cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue but has a corrosion rate either on steel or aluminum surfaces exceeding 6.25 mm a year at test temperature of 55°C (131°F).

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