A frequent issue with liquid dangerous goods in UN specification drums are the drums themselves. By ground transportation requirements under CFR49 removable head drums can be acceptable. When transported by air packaging instructions may require that the drums be of a non-removable head design.
Removable Head Drums
These are some examples but not an all inclusive list:
1A2- removable head steel drums
1H2- removable head plastic drums
3H2- removable head plastic jerricans
3A2- removable head steel jerricans
3B2- removable head aluminium jerricans
6HA2- plastic receptacle with outer steel crate*/or box
6HB2- plastic receptacle with outer aluminium crate*/or box
Non-removable Head Drums
These are some examples but not an all inclusive list:
1A1- non-removable head steel drums
1H1- non-removable head plastic drums
3H1- non-removable head plastic jerricans
3A1- non-removable head steel jerricans
3B1- non-removable head aluminium jerricans
6HA1- plastic receptacle with outer steel drum
6HB1- plastic receptacle with outer aluminium drum
The issue with removable head drums that are single packages (meaning the dangerous goods are poured directly into the drum) is that sometimes the packaging instruction requires for the drum to be of a non-removable head design. See below for an example of Packing Instruction 364. This would be used for a packing group II flammable liquid prepared according to cargo aircraft only.
If you notice at the bottom of the Packing Instruction under "Single Packagings" that the UN codes listed are ONLY for non-removable head packages.
In this situation the material would need to be transferred to one of the authorized packages that is list in the packaging instructions.
