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BS 5609: Regulations for labeling hazardous goods for marine transport

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If a container of chemicals is recovered from the ocean, it is critical those recovering it be able to see, read and understand the label to identify the contents and take proper precautions when dealing with them. To ensure safe handling of chemical drums and barrels as they travel the globe, labels must meet certain durability standards and certifications. BS 5609 certification is required by IMDG, GHS and Merchant Shipping Regulations.

BS 5609 regulatory requirementsThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code is a global system developed by the International Maritime Organization to govern the safe transport of dangerous goods by sea.

The IMDG classifies dangerous substances by their properties to determine how they should be handled, packaged, loaded, transported, unloaded and stored. With a goal of minimizing environmental damage from chemical containers lost or damaged at sea, the IMDG also requires the labels of dangerous goods meet certain durability standards to withstand the harsh conditions of marine transport.

Specifically, IMDG requires labels to have British Standard BS 5609 certification, which establishes durability standards for printed pressure-sensitive, adhesive-coated labels used in marine environments. Then, if a chemical container washes onto shore, its BS 5609-certified label will remain intact to communicate critical information regarding how to handle the contents.

Labels that meet BS 5609 standards also comply with Merchant Shipping Regulation 1990 Statutory Instrument 1990 No. 2605, which requires shippers to use durable markings for dangerous cargo that is transported by sea.

With the international adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), labels are also required to contain certain universal elements to communicate hazard warnings, safety precautions and pictograms to ensure proper handling of dangerous chemicals around the world. GHS standards require certain products meet IMDG certification, part of which mandates that labels comply with BS 5609 specifications.

BS 5609 testingBS 5609 establishes specifications and test methods to determine whether pressure-sensitive, adhesive-coated labels will perform under marine conditions. The four-part standard includes two technical sections.• Section 2 covers the base material of the pressure-

sensitive, adhesive-coated label. The label stock material is submerged in the English Channel for three months, testing its dimensional stability, adhesion, resistance to weathering from light and salt spray, thermal cycling and colorfastness.

• Section 3 covers the final printed pressure-sensitive, adhesive-coated labels, including the printing inks, ribbons and systems applied to materials that were certified in Section 2. Printed labels are tested for print key effectiveness, legibility, print permanence, resistance to abrasion and weathering from light, salt spray and sand.

*How a converter uses a label may impact its overall performance.

Both the base material and the printed label must pass durability tests in each respective section in order for the finished label to receive BS 5609 certification.

BS 5609 compliance for converters Typically, the regulatory burden of Section 3 falls on label converters, who are responsible for certifying the printing systems, inks and ribbons printed on Section 2-certified base materials. But with the U.S. deadline for GHS adoption approaching in June 2015, chemical manufacturers and distributors need an easy way to adopt the standards quickly.

To simplify the BS 5609 certification process for converters, Avery Dennison now includes Section 3 certifications in its drum label portfolio, in addition to Section 2-certified base materials. By adopting Avery Dennison’s precertified label system, both converters and end users can skip the time-consuming hassle of conducting separate Section 2 and Section 3 tests, as Avery Dennison’s portfolio equips converters with a label system that has been tested and certified to meet BS 5609 requirements.* >

Kevin GofronBusiness Development ManagerDurable Goods

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