Read the plate,
line by line.
Every authorised IBC carries a marking that tells you what it was built to hold, what it was tested to, when, by whom, and who reconditioned it. Most buyers never read it. It takes ninety seconds.
Send us a photo of your plate
Put it in the message box or email it over and we will decode it and tell you what the container is authorised for.
Tell us what you have.
We will tell you what it is worth.
Buying, selling, washing, hauling or recycling — one form covers all of it. Replies come from a specialist in York, PA, by email, inside one business day.
Prefer plain email? Write to info@ibctotesreco.com — include your ZIP, quantity and what the totes last held.
A typical composite IBC marking reads something like UN 31HA1/Y/0324/USA/M4518. Decoded: 31 = composite IBC for liquids; HA = plastic inner receptacle in a steel outer; 1 = construction variant; Y = tested for packing groups II and III; 0324 = made March 2024; USA = country of approval; M4518 = the manufacturer's registration code. A reconditioner adds its own code and date alongside it.
| Element | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| UN symbol | UN | The packaging is built to a UN design type |
| Category digit | 31 | 31 = liquids; 11 = solids, gravity; 21 = solids, pressure |
| Material letters | HA | H = plastic inner; A = steel outer. HZ = composite other |
| Construction digit | 1 | Variant within the design family |
| Packing group letter | Y | X = PG I/II/III; Y = PG II/III; Z = PG III only |
| Month & year of manufacture | 0324 | March 2024 |
| Country of approval | USA | Competent authority that approved the design |
| Manufacturer code | M4518 | Registered maker identifier |
| Stacking load | 2590 kg | Maximum permitted superimposed load |
| Max gross mass | 1175 kg | Container plus contents |
| Test pressure | 100 kPa | Where applicable to the design type |
| Capacity | 1041 L | Nominal capacity in litres |
| Reconditioner mark | RECON 03/26 + code | Who reconditioned it, and when |
Exact plate layout varies by manufacturer, and some data appears on a separate nameplate rather than in the marking string. The elements above are what matters for deciding whether a container is authorised for your material.
The codes you will actually encounter
Composite IBCs dominate the used market, but these all turn up in mixed lots.
| Code | Construction | Rated for | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31HA1 | Plastic inner, steel outer | Liquids | The standard caged composite tote |
| 31HB1 | Plastic inner, aluminium outer | Liquids | Lightweight specialty units |
| 31HH1 | Plastic inner, plastic outer | Liquids | Some food and pharma units |
| 31H1 | Rigid plastic, no structural outer | Liquids | Self-supporting poly IBCs |
| 31H2 | Rigid plastic with structural equipment | Liquids | Framed poly IBCs |
| 31A | Metal (steel) | Liquids | Stainless and carbon steel IBCs |
| 11HA1 | Plastic inner, steel outer | Solids, gravity discharge | Powder and granule totes |
| 21HA1 | Plastic inner, steel outer | Solids, pressure discharge | Pneumatic discharge units |
| 13H3 | Flexible, woven plastic, coated | Solids | Bulk bags / FIBCs |
Reading a plate in the field, in ninety seconds
Do this before you agree a price on any lot that will carry a regulated material.
Find it, and check it is legible
Usually on a plate or embossed panel on the cage, sometimes on the bottle shoulder. Illegible means not authorised — treat it as a non-UN container no matter how good it looks.
Read the category digit first
If it does not start with 31 and you intend to put a regulated liquid in it, stop. An 11-series container is not authorised for liquids.
Check the packing group letter against your material
Y covers PG II and III. If your material is PG I you need an X-marked design type, which is uncommon in composite IBCs.
Check the manufacture date and the periodic test status
49 CFR 180.352 requires external visual inspection at least every 2.5 years and a leakproofness test plus full inspection at least every 5 years for hazmat service. Ask for the records; a lapsed test means the container is not authorised until re-tested.
Note the stacking and gross mass limits
These are the numbers that govern how you may store and fill it. Exceeding the stated maximum gross mass voids the authorisation, and with dense products that is easier to do than people expect.
Look for the reconditioner mark
Its presence tells you the container has been through a registered reconditioner and when. Its absence on an obviously reconditioned container is a reason to ask questions.
Marking FAQ
What does 31HA1 mean on an IBC tote?
It is the design type code. '31' means a composite IBC intended for liquids. 'HA' means a rigid plastic inner receptacle in an outer steel frame — H for plastic, A for steel. The final '1' distinguishes the specific construction within that family. In short: a liquid-rated plastic bottle in a steel cage, which is the overwhelmingly common composite IBC.
What is the difference between 31HA1 and 11HA1?
The first digit. '31' is rated for liquids; '11' is rated for solids filled and discharged by gravity; '21' is for solids discharged under pressure. A container marked 11HA1 is not authorised for a regulated liquid, whatever it physically looks like.
What does the Y in a UN marking mean?
It is the packing group the design type was tested for. X covers packing groups I, II and III — the most demanding. Y covers II and III. Z covers III only. Most composite IBCs are marked Y. A Y-marked container may be used for PG II and PG III materials but not for PG I.
How long is an IBC's UN marking valid?
The marking does not expire on its own, but the container's authorisation depends on periodic requirements: under 49 CFR 180.352 an IBC used for hazardous materials needs an external visual inspection at least every two and a half years and a leakproofness test plus full inspection at least every five years, with records. A marked container whose periodic test has lapsed is not authorised until it is re-tested.
What is the reconditioner's mark?
When a reconditioner restores a UN-marked packaging it applies its own marking — its registration code and the month and year of reconditioning — alongside the original design-type marking. It is how an inspector traces who did the work and when. Ours goes on only after the leak and pressure test have passed and been recorded.
What if the plate is missing or illegible?
Then the container is not an authorised packaging for regulated materials, regardless of condition. We sell those as non-UN units for non-regulated service, and we say so explicitly on the quote. Anyone selling you a used tote as DOT-suitable without a legible, current marking is selling you a compliance problem.
This page explains how to read a marking. Deciding whether a specific packaging is authorised for a specific regulated material is the shipper's duty — our plain-English guide to those duties is here.
Related pages
Eighteen regulations, and who each one binds
The plate tells you what a container was built as. The regulations below decide whether it is currently authorised, and whose problem that is.
| Reference | Title | What it covers | Who it binds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 CFR 172.101 | Hazardous materials table | Classification and authorised packaging reference | Shippers |
| 49 CFR 172 Subpart H | Training | Who must be trained, in what, how often, with records | Any hazmat employer |
| 49 CFR 173 | Shippers — general requirements by class | Whether an IBC is authorised for your entry | Shippers |
| 49 CFR 178 Subpart N | IBC design types, testing and marking | What the plate means and how it was earned | Makers, reconditioners |
| 49 CFR 180.352 | Periodic inspection, testing, repair & remanufacture | 2.5-year visual, 5-year leakproofness + full inspection | Owners, shippers |
| 40 CFR 261.7 | RCRA empty containers | When a container counts as empty; P-list triple rinse | Generators |
| 40 CFR 262 | Generator standards | Waste determination, manifesting, accumulation | Generators |
| 21 CFR 177.1520 | Olefin polymers | HDPE compliance for food contact | Food users |
| 21 CFR 177.2600 | Rubber articles for repeated use | Gasket and seal compliance for food contact | Food users |
| 21 CFR 110 / 117 | Good manufacturing practice | Handling, storage, sanitation programmes | Food users |
| NSF/ANSI 61 | Drinking water system components | Potable-contact material evaluation | Water utilities |
| 29 CFR 1910.1200 | Hazard communication | Workplace labelling and safety data sheets | Everyone |
| 29 CFR 1910.146 | Permit-required confined spaces | Entry into tanks and vessels | Anyone cleaning containers |
| 29 CFR 1910.178 | Powered industrial trucks | Forklift operation and certification | Yards and docks |
| ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 | Low-lift and high-lift trucks | Capacity ratings and load centres | Yards and docks |
| ANSI MH16.1 | Steel storage racking | Beam capacity, deflection, inspection | Warehouses |
| PA Title 25 Ch. 95 | Wastewater treatment requirements | Industrial discharge standards in Pennsylvania | Wash lines |
| ISPM-15 | Wood packaging in international trade | Heat treatment and marking of timber pallets | Exporters |
Seven checks, ninety seconds
Do this before you agree a price on any lot that will carry a regulated material.
- Every character legible? Partially legible is legally the same as illegible. Treat it as non-UN.
- Does it start with 31? If not and you are shipping liquid, stop. An 11-series container is not authorised for liquids.
- Does the packing group letter cover your material? X covers PG I/II/III; Y covers II/III; Z covers III only.
- Note the date — four digits, month and year — and feel the bottle wall while you are there.
- Is a reconditioner mark present? Its absence on an obviously reconditioned container is a reason to ask questions.
- Write down the maximum gross mass and stacking load. Dense products exceed them more easily than people expect.
- Ask for the 2.5-year and 5-year records before agreeing a price. A lapsed interval is not an authorised packaging.
Formats and the design types they carry
| Format | Nominal | Usable | L × W × H | Tare (steel base) | Gross, water | Outlet | Stack filled | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal standard | 275 gal / 1,041 L | 265 gal | 48 × 40 × 46" | 137 lb | 2,347 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Ex-stock |
| 275 gal tall | 275 gal / 1,041 L | 264 gal | 48 × 40 × 53" | 141 lb | 2,342 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Regular |
| 330 gal standard | 330 gal / 1,249 L | 320 gal | 48 × 40 × 53" | 165 lb | 2,834 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Ex-stock |
| 350 gal | 350 gal / 1,325 L | 338 gal | 48 × 40 × 58" | 172 lb | 2,991 lb | 2" or 3" | 2 high | Occasional |
| 400 gal | 400 gal / 1,514 L | 386 gal | 48 × 46 × 60" | 198 lb | 3,417 lb | 3" buttress | 1 high | Order |
| 550 gal | 550 gal / 2,082 L | 532 gal | 48 × 48 × 72" | 251 lb | 4,688 lb | 3" buttress | 1 high | Occasional |
| 120 gal mini | 120 gal / 454 L | 115 gal | 32 × 32 × 36" | 71 lb | 1,030 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Occasional |
| 180 gal | 180 gal / 681 L | 174 gal | 40 × 40 × 42" | 98 lb | 1,549 lb | 2" S60x6 | 2 high | Order |
| Stainless 265 gal | 265 gal / 1,003 L | 258 gal | 48 × 40 × 50" | 285 lb | 2,436 lb | 2" tri-clamp | 2 high | Occasional |
| Stainless 330 gal | 330 gal / 1,249 L | 322 gal | 48 × 40 × 56" | 330 lb | 3,015 lb | 2" tri-clamp | 2 high | Occasional |
| Stainless 400 gal | 400 gal / 1,514 L | 390 gal | 48 × 46 × 62" | 385 lb | 3,637 lb | 3" tri-clamp | 1 high | Order |
| Stainless 500 gal | 500 gal / 1,893 L | 488 gal | 48 × 48 × 68" | 430 lb | 4,600 lb | 3" tri-clamp | 1 high | Order |
Filled weights against maximum gross mass
| Product | SG | 275 gal filled | 330 gal filled | 550 gal filled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetone | 0.79 | 1,883 lb | 2,273 lb | 3,756 lb |
| Ethanol | 0.79 | 1,883 lb | 2,273 lb | 3,756 lb |
| Kerosene | 0.81 | 1,927 lb | 2,327 lb | 3,845 lb |
| Citrus terpene oil | 0.84 | 1,993 lb | 2,407 lb | 3,978 lb |
| Diesel fuel | 0.85 | 2,016 lb | 2,433 lb | 4,022 lb |
| Mineral oil, hydraulic | 0.88 | 2,082 lb | 2,514 lb | 4,155 lb |
| Biodiesel B100 | 0.88 | 2,082 lb | 2,514 lb | 4,155 lb |
| Concrete release agent | 0.89 | 2,104 lb | 2,540 lb | 4,200 lb |
| Gear oil | 0.90 | 2,126 lb | 2,567 lb | 4,244 lb |
| Canola oil | 0.91 | 2,148 lb | 2,594 lb | 4,289 lb |
| Soybean / olive oil | 0.92 | 2,170 lb | 2,620 lb | 4,333 lb |
| Flavour concentrate | 0.95 | 2,237 lb | 2,700 lb | 4,466 lb |
| Amine corrosion inhibitor | 0.98 | 2,303 lb | 2,780 lb | 4,599 lb |
| Water | 1.00 | 2,347 lb | 2,834 lb | 4,688 lb |
| Antifoam emulsion | 1.00 | 2,347 lb | 2,834 lb | 4,688 lb |
| Quaternary sanitiser | 1.01 | 2,369 lb | 2,860 lb | 4,732 lb |
| Asphalt emulsion | 1.01 | 2,369 lb | 2,860 lb | 4,732 lb |
| Maple sap | 1.02 | 2,391 lb | 2,887 lb | 4,777 lb |
| Non-ionic surfactant | 1.03 | 2,413 lb | 2,914 lb | 4,821 lb |
| Milk / dairy intermediate | 1.03 | 2,413 lb | 2,914 lb | 4,821 lb |
| Car wash soap concentrate | 1.04 | 2,436 lb | 2,941 lb | 4,865 lb |
| Propylene glycol | 1.04 | 2,436 lb | 2,941 lb | 4,865 lb |
| Anionic surfactant | 1.05 | 2,458 lb | 2,967 lb | 4,910 lb |
| Apple cider | 1.05 | 2,458 lb | 2,967 lb | 4,910 lb |
| Spent grain slurry | 1.05 | 2,458 lb | 2,967 lb | 4,910 lb |
| Laundry detergent | 1.06 | 2,480 lb | 2,994 lb | 4,954 lb |
| Flexographic ink | 1.08 | 2,524 lb | 3,047 lb | 5,043 lb |
| Wine / must | 1.08 | 2,524 lb | 3,047 lb | 5,043 lb |
| Acrylic adhesive emulsion | 1.08 | 2,524 lb | 3,047 lb | 5,043 lb |
| Urea solution (DEF) | 1.09 | 2,546 lb | 3,074 lb | 5,087 lb |
| Alkaline degreaser | 1.10 | 2,568 lb | 3,101 lb | 5,132 lb |
| Humic acid | 1.10 | 2,568 lb | 3,101 lb | 5,132 lb |
| Tomato paste | 1.10 | 2,568 lb | 3,101 lb | 5,132 lb |
| Ethylene glycol | 1.11 | 2,590 lb | 3,127 lb | 5,176 lb |
| Peracetic acid sanitiser | 1.12 | 2,612 lb | 3,154 lb | 5,220 lb |
| Fruit purée | 1.12 | 2,612 lb | 3,154 lb | 5,220 lb |
| Hydrogen peroxide 35% | 1.13 | 2,634 lb | 3,181 lb | 5,265 lb |
| Acid descaler | 1.14 | 2,657 lb | 3,207 lb | 5,309 lb |
| Hydrochloric acid 31% | 1.16 | 2,701 lb | 3,261 lb | 5,398 lb |
| Glyphosate concentrate | 1.17 | 2,723 lb | 3,287 lb | 5,442 lb |
| Brine 23% / soy sauce | 1.20 | 2,789 lb | 3,368 lb | 5,575 lb |
| Sodium hypochlorite 12% | 1.21 | 2,811 lb | 3,394 lb | 5,620 lb |
| Phosphate coating | 1.22 | 2,833 lb | 3,421 lb | 5,664 lb |
| Pigment dispersion | 1.25 | 2,900 lb | 3,501 lb | 5,797 lb |
| Nickel plating solution | 1.25 | 2,900 lb | 3,501 lb | 5,797 lb |
| Foliar micronutrient | 1.25 | 2,900 lb | 3,501 lb | 5,797 lb |
| Glycerine | 1.26 | 2,922 lb | 3,528 lb | 5,841 lb |
| Sulphuric acid 35% | 1.26 | 2,922 lb | 3,528 lb | 5,841 lb |
| Sodium hydroxide 25% | 1.27 | 2,944 lb | 3,554 lb | 5,886 lb |
| UAN 28 | 1.28 | 2,966 lb | 3,581 lb | 5,930 lb |
| Potassium acetate de-icer | 1.28 | 2,966 lb | 3,581 lb | 5,930 lb |
| Latex paint | 1.30 | 3,010 lb | 3,634 lb | 6,019 lb |
| UAN 32 fertiliser | 1.32 | 3,054 lb | 3,688 lb | 6,108 lb |
| Magnesium chloride de-icer | 1.32 | 3,054 lb | 3,688 lb | 6,108 lb |
| Liquid sugar / maple syrup | 1.33 | 3,076 lb | 3,715 lb | 6,152 lb |
| Ammonium thiosulphate | 1.33 | 3,076 lb | 3,715 lb | 6,152 lb |
| Aluminium sulphate | 1.33 | 3,076 lb | 3,715 lb | 6,152 lb |
| Juice concentrate (70 Bx) | 1.35 | 3,121 lb | 3,768 lb | 6,241 lb |
| Polyaluminium chloride | 1.35 | 3,121 lb | 3,768 lb | 6,241 lb |
| Liquid starter 10-34-0 | 1.38 | 3,187 lb | 3,848 lb | 6,374 lb |
| High-fructose corn syrup | 1.38 | 3,187 lb | 3,848 lb | 6,374 lb |
| Calcium chloride brine | 1.38 | 3,187 lb | 3,848 lb | 6,374 lb |
| Sodium silicate | 1.39 | 3,209 lb | 3,875 lb | 6,418 lb |
| Molasses / honey | 1.42 | 3,275 lb | 3,955 lb | 6,551 lb |
| Ferric chloride 40% | 1.42 | 3,275 lb | 3,955 lb | 6,551 lb |
| Calcium nitrate solution | 1.43 | 3,297 lb | 3,981 lb | 6,596 lb |
| Potassium hydroxide 45% | 1.46 | 3,364 lb | 4,061 lb | 6,729 lb |
| Potassium thiosulphate | 1.47 | 3,386 lb | 4,088 lb | 6,773 lb |
| Sodium hydroxide 50% | 1.52 | 3,496 lb | 4,222 lb | 6,995 lb |
| Phosphoric acid 75% | 1.58 | 3,629 lb | 4,382 lb | 7,261 lb |
| Sulphuric acid 93% | 1.83 | 4,181 lb | 5,049 lb | 8,370 lb |
Documents we issue on marked units
| Document | What it contains | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Written quotation | Unit price by grade, freight as its own line, validity, and the conditions that would change it | Before you order |
| Grade certificate | Assigned grade against our published definitions, per unit serial | With the order |
| Leak & pressure test record | Test pressure, hold time, outcome, per serial | With the order |
| Hydrostatic test certificate | 100% of food-line units, recorded against serial | Food-grade orders |
| Prior-contents declaration | Named last product, generating site, signature | Anything we collected |
| Wash programme record | Bay, programme, temperature, chemistry, cycle time | Reconditioned & contract work |
| Rinse verification | Final-rinse pH and conductivity | Reconditioned & contract work |
| Component specification | Valve, gasket, lid materials with compliance references | Food-grade orders |
| Photograph set | The actual units on the rack before loading | Every order |
| Weight ticket | Certified-scale gross weight and count | Collections and cleanouts |
| Diversion certificate | Unit counts, weights by stream, destination routes, dates | End-of-life batches |
| Certificate of insurance | GL, auto, cargo, workers' comp; additional insured | Before a crew arrives |
| Reconditioner marking detail | Code, date, design type | Re-marked units |
| Lease schedule | Count, grade, dates, weekly rate, return condition, replacement charge | Leases |
Sixteen datasets, each published in full
Everything this site measures, with the row count and the page it lives on. None of it is behind a form.