Accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025 standards, the laboratory provides comprehensive performance testing for businesses across the UK that require UN certification for the transport of hazardous materials. The facility is equipped with advanced testing technology and is operated by a team of experienced specialists in dangerous goods packaging.
The laboratory offers a range of critical tests. Drop testing is used to simulate real-world handling and transit conditions, assessing the durability of packaging. Stack testing evaluates the strength and stability of packaging under compression, replicating storage and long-haul transport scenarios. Material specification checks are carried out to ensure that every production run is consistent with the materials and specifications used to gain UN approval. All tests are conducted with calibrated equipment under tightly controlled environmental conditions to ensure consistent, reliable results.
Air Sea Containers’ new facility supports testing for a variety of packaging types, including steel drums, fibre drums, fibreboard boxes and plastic containers. Customers can have their own packaging tested for UN approval, including procedures such as drop tests, stack tests, cold conditioning and material specification verification.
The company also offers a full-service solution for custom-made packaging. This includes design, development, performance testing, coordination of UN certification, manufacturing and ongoing certification maintenance. The entire process is managed on behalf of the client, ensuring a seamless route to compliance.
Revalidation testing services are available for UN approved packaging, which must be re-tested at set intervals – typically every five years in the UK – to confirm ongoing compliance with the original UN certification.
Additionally, capability testing is available for packaging that does not require UN certification but must still meet performance standards, such as limited quantity packaging or lithium battery shipments.
All testing strictly follows the requirements of the UN transport regulations for dangerous goods. Upon successful completion, Air Sea Containers works with the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) to obtain UN certification, providing clients with fully certified packaging solutions.