Common jerrican material codes
| Code family | General meaning | What still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
| 3A | steel jerrican | design subtype, closure, approval and corrosion |
| 3B | aluminium jerrican | design subtype and substance compatibility |
| 3H | plastic jerrican | design subtype, manufacture date and service conditions |
The complete UN mark contains more than the material code. Depending on the packaging, it can include performance level, relative density or pressure information, year of manufacture, country authorisation and manufacturer or approval identification.
What the mark does not prove
- It does not prove that a damaged individual can remains safe.
- It does not replace the manufacturer closure instructions.
- It does not make every substance compatible.
- It does not override quantity, route, ferry or storage rules.
- It does not turn a copied or user-made label into an approval.
Compare the can with the data sheet
Use manufacturer, article number, shape, cap system and code together. If the data sheet and the physical can cannot be matched reliably, do not infer the approval from a similar-looking product.
Frequently asked questions
Does a UN mark mean the can is suitable for every fuel?
No. A UN packaging mark identifies a tested packaging design and coded performance information. The intended substance, closure instructions, approval scope and current condition still need to match.
What do 3A and 3H mean?
In the UN packaging code, 3 denotes a jerrican. A denotes steel and H denotes plastic. The following number distinguishes design type, such as non-removable or removable head.
Is a printed sticker enough?
Essential approval and manufacturer marking should be durable and traceable. A user-added sticker can help identify contents but does not create an approval.
Sources for this guide
The following authorities and documents were used for this guide. Where rules change, the current original source takes precedence.
- Questions and answers on dangerous-goods packaging and UN marks [German]Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)Meaning, limits and interpretation of UN packaging marks
- DGG information: packaging codes for jerricans [German]Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)Codes for steel, aluminium and plastic jerricans and applicable packing instructions