49 CFR 178.803 - Testing and certification of IBCs.

Regulations last checked for updates: Feb 12, 2026

Title 49 - Transportation last revised: Feb 03, 2026

View all text of Subpart O [§ 178.800 - § 178.819]

§ 178.803 - Testing and certification of IBCs.

Tests required for the certification of each IBC design type are specified in the following table. The letter X indicates that one IBC (except where noted) of each design type must be subjected to the tests in the order presented:

Performance test	IBC type
Performance test	Metal IBCs	Rigid plastic IBCs	Composite IBCs	Fiber-board IBCs	Wooden IBCs	Flexible IBCs
Vibration	⁶ X	⁶ X	⁶ X	⁶ X	⁶ X	^1.5 X
Bottom lift	² X	X	X	X	X
Top lift	² X	² X	² X			^{2 5} X
Stacking	⁷ X	⁷ X	⁷ X	⁷ X	⁷ X	⁵ X
Leakproofness	³ X	³ X	³ X
Hydrostatic	³ X	³ X	³ X
Drop	⁴ X	⁴ X	⁴ X	⁴ X	⁴ X	⁵ X
Topple						⁵ X
Righting						^{2 5} X
Tear						⁵ X

¹ Flexible IBCs must be capable of withstanding the vibration test.

² This test must be performed only if IBCs are designed to be handled this way. For metal IBCs, at least one of the bottom lift or top lift tests must be performed.

³ The leakproofness and hydrostatic pressure tests are required only for IBCs intended to contain liquids or intended to contain solids loaded or discharged under pressure.

⁴ Another IBC of the same design type may be used for the drop test set forth in § 178.810 of this subchapter.

⁵ Another different flexible IBC of the same design type may be used for each test.

⁶ The vibration test may be performed in another order for IBCs manufactured and tested under provisions of an exemption before October 1, 1994 and for non-DOT specification portable tanks tested before October 1, 1994, intended for export.

⁷ This test must be performed only if the IBC is designed to be stacked.

[Amdt. 178-108, 60 FR 40039, Aug. 4, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 51919, Sept. 27, 1999; 66 FR 45386, 45390, Aug. 28, 2001]

authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128; 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97

cite as: 49 CFR 178.803