Container Testing Services

Physical testing to verify the strength, durability, and compliance of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), drums, pails, and other containers.

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ISTA Package Testing

UN/DOT HazMat Package Testing

Company-Specific Custom Package Testing

Containers & Packaging Tested

Testing for a wide range of rigid, flexible, bulk, and regulated packaging formats.

Fiberboard Boxes
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
Plastic & Metal Drums and Pails
Plastic & Glass Bottles and Jars
Paper, Plastic, and Fabric Bags
Pallet & Bulk Load Systems
Hazardous Materials Packaging
Infectious Substance Shippers
Radioactive Materials Shippers

Tests Performed

Physical test methods performed in accordance with applicable standards and defined protocols.

Environmental Conditioning
Incline Impact
Drop Testing
Static & Dynamic Compression
Vertical Linear & Rotary Motion Vibration
Sinusoidal & Random Vibration
Internal Pressure
Dart Puncture
Vacuum

Testing Equipment & Capacity

Container testing is conducted in a controlled laboratory environment using calibrated and maintained equipment designed to handle both standard and large-format containers.

Large-capacity compression systems
Instrumented vibration tables
Drop towers and impact systems
Environmental conditioning chambers
Pressure and vacuum testing systems

Industry Applications

Gaynes tests containers and packaging for manufacturers, distributors, and shippers across regulated and commercial industries. Whether you need UN/DOT certification for hazardous materials, ISTA compliance, or custom protocols, we handle the full range of container formats and test types.

Chemicals & Industrial Manufacturing
We certify IBCs, drums, and pails for acids, solvents, resins, adhesives, and other industrial chemicals under UN/DOT and 49 CFR standards.

Paints, Coatings & Adhesives
We test steel and plastic drums, pails, and IBCs for manufacturers shipping paints, coatings, and industrial adhesives domestically and internationally.

Food & Beverage
We validate IBCs, drums, pails, and bulk packaging for liquids, syrups, edible oils, and ingredients using drop, compression, and vibration testing under ISTA and ASTM standards.

Healthcare & Life Sciences
We provide UN/DOT certification for infectious substances, diagnostic specimens, and radioactive materials (Type A and B) per 49 CFR requirements.

Test Examples

Compression Test

Drop Test

Hydrostatic Test

Static Load Test

Vibration Test

Frequently asked questions

When does a container need to be retested, and what triggers a revalidation requirement?

Container testing is not a one-time event. For UN/DOT-certified hazardous materials packaging, revalidation is required whenever the container's design, material, or manufacturing process changes in a way that could affect performance (e.g., changes to wall thickness, resin formulation, closure type, or production facility). Containers must also be retested on a periodic basis to maintain certification, depending on the container type and certifying body.

For non-hazardous materials, ISTA and ASTM typically require revalidation upon packaging redesigns, supplier changes, new distribution channels, new fill weights or product formulations, and the container still performs under the new conditions.

What sizes of containers can Gaynes test?

Gaynes Labs performs container testing across a wide range of sizes, from small bottles, jars, and pails through large-format drums and intermediate bulk containers holding hundreds of gallons.

Our laboratory is equipped with large-capacity vibration tables, compression systems, drop towers, and walk-in environmental conditioning chambers designed to accommodate both standard and oversized container formats. If you have a specific container size or configuration, contact us directly, and we will confirm whether it falls within our testing capacity and develop a test plan suited to your needs.