Here is the most complete guide on the internet about 55 gallon drums.
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A 55-gallon drum is a cylindrical container constructed from various materials, capable of holding 55 US gallons or 208 liters. These drums are commonly utilized for transporting substantial quantities of liquids, chemicals, powders, granular compounds, and food ingredients. The specific materials used to manufacture the drum dictate the types of contents it can safely carry. Initially, these containers were referred to as barrels and were crafted from wooden slats bound by steel bands, as depicted in the image below.
The contemporary 55-gallon drum is much more resilient, sophisticated, and robust compared to its ancient predecessor. Constructed from materials like plastic, fibers, steel, stainless steel, and others, the 55-gallon drum of today is designed for durability and to withstand the rigors of long-haul shipping.
The applications for 55-gallon drums span a wide range of industrial and commercial uses, including storage and shipping. While they are primarily used for liquid shipments, they are also employed to transport grains, powders, and food ingredients./p>
The 55-gallon drum and the oil industry have been closely intertwined since the need to transport petroleum products first arose. The original 55-gallon drum was specifically designed and produced for shipping oil. Although the use of tankers and pipelines has gradually reduced the drum's role in the oil industry, it remains a standard unit for measuring oil in barrels and a symbol of the industry..
Food drums must adhere to higher standards compared to typical shipment drums. They are usually constructed from stainless steel or carbon steel and feature interior linings to protect the contents from contaminants, especially those arising from corrosive or acidic components in some food products. These drums are specifically designed for shipping goods that will later be packaged for public consumption.
The production of drums for manufacturing, storing, and shipping pharmaceuticals must comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CGMP guidelines establish systems to monitor, control, and oversee the design of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and facilities. Companies that produce containers for the pharmaceutical industry must be CGMP-approved, ensuring they meet the necessary standards for quality and purity.
Stainless, cold rolled, or carbon steel are used to transport flammable chemicals and hazardous substances due to steel‘s high corrosion resistance. Industrial stainless steel is used for sanitary applications and is an FDA approved material. Rust resistant plastic drums are used to ship chemicals due to steel's tendency to rust and corrode. Plastic barrels for chemical transport are referred to as blue barrels since they are normally blue in color and are used to transport and store acidic and caustic liquids and powders.
Drum waste involves using 55-gallon drums to store waste materials. Upon collection, the contents of these drums are tested to assess their level of hazard. The results of these tests determine the appropriate disposal method, with the primary goal being the safe disposal of materials to prevent environmental damage. The agriculture and medical industries are two sectors that heavily rely on 55-gallon drum waste disposal.
The process used to manufacture 55 gallon drums depends on the material being used. Metal drums are commonly roll formed and welded, while plastic drums are manufactured by blow molding. The production of fiber drums takes a different form since the material is more pliable than plastic or metal.
The manufacturing process of metal 55-gallon drums involves three key steps: forming the bottom, forming the top for a closed-top drum, and rolling and welding the sides.
Bottom Forming: The bottom of the drum is formed using a punch press, which creates an edge that will later be connected to the drum body.
Sealant: Sealant is applied to the formed bottom to ensure a tight seal and prevent leaks once it is rolled and connected to the drum body.
Top Forming: The top of the drum is formed using a punch press, similar to the bottom. The resulting piece is then passed through a set of rollers that fold up the edge.
Inserting Fittings: Two fittings are installed in the top: one for accessing the contents and the other for ventilation or allowing airflow.
Thickness of Metal: The thickness of the metal used for the drum body varies based on the drum's intended use and the nature of its contents.
Forming the Body: Large sheets of rolled metal are cut to the dimensions of the drum body and then fed through rollers to shape them into tubes. These tubes are then passed through a welder, which welds both the inside and outside seams to create a tight seal.
Flanging: The tubes are then fed into a flanging machine, which forms a lip on both the top and bottom edges of the tube.
Forming Rolling Hoops: Most 55-gallon metal drums feature grooves in the middle of the drum body to enhance rigidity and facilitate rolling..
Inserting the Top: The top is positioned on the drum shell, and the edges of the flange on both the drum body and the top are rolled together to create a tight seal known as a chime. This chime then passes through a second set of rollers, which flattens it to improve the seal. When the bottom is added, a similar chime is formed and sealed using the same technique.
Testing: A critical factor for metal 55-gallon drums is the effectiveness of the seal. A complete seal is crucial, especially when the drum contains hazardous or volatile materials. To verify the seal's tightness, air is forced into the drum to detect any leaks.
The production of plastic 55-gallon drums utilizes blow molding technology, where molten plastic is inflated into a die or mold. This process creates seamless drums that do not require additional sealing and eliminates weak corners prone to cracking.
Blow molding allows for the production of an extensive range of sizes and shapes. The raw materials used for blow molding drums include thermoplastics such as acetal, polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, low or high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene.
The three forms of blow molding are extrusion, injection, and injection stretch. All plastic molding begins with pellets or resin that are melted and shaped into a parison, which looks like a long plastic tube with a hole at one end.
The parison is lowered, open end first, into the mold cavity and clamped tightly to prevent air from escaping. Compressed air is then injected into the parison, causing it to inflate and press against the mold's interior. As the heated plastic expands, it conforms to the shape of the mold, filling the entire cavity.
After the formed piece cools, the mold is opened to release the barrel. Any protrusions at the top and bottom of the barrel are then removed either manually or with a machine.
Fiber drum manufacturing starts with large rolls of paper that are unwound and fed into a machine, which glues and winds the paper seven times around a large cylinder to create firm cylinders, each eight feet long. The glue is allowed to dry and solidify before the cylinders are used to produce drums.
The lever clamps and steel rims are crafted from strips of steel, which are shaped into ovals and welded together. The dried drums are then cut into four-foot lengths, and the rims are attached. The oval metal rims are crimped onto the base and top of the drum, enhancing their strength.
A ring of fiber is pressed into place, creating a tight bond between the metal ring at the bottom of the drum cylinder and the cardboard walls. During the quality check phase, the lid, which includes a metal clamp, is attached.
While most fiber drums are used for transporting dry goods like powders and granular materials, they can be equipped with liners or have their interiors coated to enable them to hold liquids.
The 55-gallon drums of the 19th century have evolved significantly and now play a crucial role in modern shipping. They are essential for transporting oil and fuel, as well as for storing and moving food ingredients and pharmaceuticals. What was once considered a cornerstone of oil production has become a vital element in the handling of various materials and substances.
Closed-head drums, used for hazardous waste, must adhere to stringent standards. They undergo testing to meet drop, stack, leak, hydrostatic, and vibration requirements set by the United Nations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies hazardous waste into four categories.
Closed drums used for these purposes have to meet the EPA standards and requirements.
Open-head drums are highly popular and reliable, typically used for storage or shipping. Designed to withstand harsh conditions and frequent use, they can endure the demands of transportation. These drums are durable enough for both indoor and outdoor applications, depending on the job requirements. Available in various colors, they can be easily labeled for straightforward identification of their contents.
Open-top plastic drums, made from high-density polyethylene, feature a removable lid secured by a metal ring with a nut and bolt or lever lock. Known as open-head plastic drums, they are weather-resistant, making them durable for both storage and transport. These drums are well-suited for handling hazardous materials, spill containment, and biomass disposal.
Open-top plastic drums come in various designs, including tapered sides and traditional straight sides. Among the different types of 55-gallon drums, plastic open-top drums are recyclable and are commonly used in the food and beverage industries.
Salvage drums are used to contain materials that are damaged, leaking, or not compliant with shipping regulations. They are designed with secure closures to ensure safe transport of damaged or potentially hazardous materials.
Overpack drums are used to contain packages or materials that are already sealed and compliant with safety and shipping regulations. They are designed to consolidate non-leaking packages and provide an additional layer of protection. Essentially, an overpack drum is a larger container that holds another sealed container inside.
The wine industry is increasingly adopting stainless steel drums for the development, fermentation, maturation, and storage of wine. New designs are being created to accommodate wine barrel racks.
Tapered-sided drums are lighter and easier to handle compared to other drum types. The tapered design facilitates nesting for convenient storage. Typically, 55-gallon tapered-sided drums are open-headed and available in various colors, with blue being the most common.
A rain barrel drum is designed to collect rainwater and features a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, and a screen to keep out debris. With a simple design, these barrels are easy to use and can be placed wherever rainwater accumulates. The basic rain barrel helps utilize soft rainwater, reduce reliance on public utilities, and promote self-sufficiency.
An emerging industry focuses on repurposing, reconditioning, and refurbishing discarded 55-gallon drums that are no longer suited for industrial use. Despite having outlived their original purpose, these drums remain sturdy and viable. The repurposing process involves a detailed series of steps to ensure that the drums can be safely used for other applications.
Steps to refurbishing 55 gallon drums:
Open-head drums can be placed in a furnace to burn off any residue, followed by a chemical spray cleaning similar to the process used for closed-head drums.
For open-head drums, the cover and sealing gasket should be checked for dents, bruises, creases, or other damage. Only the exterior of a closed-head drum can be inspected, with a focus on examining the welds on the top and bottom. Additionally, the bottom welds of open-head drums should be thoroughly inspected.
The interior of the drum should be coated with a rust inhibitor, epoxy coating, or another rust and corrosion-resistant material. To harden the interior coating, the drum can undergo a curing process. Once the interior coating is fully hardened and set, the exterior can be coated as the final step.
There are several benefits to using refurbished and reconditioned 55 gallon drums, the most important of which is saving them from being placed in a dump site. Refurbished 55 gallon drums are used for planters, rain barrels, compost bins, horse feeders, deer feeders, rodeo barrels, and flotation devices, to name a few. Drum manufacturers refurbish and recondition their products for resale to be used as storage and shipping containers.
The interior of the drum should be coated with a rust inhibitor, epoxy coating, or another rust and corrosion-resistant material. To harden the interior coating, the drum can undergo a curing process. Once the interior coating is fully hardened and set, the exterior can be coated as the final step.
The material used to manufacture modern drums depends on their intended use. Fiber drums are suited for dry powders and granular materials, while plastic, stainless steel, and steel drums have a broader range of applications, including the storage of hazardous materials.
Stainless steel is used in drum manufacturing due to its corrosion resistance, tensile strength, durability, and longevity. It is ideal for conditions that demand high levels of cleanliness and purity. Stainless steel drums can be produced as open-head or closed-head varieties, utilizing grades 304, 316, and 409 in various gauges.
Plastics used in the manufacturing of plastic drums include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), nylon, and polystyrene. The durability and strength of these plastics make them suitable for storing a wide range of materials, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, liquids, cosmetics, electronic components, hardware, and household products. Plastic’s robustness makes it ideal for various drum applications, from shipping and storage to dispensing and mixing. It meets FDA and USDA standards and is toxin-free, ensuring safe storage of food ingredients.
Steel is used in drum manufacturing because of its strength and durability. Its robustness and long lifespan make it a preferred choice for drum producers. Additionally, steel's resistance to chemical damage makes it well-suited for storing hazardous materials.
The fiber in fiber drums is heavy paperboard, which is thicker and stronger than regular paper while maintaining a similar appearance. This paperboard has permanent foldability and rigidity, with a grammage of 250 g/m². It can be cut, shaped, and formed to suit various applications. Due to its weight and thickness, paperboard used in fiber barrels is sometimes mistaken for cardboard.
Regulations for 55-gallon drums are set at both national and international levels due to their use in global shipping. Most countries adhere to standards established by the United Nations.
The United Nations classification system uses a combination of letters and numbers to specify the type of container, its materials, and the substances it can safely contain.
A container's rating is determined through multiple tests, each of which assigns a new set of letters and numbers to indicate its rating.
Numbers for the types of containers:
Letters to identify the containers construction material:
Open or closed headed codes:
Container packaging groups:
Hazard ratings:
Along with the above United Nations‘ The categories include gross mass for solids, specific gravity for liquids, and hydrostatic test pressure for both solids and liquids.
Gross Mass for Solids – For single or composite packings containing solids, the markings specify the maximum gross mass in kilograms that the package can hold when filled.
Specific Gravity for Liquids – For liquid hazardous materials in single or composite packings, the grade indicates the maximum allowable specific gravity.
Solids – For hydrostatic test pressure, the letter "S" is used to denote that the packed material is a solid.
Liquids – For liquid hazardous materials, the markings specify the hydrostatic pressure at which the container was tested, expressed in kilopascals (kPa) rounded to the nearest 10 kPa.
The final three sections of the rating number include:
The United Nations rating system offers a comprehensive overview of a container's history and qualifications, allowing for quick scanning and easy understanding.
RIPA is a trade association representing reconditioners, manufacturers, and distributors of reusable packaging products. The organization has developed a code of practices for packaging reuse and recycling, aiming to enhance the performance of the packaging industry. RIPA is also a founding member of the International Confederation of Container Reconditioners (ICCR), a global network of reconditioning companies.
IPANA represents industrial packaging manufacturers in North America, focusing on enhancing the industry's visibility with an emphasis on safe goods transport. Its core mission is to promote and support member companies while providing information on the advantages of proper industrial packaging.
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