Introduction to container ISO testing
The marine transport industry rests on standards and regulations to ensure safety and reliability. Before any shipping container is used on a vessel, the carrier needs assurance that the container complies with all relevant ISO regulations. This confirmation is provided by a certificate issued by an approved class society.
Carriers rely on these certifications to ensure that the containers can withstand the forces and stresses exerted by the movement of their vessels, thus safeguarding the container and its valuable cargo from damage.
How is this done?
These forces and stresses are simulated using a large rig equipped with hydraulic cylinders. Containers are fixed into this rig or test station, and any deformations are meticulously measured and logged by the class society inspector. Larger container factories often have these test stations on-site to facilitate rapid and reliable tests on the containers they produce.
After the production of a container (or batch), the class society will issue the test protocol to be followed, and the container is then tested at the station. An inspector from the class society will oversee all tests and compile a final report for the client.
The test protocol varies depending on the intended use of the container. Test examples include stacking, racking, and lifting (from both bottom and top). You can find a detailed overview and background of these tests in our whitepaper: Container Testing
Each certified container features a CSC plate confirming the certification and displaying relevant data for immediate reference by the user. Essential information on the CSC plate includes the manufacturer, manufacturing date, and container owner. This testing is only conducted on newly produced containers, as deformations could skew the results once the container has been used. Note that these certifications carry an expiration date. Newly produced containers hold a certification validity of 5 years, after which they must be re-examined every 30 months.
You can find a comprehensive description of the CSC plate here.
