Dry Ice Shipping- Usage, Storage & More
Transporting items from one location to another has become a simple feat, but transporting food or other items that need to remain cold to ensure freshness makes the task slightly more challenging. With more regulations and concerns over safety, utilizing cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions has become standard for even basic levels of operation. That’s where dry ice shipping and storage through DGD Transport comes into play.
Using dry ice to ship frozen food is how transport companies like DGD Transport, the best 3PL provider in South Florida who specializes in dry ice shipments, are able to deliver perishable goods both internationally and domestically.
Due to the fact that dry ice is a hazardous material, as it is technically frozen carbon monoxide, numerous regulations are required from the Department of Transportation (DOT), so they can regulate shipments containing the material. Experience, training, and real-world knowledge is pivotal here.
A Comprehensive Guide on Shipping Dry Ice
Required Training For Shipping Dry Ice
It is mandatory for all shipping employees employed by the transport company to have successfully completed a training course relating to shipping dangerous goods.
The training expires every 2 years, so it is pivotal to make sure all employees are up to date as to avoid violations, fines and/or general operational delays.
Shipping Perishable Foods
Foods will be subject to humidity and weather conditions that will easily expedite the spoiling process on it’s way to the destination. The use of refrigerants, gel packs and dry ice is what we use to ship and preserve items that need to be regulated as such.
Through careful packaging and diligent preparation we are able to transport perishable items such as meat, medication, plants, fruits or chemical products as well.
Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazard
Dry Ice is deemed hazardous by International Air Travel Association (IATA) for the following reasons:
- Risk of Explosion: If the package containing the dry ice is not properly ventilated and the immense amount of carbon monoxide that dry ice omits builds up, the package can explode causing severe personal and property damage.
- Risk of Suffocation: Since dry ice releases a very strong amount of carbon monoxide and the gas is contained in such a small space it can create a deficiency in oxygen for those near.
- Risk of Contact: It’s well known that dry ice, once touched, creates painful frostbike. Extreme caution needs to be taken to minimize the risk of harm
Packaging Dry Ice
In order to reduce the risk of packaging and shipping dry ice the following precautions must take place:
- The dry ice packaging must be designed and constructed to release the carbon monoxide that will slowly but surely accumulate over time. If the packaging isn’t designed for this, the buildup of the carbon monoxide could easily burst and destroy the package itself.
- The packaging must be properly ventilated, sealed and prepared to withstand and prevent any leakage or damage/breakage.
- A styrofoam container with walls 1.5 inches thick is preferred
- Place the dry ice inside
- Then place the sealed container containing the items
- Place another level of dry ice (or gel coolants)
- Seal the container with tape
(Image Credit: Pad2)
Marking & Labeling The Container
The following guidelines must be taken in order for proper labeling according to IATA:
- All labels must be Visible
- All labels must be Durable
- All labels must be in the Legible
- The package containing the Dry Ice must be labeled and named as one of the following:
- CARBON MONOXIDE / SOLID / DRY ICE
- The total weight must be labeled
- UN 1845 = proper labeling number
- Shipping Destination Address + Shipping Departure Address & Name
- Class 9 Label is required
- Label should be properly placed adjacent to destination or shipper’s address
If you’re in the process of shipping items that need to remain cold on your own there’s a chance you don’t have much experience since most people don’t.
Here are some tips and guidelines to help you prepare and transport your package using dry ice to keep the temperature at a low degree.
(Image Credit)
- Freeze the items prior to packaging
- Use Dry Ice to Keep the items frozen
- You can find dry ice at your local grocery store
- Use a Styrofoam container to ship the items
- USE GLOVES! It is extremely important to use gloves as to avoid frostbite when handling the dry ice
- Fill the empty spaces with dunnage material such as bubble wrap or packaging peanuts to help contain the cold
- Make sure to ventilate the container so the carbon monoxide from the dry ice doesn’t accumulate to a dangerous degree
- Correctly Label the container
- Use pressure-sensitive tape to tape and seal the box
- Fill out all proper Dangerous Goods labeling
- For proper and expedite dry ice shipment, use DGD Transport