BS 5609

Did you know our competitively priced 100 mm x 100 mm Hazard Warning diamonds have been independently tested, passed and are section 3 compliant to BS 5609.

In very simple terms the BS 5609 labelling standard means that if a drum falls off the side of a ship and washes ashore the label must still be adhered to the drum and the information on it must be legible.

Some companies claim to supply labelling to BS 5609. However, this claim may only cover the base material and not the finished printed label.

We all want to protect our environment for our future generations and that is where legislation comes in to play. The protection afforded when transporting dangerous goods by sea is IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code). IMDG is a set of internationally recognised guidelines for the safe transportation or shipment of dangerous or hazardous material by water on a vessel. It states that a label must withstand at least three months immersion in sea water, the label must remain legible and adhered to a container.

This is why BS 5609 was created. BS 5609 is a British Standard; it is a specification for printed pressure-sensitive, adhesive-coated labels for marine use, including requirements for label base material. It sets out various durability criteria including adhesive performance, print permanence and abrasion resistance, stipulating minimum standards for labels to be used in “Marine Environments”. It also details suitable testing procedures for these labels to show how they should perform to necessary guidelines.

Why test labels to BS 5609?

• Internationally recognised standard covering suitability of goods-labelling for marine shipment
• Widely referred to when specifying an extremely durable label

There are two key sections to the standard:

Section 2 – The Label performance.

This section tests the permanence and durability of the label material and adhesive under conditions of marine exposure, temperature variations, weathering and exposure to salt spray and sunlight.

Section 3- The print performance.

This tests the print, key abrasion resistance and permanence of the print on the label. Only section 2 approved materials can be tested for section 3. Section 3 compliance is granted when a particular material is tested in conjunction with a specified ink that is used to produce the finished hazard label.

Our 100 mm x 100 mm hazard warning diamonds comply with the ADR, RID, ADN, IMG, IMO & IATA requirements.