Certifications and Quality Standards in the Container Industry

Proper quality control is a fundamental part of a company's social responsibility. In the container industry it also means safety and sustainability, since these structures must be in good condition and strong enough for transport. That is how damage to the goods is avoided.

What are the certifications and quality standards?

When you buy a container, it must meet the conditions set out in the International Convention for Safe Containers to avoid being held. These are the certifications you need to keep in mind. Take note!

CSC plate

The CSC plate is the safety approval plate, so the container must pass every structural strength test satisfactorily. It shows the country of approval, identification number, date of manufacture, maximum operating gross weight and other characteristics.

The plate must carry the container's ID, which is made up as follows:

1. Owner code: three capital letters.
2. Equipment category identifier: one capital letter.
3. Serial number: six digits.
4. Check digit: one digit, calculated from the previous ones, used to catch errors.

Containers that are empty and will be used in the future need a periodic inspection to establish their condition. They must carry an engraved plate or a sticker showing that they are covered by an approved continuous examination program (ACEP).

ISO code

The ISO code depends on the size of the structure and what it will carry. The container must comply with ISO certifications, the most important being ISO 6346, which defines the identification protocol for containers.

The owner must identify the unit following the international standard, which consists of these elements:

• Code of the group the container belongs to (U, J or Z).
• Owner code, three capital letters.
• Six identification digits.
• Check digit.

The owner code must be unique and registered with the Bureau International des Containers (BIC). The group code uses one of these three letters:

• J – detachable container-related equipment.
• U – all containers that comply with the ISO standard.
• Z – trailers and chassis.

The shipper is required to include in the shipping documents a certificate from a state authority, which, using calibrated and certified equipment, will take the weight of the loaded container into account.

Compliance with ISO 17712

ISO 17712 governs the procedures for classifying and standardizing the security seals placed on containers. Its basic rules include the following points:

• Seals must be easy to inspect.
• Unique and identifiable, so that details such as manufacturer, owner, origin and destination and tracking code can be established precisely.
• Seals must be single-use, so they cannot be reused once removed.
• They must meet the security and strength criteria.

ISO standards are common rules for every country, with indispensable requirements that exporters and importers must meet to take part in these operations. This standard should be part of every business's quality plan.

With all of the above, you now know how important it is to have each of the certifications that guarantee a safe operation and lead to success in the container industry.

Every container we sell is inspected and graded. See our certified cargo-worthy units.