ASTM_D_6911_-_15.pdf

Designation:D691115Standard Guide forPackaging and Shipping Environmental Samples forLaboratory Analysis1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6911;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This standard provides guidance on the selection ofprocedures for proper packaging and shipment of environmen-tal samples to the laboratory for analysis to ensure compliancewith appropriate regulatory programs and protection of sampleintegrity during shipment.1.2 This standard does not address transport of hazardouswastes for disposal purposes.1.3 This standard does not address the selection ofparameter-specific sample bottles or containers.1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specific courseof action.This guide cannot replace education or experienceand should be used in conjunction with professional judgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circum-stances.This guide is not intended to represent or replace thestandard of care by which the adequacy of a given professionalservice must be judged,nor should this guide be appliedwithout consideration of the many unique aspects of a project.The word“standard”in the title of this guide means only thatthe guide has been approved through the ASTM consensusprocess.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting SoilSamplesD4840 Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody ProceduresD5079 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock CoreSamplesD5903 Guide for Planning and Preparing for a GroundwaterSampling EventD6089 Guide for Documenting a Groundwater SamplingEventD6517 Guide for Field Preservation of GroundwaterSamples2.2 Shipping Regulations:International Air Transport Association(IATA)DangerousGoods Regulations,56th Edition,January 2015,or currenteditionInternational Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)Regulationsfor the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material,Section 10,Publication IAEA TS-R-1(2005),or current editionInternational Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO)TechnicalInstructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods byAir,Document#9284-AN/905(2013-2014 edition),orcurrent editionUnited States Government Printing Office,Title 40 Code ofFederal Regulations Resource Conservation and RecoveryAct(RCRA),Part 261United States Government Printing Office,Title 49 Code ofFederal Regulations Transportation(DOT),Parts 170-174United States Postal Service,Hazardous,Restricted andPerishable Mail USPS Publication 52(Updated May 15,2014),or current edition3.Terminology3.1 For definitions of common terminology terms usedwithin this guide,refer to Terminology D653.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 carriera commercial company that is responsiblefor the actual shipment of environmental samples from thepoint of sample receipt from the shipper to the samples finaldestination.3.2.2 dangerous goodsthose goods that meet the criteriaof one or more of nine United Nations(UN)hazard classes1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater andVadose Zone Investigations.Current edition approved Jan.15,2015.Published February 2015.Originallyapproved in 2003.Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D691103(2010).DOI:10.1520/D6911-15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 and,where applicable,one of three UN packaging groupsaccording to the provisions of shipping regulations.3.2.3 environmental samplecontainerized liquids,solidsor gases that are collected for the purpose of laboratoryanalysis.3.2.4 inner packagingpackaging for which an outer pack-age is required for transport(for example,a sample bottle orcontainer).3.2.5 outer packagingthe outer protection of a compositeor combination packaging together with any absorbentmaterials,cushioning and any other components necessary tocontain and protect sample bottles or inner packaging.3.2.6 shipperthe person who actually packages and pres-ents environmen