Meaning and Purpose
4.1 In its recommended regulations, the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods places materials with flash points below 23°C (73.5°F) in Class II packaging. However, if viscous substances such as paints and related coatings, adhesives, polishers, etc. meet certain requirements, they can be classified in Class III together with materials with flash points between 23 °C and 60.5 °C (73.5 °F and 140 °F). One of the requirements is that less than 3% of the clear liquid is separated from most of the material when this test method is applied.

4.2 Currently, most international regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) use the UN recommendations. Most national transport regulators are expected to adopt the UN recommendations as their regulations for controlling the transport of hazardous materials. Currently, the United States allows the transshipment of hazardous materials through the United States to other countries in accordance with IMO and ICAO regulations.

ASTM D 4948-89-2022 Determination of the Amount of Upper Liquid Separated from Straw Thick Liquid

Scope of
1.1 The test method covers the amount of liquid separated from viscous solutions or dispersions containing dispersed solids such as paints, enamels, pigment lacquers, adhesives, polishes and other similar materials over a period of 24 hours.

Note 1: The amount of clear liquid separated in this test is one of the criteria of the United Nations Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods 2 for the inclusion of flammable viscous liquids in the packaging category related to flash points (see 4.1).

1.2 Values expressed in SI units shall be regarded as standards. The values given in parentheses are for reference only.

ASTM D 4948-89-2022 Determination of the Amount of Upper Liquid Separated from Straw Thick Liquid

1.3 This standard is not intended to address all safety issues, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health and environmental practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory restrictions prior to use.

1.4 This international Standard has been developed in accordance with the internationally recognized standardization principles established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guidelines and Recommendations issued by the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of the World Trade Organization.