Requirements for Type A packages

Type A packages shall be designed to meet the requirements specified in paras 606-616 and, in addition, the requirements of paras 617-619 if carried by air, and of paras 634-649. 

The smallest overall external dimension of the package shall not be less than 10 cm. 

The outside of the package shall incorporate a feature such as a seal which is not readily breakable and which, while intact, will be evidence that the package has not been opened. 

Any tie-down attachments on the package shall be so designed that, under normal and accident conditions of transport, the forces in those attachments shall not impair the ability of the package to meet the requirements of these Regulations. 

The design and manufacturing techniques shall be in accordance with national or international standards, or other requirements, acceptable to the competent authority. 

The minimum dimension of 10 cm has been adopted for a number of reasons. A very small package could be mislaid or slipped into a pocket. In order to conform to international transport practice, package labels have to be 10 cm square. To adequately display these labels, the dimensions of the packages are required to be at least 10 cm. 

The type and mass of the package will, in the main, dictate the type of security seal to be used, but designers should ensure that the method chosen is such that it will not be impaired during normal handling of the package in transport. 

Lifting points may be used as retention system attachments, but if so used they should be designed specifically for both tasks. The separate lifting points and retention system attachments should be clearly marked to indicate their specific purposes, unless they can be so designed that alternative use is impossible, e.g. a hook type of retention system attachment cannot normally be used for retention purposes. 

Consideration can also be given to potential directional failure of the retention systems so that the transport workers are protected in the event of head-on impacts, while the package is protected against excessive side loads from side-on impacts [24]. For details on recommended design considerations of packages and their retention systems, see Appendix V. 

Type A package components should be designed for a temperature range from -40 to 70°C corresponding to possible ambient temperatures within a vehicle or other enclosure, or package temperatures when the package is exposed to direct 

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