Why is a drum 55 gallons
Have you been asking yourself questions like "What is the diameter of a 55 gallon drum? Well, you're in luck. We have some general answers for you when it comes to the dimensions of say 55 gallon stainless steel drums. The average 55 gallon drum is around 35 inches in height and 23 inches in diameter, but there are slight variations. Discovering the dimensions of a 55 gallon drum means understanding that dimensions are different depending on the conditions such as if you have a 55 gallon plastic drum versus a 55 gallon steel drum.
However, the true, most accurate answer to this question depends on the type of drum, the type of closure, and the material used to make the drum.
The dimensions of a plastic 55 gallon drum can be as follows. On average, a closed head 55 gallon plastic drum is The outside dimensions of a 55 gallon drum of steel material can be as follows. Though it is possible to visually check the exterior of a drum, small, minute, and tiny punctures may not be seen.
To ensure a complete and tight seal on the drum, it should be pressure and leak tested by being submerged in a tank of water. This final check will determine if the drum is tightly sealed or if it may need small holes repaired. Step Six - During the cleaning process and acid bath, the exterior coatings were removed that protected the walls and sides of the drum from rust and corrosion.
Those coatings must be reapplied. The interior of the drum should be coated with a rust inhibitor, epoxy coating, or with some form of rust and corrosion resistant material. To harden the interior coating, the drum can be put through a curing process. Once the interior coating is sufficiently hard and set, the exterior can be coated as the final step.
There are several benefits to using refurbished and reconditioned 55 gallon drums, the most important of which is saving them from being placed in a dump site. Refurbished 55 gallon drums are used for planters, rain barrels, compost bins, horse feeders, deer feeders, rodeo barrels, and flotation devices, to name a few. Drum manufacturers refurbish and recondition their products for resale to be used as storage and shipping containers.
Most 55 gallon drums are made from plastic, steel, stainless steel, or fiber. The first 55 gallon drums were made from wood but were quickly replaced by steel since wood leaked.
The original metal 55 gallon drums had the same problems as wood until methods were developed to tightly seal the steel seams. The type of material used to manufacture modern drums depends on the use of the drum, where fiber can be used for dry powders and granular materials, while plastic, stainless steel, and steel have a more varied use including storage of hazardous materials.
Stainless steel is used in drum manufacturing for its corrosion resistance, tensile strength, durability, and longevity. It is the perfect material for conditions that require superior cleanliness and purity. They can be produced as open or closed headed using grades , , and stainless steel in different gauges.
The plastics used in the manufacturing of plastic drums include polyvinyl chloride PVC , high-density polyethylene HDPE , nylon, and polystyrene. The strength and endurance of plastic makes it capable of storing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, liquids, cosmetics, electronic parts, hardware, and household products. The sturdiness of plastic makes it ideal for all drum applications from shipping and storage to dispensing and mixing. Steel is used as a material for the manufacturing of drums due to its endurance and strength.
The fact that steel is such a strong material and has a long life span makes it particularly attractive to drum producers. The resistance of steel to chemical damage makes it ideal for storing hazardous materials. The fiber in fiber drums is heavy paperboard, which is thicker and stronger than ordinary paper, though it has a similar appearance as paper.
It can be cut, shaped, formed, and conditioned to fit multiple applications. In some cases, paperboard used for fiber barrels is sometimes confused with cardboard due to its weight and thickness. The regulations for 55 gallon drums are both national and international since they are used to ship products around the world.
The system that most nations follow has been established by the United Nations. The classification system for the United Nations consists of a series of letters and numbers that identify the type of container, its materials, and the substances that it can contain. The rating of a container is established by its testing, which can be done several times. Each time a container is tested it receives a new set of letters and numbers to identify its rating.
A - steel B - aluminum C - natural wood D - plywood F - reconstituted wood G - fiberboard H - plastic L - textile M - paper, multiwall N - metal other than steel or aluminum P - glass, porcelain or stoneware.
Gross Mass for Solids — For single or composite packings containing solids, the markings indicate the maximum gross mass in kilograms that the package can weigh when filled. Specific Gravity for Liquids — For liquid hazardous materials in single or composite packings, the grade indicates maximum specific gravity allowable. Solids — For hydrostatic test pressure, S is used to indicate that the packed material is a solid.
Liquids — For liquid hazardous materials, the markings indicate the hydrostatic pressure to which the container was tested to and is described using kPa or kilopascals to the nearest 10 kPa. The United Nations rating system provides a complete understanding of the history and qualifications of a container that can be rapidly scanned and understood.
Materials Used to Make 55 Gallon Drums. A 55 gallon plastic drum is a storage or shipping container made of a high density industrial strength polymer with thick walls that provide endurance, strength, and longevity for the containment of a wide variety of substances and materials The 55 gallon drum came into existence over a hundred years ago during the early discovery of oil.
Consequently, barrels were there with oil production from basically the very beginning. In those early days, there were some variances, but by the late s, they sought to standardize. These old wooden casks were not quite up to the same standards of quality as the stainless steel wine barrels we here at Skolnik offer, however. Consequently, improvements were sought out.
After some early mass-produced steel containers from John D. With the capacity of holding 55 gallons and key features such as the ribs that provide rigidity and strength, Bly had crafted a new industry standard with the iconic drums we all know so well.
Even with these new containers though, the oil industry was still seeking to pare down their shipping costs. Plastic 30 gallon drums are built to withstand harsh conditions, a wide range of temperatures, and a variety of weights. They are ideal for the storage of food products and pharmaceuticals since they are designed to meet the standards established by the department of transportation and federal food administration, who establish regulations regarding the types of resin that is acceptable for plastic drum manufacturing.
The strength and rigidity of plastic makes them easy to handle and saves warehouse space since they are stackable on pallets and can be stored outside without fear of wear or deterioration. The manufacture of thirty gallon drums is very similar to the methods used for making any other sized drums. Normally, when discussing thirty gallon drums, most people envision a blue plastic drum since that is the typical type though 30 gallon drums are made of steel and fiber as well.
Plastic thirty gallon drums are made following the blown molten plastic method. Various thicknesses serve different storage and shipping purposes where thick walls can hold chemicals, solvents, and hazardous substances while thin walled drums are lightweight and easy to handle. Metal 30 gallon barrels or drums are formed using the rolled steel method and harden by forceful reforming. As with 55 gallon metal drums, they can be open and closed where their lids can be similar to the structural material or made from metal, tin, plastic , or paper.
As with 55 gallon drums, they can be strengthened with straps and supports for ease of handling and stacking. Fiber 30 gallon drums are made on an assembly line and have metal supports to increase their sturdiness. They come in a wide variety of sizes to fit special applications. Common materials are different forms of steel, plastics and thick paperboard.
Producers specialize in one type of material for producing their products since attempting to manufacture all forms can be expensive. Suppliers and distributors can carry one or two types of material or offer a selection from every category. Regardless of the type of steel, it is cold rolled at room temperature to harden and shape it.
Carbon steel barrels are made for handling of wastewater, chemicals, petroleum, and medical products. Stainless steel drums comply with Food and Drug Administration FDA guidelines for sanitation and health requirements for the storage of food products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and hazardous materials. Plastic drums are made from a variety of plastic materials that include high-density polyethylene HDPE , polystyrene, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride PVC , which are all capable of corrosion resistance and high durability.
They are shaped using the blow method where molten plastic is blown into a mold in the shape of the final product. Fiber drums, or cardboard drums, are a low-cost alternative to steel or plastic drums, recyclable, and safe and sanitary. The flexibility of cardboard allows manufacturers to produce fiber drums in several sizes, shapes, diameters, heights, and weight. For reinforcement and heavy duty uses, metal rings can be added at the top and bottom or metal covers.
There are government regulations regarding the manufacture of fiber drums that stipulate government and international standards. Since cardboard is lightweight and easy to handle, fiber drums can reduce shipping costs and provide a convenient means of storage for a wide variety of products.
Despite what may appear to be the flimsiness of cardboard, fiber drums are durable enough to withstand the harsh conditions of shipping but are not suitable for outdoor storage.
They can easily be produced to match customer design requirements. Drum manufacturers have a variety of types to fit an assortment of conditions.
All forms of drums come with either open removable or hinged tops or closed tops with one or two openings. All drums can be produced with reinforcing rings, belts, or chimes, bung holes, clamps, and various types of coatings.
Though 30 and 55 gallon drums are most common, drums come in sizes ranging from 15 gallons to 55 gallons. Every form of drum has specifications and restrictions regarding its usage. National and international governments and organizations have regulations regarding drum specifications. The more serious and hazardous the contents, the greater the number of requirements. Manufacturers supply literature and documentation that delineates how their products may be used and their compliance with international and federal regulations.
A careful study of the available information can serve as a guide when purchasing storage and shipping drums. Industrial drums are of the oldest form of shipping and storage containers. As with all types for drums, industrial drums can be open or closed. Steel, plastic, and fiber or cardboard are typically used with steel and plastic being the most common for industrial use.
The choice of material depends on the industry and the product to be stored. The size used the most for over a hundred years is the traditional 55 gallon drum. The major reason for drums is their industrial use though they may be seen in retail stores, on farms or dairies, and as part of recycling and trash pickup. The uses and purposes of drums is endless and growing. From their beginnings as a means to ship crude oil, they have grown to be an essential part of every industry.
Producers of solvents, chemicals, powdered goods, and lubricants depend on heavy plastic drums to ship their products since plastic has a tight seamless seal.
The closed type of plastic drum keeps liquids isolated and prevents spillage. Computerized loading releases the exact amount to fill the container to avoid waste. The pharmaceutical industry uses several types of barrels , which provide precise and accurate amounts of chemicals.
Since much of what is produced by the pharmaceutical industry involves controlled substances, an exact accounting of substances is crucial. From farming and construction to military and research projects, drums are essential and critical for storing and transporting materials. When warehouse managers consider storing and shipping liquids, powders, granular substances, and seed materials, their first choice is some form of drum or barrel. Drum reconditioning is an essential and necessary industry that reprocesses and sanitizes discarded storage drums to make them useful.
The random disposal of storage drums can create several environmental hazards especially when the drums have been used for chemical and toxic materials. Removing discarded drums from landfills, dumps, and long term storage sites benefits the environment and repurposes them for a useful function.
The reconditioning process requires several steps, which include cleaning, restoring, testing , and certification to meet industry standards. Each of the different materials to produce drums has a set of cleaning and refurbishing requirements, which have to be followed precisely to avoid contamination and provide safety.
There are two methods for reconditioning steel drums — thermal and aquatic. Thermal processing is used for drums that store paints, resins, tar, and adhesives. After the heating process, drums are straightened and chimed to restore their original shape. The aquatic or washing process is used to recondition drums that stored oils, cleaning products, and other materials that can be washed away using an alkaline based solution and steam.
0コメント