Unified Container Inspection and Repair Criteria UCIRC

Unified Container Inspection & Repair Criteria (UCIRC)

FOR STEEL GENERAL PURPOSE CONTAINERS

(For use at all container interchanges)

Revision 3   21 April 2004

CONTENTS

1.    Introduction

2.    Main Structural Components

3.    Other Components

4.    Other items

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

These criteria are designed for use at all container inspections;

The criteria should not vary between an in-service and on / off hire survey inspection and should be accepted on a universal basis by shipping lines, container leasing companies and container operators supporting these criteria for all general worldwide container interchanges;

Items not specifically detailed in the criteria are covered by this general introduction only if they require repair;

Any user of these criteria requiring a standard above that detailed in the criteria should negotiate directly with the depot and/or owner / operator concerned;

The tolerances / permitted damages listed are not the minimum necessary to meet basic safety requirements but are selected to ensure the container is serviceable while minimising the need for repair and thereby preserving asset life; and

The repair method selected should be the most economical and suit the particular repair location.

1.2 ACCEPTABLE DAMAGE

This is defined as damage that is not to be repaired and includes:

All flange damage except damage to weld connections;

Deformation of structural members up to ISO +10mm on the side face and ISO +5mm on the end face; and

Previous repairs should not be reworked unless the structural integrity of the container is compromised or it is unsuitable for cargo.

1.3 NON-ACCEPTABLE DAMAGE

This is defined as damage that must be repaired because:

The International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, as amended (CSC) is violated and container safety is affected;
The Customs Convention is violated;
There is a reduction in the internal height dimension by more than 70mm and/or the internal width / length dimension by more than 50mm;
The container is unsuitable for cargo;
Cracks in welds are present unless otherwise stated; and
Corrosion, not due to paint failure, which causes loss of structural integrity.

1.4 WEAR & TEAR

This is defined as unavoidable change or deterioration of the condition of the container brought about by routine operational use and includes:

General paint deterioration;
Deterioration of door gaskets and fittings;
Deterioration of door fixings arising from deterioration of doors;
Flooring de-laminations resulting from routine cargo loading and unloading cycles.

1.5 MANUFACTURING DEFECTS

Manufacturing defects or suspected manufacturing defects are to be reported to the owner.

2 MAIN STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

COMPONENT

DAMAGE

RECOMMENDED REPAIR METHODS

2.1 RAILS, HEADERS & SILLS
Top side rail	Holed, cut, torn, broken, cracked Deformation in excess of 30mm	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert, or section, or renew
Bottom side rail – web Flange	Holed, cut, torn, broken, cracked Deformation in excess of 50mm Cracks or tears which extend into web radius	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert, or section, or renew Weld or straighten and weld
Front & rear headers	Holed, cut, torn, broken, cracked Deformation in excess of 40mm	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert, or section, or renew
Front & rear sill	Holes, cut, torn, broken, cracked Deformation exceeding 50mm	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert, or section, or renew

2.2 POSTS

Corner posts

Corner castings

Holed, cut, torn, broken, cracked

Dents exceeding 20mm

Bend, bow or deformation, if exceeding outer faces of corner castings by +5mm on end face or +10 mm on side face

Cracked, deformed, broken

Deformation preventing correct twistlock operation

Weld, or straighten and weld, or insert or renew

Straighten, or insert or renew

Replace

2.3

FLOOR UNDERSTRUCTURE

Fork lift pocket & goose neck tunnel assembly

Top plate separation from floor in excess of 10mm or floor screws ineffective

Web holed, cut, torn, or cracked in excess of 500mm or extending into a weld connection

Lower flange connection to bottom side rail, holed, cut, torn, cracked extending into web radius

Web deformation below line of corner castings

Top plate pushed up in excess of 50mm, cut, torn or broken

Strap broken, cracked, cut, torn, missing

Straighten or weld, or straighten and weld, or insert, or renew

Weld, or straighten and weld, or insert, or renew

Weld, or straighten and weld, or insert, or section or renew

Straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert, or renew

Straighten or weld, or straighten and weld, or insert, or renew

Weld, or straighten and weld, or replace

Cross members

Web holed, torn, broken, cracked, cut, missing

Web deformed in excess of 75mm

Web upper flange separated from floor by more than 10mm

Bowed up by more than 50mm or below line of corner castings

Weld, or straighten and weld, or insert, or renew

Straighten, or renew

Straighten and refix, or renew

Straighten, or renew

3 OTHER COMPONENTS

COMPONENT

DAMAGE

RECOMMENDED REPAIR METHODS

3.1 FLOOR

Floor planks and panels

Gouge greater than 15mm deep irrespective of length

Gouge more than 6mm deep and greater than 150mm wide irrespective of length

Delamination or other damage (affecting floor strength)

Difference in height between adjacent

planks / panels greater than 10mm

Holes other than nail holes

Section or renew

Replace if structural

Refasten

Plug (maximum 25mm diam.)

Floor fastenings

Protruding

Three or more adjacent broken / loose, missing fasteners

Refasten

Refasten or replace

3.2 DOORS
Door	Holed, cut, torn, broken, cracked component or weld, or deformation affecting security and operation of doors Missing / broken or loose parts which affect door operation or watertightness	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or patch, or insert, or renew Replace or refix
J Bars	If interfering with door operation	Weld or straighten, or straighten and weld, or insert
Data plates	Loose or missing plates	Refasten or replace

3.3 PANELS

Side / front /roof panels including header plate

Dents into cube which reduce the internal width by more than 50mm from the inner corrugation including multiple dents, or 70mm from the floor to the roof inner corrugation

Holed, torn or cut

Dents exceeding the outer face of corner castings + 40mm

Straighten, or straighten and weld, patch, insert or renew

Weld, or straighten and weld, patch, or insert

Straighten, or straighten and weld, or patch, or insert

4 OTHER ITEMS

COMPONENT

DAMAGE

RECOMMENDED REPAIR METHODS

Lashing rings	Broken, cracked or missing or non functional	Weld, or replace, or straighten
Surfaces	Glue (Sticky) Odour, infestation, debris, contamination that can be transferred Vents blocked, loose, damaged and not weathertight, missing Graffiti / foreign markings - offensive / possibly offensive	Clean and/or paint Clean and/or remove Repair/replace Repair / remove
ISO decals	Missing or illegible	Replace
Rain gutters	Damage affecting door operation or exceeding outer face of corner castings +10mm	Straighten or remove
Hazardous labels	Remaining on panels	Remove

Return to Useful Resources Index Page