IBC Tote
275 gallon IBC totes are the most popular option for hauling recycled water. They’re solid plastic tanks with a steel cage around them, can be easily strapped down to a truck bed or trailer and have large openings for filling and draining.
Sometimes called plastic totes, carboys, 275 gallon tanks, water totes, 275 gallon plastic water tanks, truck bed water tanks, you get the idea. They come in 275 gallon, 300 gallon and 325 gallon varieties.
But what do the tanks weigh when empty?
Quick answer – 120 – 140 pounds (depending on tank size and material tote cage is made of)
There are two ways to find out.
First, every tank should have a label on it that would appear to be rather cryptic. “This is a UN Rating Code – it was developed as a set of standards, by the United Nations, UN ratings are essential for shipping and storing… The UN Rating is a series of number and letter codes that show what a container is regulated to handle. They determine this this a sereies of test that all containers must undergo if they are to be UN Rated. Current UN Regulations are enforced by the D.O.T.” – http://www.thecarycompany.com/about/guides/guide-to-un-rating-codes
UN31HA1/Y/06/07/USA/M4118/3604KG/2002KG/1041L/64KG/100KPA/06/07/06/07
Example below.
275 gallon IBC Tote Label
What does this mean?
- UN31HA1 – UN (Rating Code) 31 (Jerricans, Drums/Pails) H (material – plastic) A (material – steel) 1 (Category – closed head)
- Y – Packaging Group – meets group II and III’s test
- 06/07 – Year of manufacture
- USA – country of manufacture
- M4118 – model # of tote (also stamped in plastic on top)
- 3604KG – Maximum gross mass – 7945 pounds
- 2002KG – – 4413 pounds
- 1041L – Volume – converts to 275 gallons
- 64KG – Empty weight – converts to 141 pounds (empty weight, confirmed on a scale)
- 100KPA – max pressure tank withholds when all orifices are closed – 14.05PSI
Second – put it on a scale. I did and it said 140 pounds.
What is the weight of the bottle without the cage?