The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin was founded in 1871 by the Prussian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Public Works as the „Königliche Mechanisch-Technische Versuchsanstalt“ and has sovereign functions in the Federal Republic of Germany in the area of dangerous goods containment.
It was founded to carry out experiments in the scientific and public interest. Today, BAM is a Departmental research organisation, which reports to the Federal Ministry of Economics. It researches, tests and advises on the protection of people, the environment and material goods. As part of its legal and socio-political tasks, it identifies the requirements for the „Safety in technology and chemistry“.
It communicates solutions to safety-related problems and implements them into regulations. Advice, information and participation in national and international committees are therefore among its main areas of work.
Activities and test facilities
The Division 3 of BAM has the task of designing the conditions for the safe and environmentally compatible use of dangerous goods packaging, containers, tanks and loading units, which are referred to as „containments“ in dangerous goods legislation. This primarily results in the task of protecting people, material goods and the environment from the risks arising from the use of technical products, plants, processes and systems for the transport of dangerous goods. Transport and storage of dangerous goods can result. The department has 128 employees.
The specific distribution of tasks is divided into four Specialist areas:
3.1 Hazardous goods packaging,
3.2 Hazardous goods tanks,
3.3 Transport containers for radioactive substances and
3.4 Storage containers for radioactive substances.
Packaging tests
The Dangerous Goods Packaging department is a DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000 accredited testing laboratory. Department 3.1 is responsible for Type examinations for packaging, large packaging and large packaging materials in accordance with international regulations, usually using substitute filling material. Further tests are possible after individual consultation with the client. In addition, suitability certificates are issued for packages in air transport. An important task is the recognition and monitoring of test centres that carry out type tests and use appropriate laboratory methods.
Cooperation with other bodies
Department 3 co-operates with numerous national and international research institutions and advises companies on the application and interpretation of regulations. It carries out research and development tasks and organises numerous seminars, workshops and conferences in this field.
Nationally, she is a member of several committees of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), conducts the business of the Standing Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) and works in several committees of the DIN Standards Committee Packaging (NAVp) with.
Internationally, BAM represents the Federal Republic of Germany in the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) and is a member of the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI).
Contact:
Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)
Division 3 Dangerous goods containment
Under the oaks 44-46
12203 Berlin
Dr Thomas Goedecke
Phone: +49 30 8104-1310
e-mail: Thomas.Goedecke@bam.de
http://www.bam.de
