3.

4 Size and type codes

The following photo shows a variant of horizontal marking which additionally includes country, size
and type codes (in accordance with the 1985 version of DIN ISO 6346, use of which is still permitted):

Container identification including country, size and type codes

Appropriate abbreviations are used for the various countries, here US for United States of America, GB
for Great Britain etc.

The first digit of the size code indicates the length of the container, with the number 4 standing for a
40' container. The second digit indicates height and whether or not a gooseneck tunnel is present. In
our example, the number 3 stands for a height of 8 foot 6 inches (8'6") with gooseneck tunnel. The
first digit of the type code indicates container type. Here, 1 means that the container is a closed
container with ventilation openings. The second digit of the type code relates to special features. The
0 used here means opening at the end.

In the associated standard, columns are set out vertically:

The corresponding data are laid out underneath. The abbreviation g.n.t. stands for gooseneck tunnel.
A differently laid out size code summary is shown below:

In the type code, the first digit (i.e. the 3rd digit overall) indicates the container type and the second
(i.e. the 4th digit overall) indicates special features. However, there is a connection between the
respective digits, which the following representation is intended to explain:

Incorrectly marked platform container

The digit sequence 4364 means: 40' long container 8'6" high with gooseneck tunnel and folding, free-
standing posts. It should carry the digit sequence 4363, since the platform container has complete,
folding end walls.

Here are some examples of marking in accordance with this older standard:

This container is 40' long (4), 8'6" high and has a gooseneck tunnel
(3). The type code 00 states that it is a general purpose container
which has opening(s) at one or both end(s).

This container is 20' long (2) and 8' 6" high (2). It is a ventilated
standard container (1), with narrow, passive vents in the upper part
(0).

This container is 40' long (4), 8'6" high and has a gooseneck tunnel
(3). It is a ventilated standard container (1), with narrow, passive
vents in the upper part (0).

Both of these are 20' containers (2), 8'6"

high and constructed as tank
containers(7) suitable for transporting
hazardous materials to a pressure of
6.0 bar.
According to the old Annex F "size code designations" annexed to DIN ISO 6346 of August 1985, the
two containers are 40' long (number 4) and 8'6" high with a gooseneck tunnel (number 3). According
to Annex G "type code designations", both containers are partially ventilated closed containers, which
have passive vents in the upper part of the cargo space, the total cross-sectional area of the vents
being less than 25 cm per meter of container length (number combination 10).

However, the coding does not indicate that the green container is 2.50 m wide.

Below:
Warning due to
2.50 m width

The January 1996 edition of the standard bearing the same number includes another "size code",
which has eradicated these inadequacies.

Like the above containers, this container is 40' long, 8' high and
has a gooseneck tunnel (number sequence 43). The type code 51
states that it is an open-top container, with openings at one or both
end walls and a removable top member in the end frame.

The number sequence 43 stands for a length of 40' a height of 8'6"

plus gooseneck tunnel. In each case the container is a flatrack, but

... the number sequence 63 is the code for a platform with complete
folding end walls
 ... and the number sequence 64 is the code with a platform with
folding, free-standing corner posts.

This flatrack allows verification of the coding,

identification and marking according to old
DIN EN ISO 6346 (1985), showing clearly
that it is still valid, since the photo was taken
in 2001. The marking beneath the container
number reads RCX 4364.

According to the old country code, RCX stands for China (Taiwan). The size code 43 states that it is a
40' container 8'6" high and with a gooseneck tunnel. The number combination 64 states that it is a
platform with folding, free-standing corner posts.

Similar flatracks exist which are 20' long and 8'6"

high, of course, but they don't have goosenecks.
This is clear from the number sequence 22. The
type code 64 is the same as for the previous
example: platform with folding, free-standing
corner posts.

Both containers have a nominal length of 40', but are higher than 8'6" and each have a gooseneck
tunnel (size code number sequence 45). According to type code 10, both containers are partially
ventilated closed containers, which have passive vents in the upper part of the cargo space, the total
cross-sectional area of the vents being less than 25 cm per meter of container length.

According to the old 1984 standard:

4 = 40' Container
5 = > 8'6" high with gooseneck tunnel
3 = thermal
2 = refrigerated & heated
These photos show clearly that the container is a 40' long refrigerated container. According to the size
code, the container height is > 8'6" - this is correct, as the container is 9 feet high. The number
combination 32, given as the type code, states that the container may be refrigerated or heated.

The following photo shows a variant of horizontal marking with size and type codes:

Size and type codes additionally stated in accordance

with current standard

The container is 12,192 mm (40') long, 2,438 mm (8') wide and 2,591 mm (8'6") high. This is a
general purpose container without ventilation, but which does have vents in the upper part of the
cargo space.

The current standard, used for this marking, is not limited to numbers but also uses letters to make
marking more precise. In addition, swap-bodies and the like are also covered by the coding. The
superordinate term for both numbers and letters is character. The introductory country code has been
discontinued.

The first character of the size code indicates the length of the receptacle:
In the example, the 4 accordingly stands for a 40' container.

The second character is the code for the height and width of the container.

The standard type code allows identification of container type and other characteristics. Since this
system is not yet complete, the standard recommends use of the group code if special characteristics
of the container type have not yet been fixed or are unknown. The highest unassigned code character
should be used as a provisional mark when it is necessary to represent significant characteristics
which are not yet included in the Table.
) 100 kPa = 1 bar = 105 Pa = 105 N/m = 14.5 lbf/in (PSI)
1
) 100 kPa = 1 bar = 105 Pa = 105 N/m = 14.5 lbf/in (PSI)
1

This Figure shows a variant of vertical container

marking, with size and type code (on the left):

The identifying details are more or less clearly

visible.

Vertical container marking

Identifying mark plus

size and type codes
in horizontal arrangement

The container is 12,192 mm or 40' long (number 4 of first character of the size code). Its height is
2,895 mm or 9'6" and its width is greater than 2,438 mm or 8' and is less than or equal to 2,500 mm
(letter E or second character of the size code). As regards type, the container is a general purpose
container without ventilation, whose main characteristic is that it has vents in the upper part of the
cargo space (characters G1 of the type code).

The owner code and product group code are also known as the alpha prefix. The check digit is
often written in a box: .
There now follows a number of examples of marking according to DIN EN ISO 6346, January 1996:

According to the two characters 42 of the size code, the container is

12,192 mm or 40' long, 2,591 mm or 8'6" high and 2,438 mm or 8'
wide. The type code characters G0 state that the container is a
general purpose container without ventilation but with openings at
one or both end(s).

According to the two character combinations 22 and 42 of the size code, the container on the left
is 6,058 mm or 20' long and the two containers on the right are 12,192 mm or 40' long. All the
containers are 2,591 mm or 8'6" high and 2,438 mm or 8' wide. The type code characters G1
state that the container is a general purpose container without ventilation but with vents in the
upper part of the cargo space.

According to the two characters 22 of the size code, the container is 6,058 mm or 20' long, 2,591 mm
or 8' 6" high and 2,438 mm or 8' wide. The type code characters P3 state that the container is a
platform based container with folding complete end walls.

According to the two characters 22 of the size code, the container is

6,058 mm or 20' long, 2,591 mm or 8' 6" high and 2,438 mm or 8'
wide. The type code characters R1 state that the container is a thermal
container which can be mechanically refrigerated and heated.

According to the two characters 28 of the size

code, the container is 6,058 mm or 20' long,
1,295 mm or 4' 3" high and 2,438 mm or 8'
wide. The type code characters P2 state that
the container is a platform container with fixed
posts, either free-standing (as here) or with
removable top members.

According to the two characters 42 of the size code, the container is According to the two
12,192 mm or 40' long, 2,591 mm or 8'6" high and 2,438 mm or 8' characters 45 of the size
wide. The type code characters U1 state that the container is an code, the container is
open-top container which may additionally be equipped with 12,192 mm or 40' long,
opening(s) at one or both end(s) plus removable top door rail in the 2,895 mm or 9'6" high and
end frame. 2,438 mm or 8' wide. The
type code characters G1
state that the container is a
general purpose container
 without ventilation but with
vents in the upper part of the
cargo space.

According to the two characters 45 of the size code, the

container is 12,192 mm or 40' long, 2,895 mm or 9'6" high
and 2,438 mm or 8' wide. The type code character P
indicates that the container is a platform based container
with complete end walls. The standard still gives type code
P8 as being "spare".

Type code P8 has been used here for a

"collapsible flat" (to the right), i.e. the end
walls are collapsible for empty carriage.

According to the two characters 45 of the size code, the container is

12,192 mm or 40' long, 2,895 mm or 9'6" high and 2,438 mm or 8'
wide. The type code characters R1 state that the container is a
thermal container which can be mechanically refrigerated and
heated.

According to the character 4 of the size code, the container is

12,192 mm or 40' long. The character C indicates that the container
has a height of 2,591 mm or 8' 6" and a width ranging between >
2,438 mm and < 2,500 mm. According to type code G1, the
container is a general purpose container without ventilation, which
nonetheless has vents in the upper part of the cargo space.
 The character 4 stands for the length 12,192 mm or 40'. E states
that the container has a height of 2,895 mm or 9' 6" and a width
ranging between > 2,438 mm and < 2,500 mm. The type code
characters G1 state that the container is a general purpose container
without ventilation but with vents in the upper part of the cargo
space.

Given the large number of containers available today, it is impossible to tell how long the current
codings will suffice and when more characters will need to be introduced.