Identification

• The gauge of a steel drum generally refers to the thickness of the drum walls. These thickness levels have been evaluated and developed by safety organizations, such as the International Code Council, for the safe containment and transfer of hazardous materials. Lower gauge drums are given varying tolerance levels for liquids and/or solids as opposed to higher gauge. This pertains to the nature of the substance placed in the barrel or the volume.
  
  

Features

• Regardless of gauge, these protective drums can come in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 gallons to 30 gallons or more. The drums often come with specialized crimping tools to ensure they are sealed safely and according to regulation. Like all barrels carrying hazardous waste, the drums should be labeled with stickers or decals (placards) to identify the risks posed by the contents. Anyone carrying these drums needs a commercial driver's license with specific credentials to transport hazardous waste materials.
  
  

Classifications

• The way that gauges are expressed varies depending on the source. For example, the Oak Ridge National Laboratories lists gauges for steel drums on a scale from 12 to 28, skipping over odd numbers. The ICC Compliance Center lists gauges in triads such as 20/20/20, 16/18/18 or 16/16/16. Each of the latter correlates to a specific ICC code number.