Questions & Answers

Have you ever weighed your documents? Paper is very heavy, often too heavy for a simple paper wrapping.

The alternative is to use envelopes made of tear-resistant paper-like materials, corrugated cardboard or solid board, padded shipment cases or small folding shipment boxes. If you have nothing else to hand, please reinforce all the edges of your paper wrapping and all the glue tabs with wide standard parcel tape.

Please do not ship electrical or electronic products simply in their original packaging.

In most cases this will only be designed for transport on pallets or in large containers. A pallet weighing 700 kg - 800 kg can only be moved with a lifting truck or forklift. This means that the padding in individual packaging items can be quite thin. During delivery, however, parcels are processed individually using conveyors and sorting systems. This subjects them to different types of stress, so the original packaging alone is often insufficient.

For this reason, please make sure that the original packaging is packed in another layer of sturdy shipment packaging and well padded on all sides.

Light alloy rims are very prone to damage during transport, particularly at the edges. To avoid damage during shipping, the rim edge must be specially protected with an effective padding material (e.g. foam plastics such as EPP or EPS).

Commercially available packaging solutions (such as folding shipment boxes with ring inserts of corrugated cardboard) were originally designed for use on pallets. They are not suitable for the postal system.

Always discuss suitable packaging solutions with your packaging supplier. If your supplier cannot offer a suitable solution, please contact our Service Centre or your sales representative at the central packaging test and advice centre.

Yes, as long as they do not contain corrosive, toxic or oxidising gases. The quantity of gas must not exceed 1,000 ml per individual item and 10,000 ml per package. Under the terms of individual contracts, the quantity is limited to a gross mass of 30 kg per package. Shipments must be labelled with the UN number 1950. It is comparatively rare for the compressed gas to escape from its packaging. However, if compressed gas products are packaged together with similar or different contents in a single package, the possibility of denting cannot be ruled out. Padded partitions such as corrugated cardboard or air bubble film should therefore be used to separate the different items from each other and the outer packaging.

No. This is because Chapter 3.4 of the ADR contains no applicable exemption for limited quantities. It is only possible to send one gas lighter per shipment, and only if certain regulations are complied with.

Water-soluble paints are not usually subject to the provisions of the ADR and are not therefore subject to special regulations for postal delivery. However, if the paints contain flammable solvents, and if they have a flash point of less than 61° Celsius, then their transport is subject to the provisions of the ADR. Paints are often categorised as class 3, classification code F1, packaging group III. This means that up to 3 litres per can and 6 litres per package may be transported by post. Under the terms of individual contracts, the quantities of these products are limited to 5 litres per can and 31.5 kg gross mass per package. Shipments must be labelled with the relevant UN number. To prevent the cans from opening during transport, lid fasteners should be used (clips or circlips). If you are packing several cans in one parcel, use padding between the individual cans and between the cans and the outer packaging to avoid dents.

Diagnostic samples and biological products may only be shipped in parcels if the content is categorised as risk group 1 of class 6.2 according to the ADR. Medical samples and biological products may only be shipped in packaging that complies with packaging instruction P650 of the ADR.

No. This is because Chapter 3.4 of the ADR contains no applicable exemption for limited quantities.

Test certification includes a detailed evaluation of the submitted packages, a laboratory test in accordance with the relevant DIN standards, detailed documentation of the results, and the issuing of a DHL test certificate and test number. This gives you the following benefits:

• If any transport damage should occur, DHL Paket will accept the burden of proof for the suitability of the tested packaging for national parcel shipping.
• You are entitled to print the test mark with the test number on the tested and certified packaging for a period of 5 years.

DHL PAKET offers you the option of having your packaging solution certified by DHL for the transport of shipments with the applicable maximum weight and dimensions.

This means:

• The findings serving as the basis for DHL test certificates, test reports or expert reports or established by us by any other method relate only to the suitability of the packaging listed in each case and the transport of the specified goods with the DHL PAKET service by DHL and its subcontractors.
• The test certificate is only valid for shipping within Germany.

In particular, we offer no guarantee of the suitability of this packaging for the transport of goods

• as Express shipments, letters or shipments similar to letters (e.g. Päckchen),
• as international shipments
• by third parties, i.e. competitors of DHL

Business customers in any industry operating in the BtoB and BtoC segments, handling sensitive goods such as glassware or sensitive computer equipment.

The certificate is usable and effective if:

• The customer is a business customer which has its packaging tested and certified. To do this the customer must provide packaging samples, including original content, and information about the packaging to DHL PAKET.
• The customer applies for testing and certification in writing using the application form provided by DHL PAKET. All the relevant information about services, conditions and contract terms are listed on the application form.
• If the tests required for the issuing of the test certificate have been successfully carried out by the packaging check team and the certificate has been handed over to the customer along with the test report.
• The customer uses the certified packaging exclusively within Germany.
• The shipments handed over to DHL PAKET for transport correspond exactly to the samples ("models") submitted for certification in terms of the outer and inner packaging, seal and contents.

Packaging that is consistently identical in terms of construction, quality, packing type and contents.
Packaging is certified:

• when it does not exceed the maximum permissible weight and dimensions.
• when its content is always identical. This means that the customer may only use the certified packaging for the content made available to DHL for testing. For example, if a packaging item is certified for a special wine bottle, it may only be used for the special wine bottle and not other goods (e.g. vases, whisky bottles).
• if it can be grouped into packaging families. It is possible to test and certify    
• one packaging item for various contents (e.g. different types of bottles, such as wine and champagne bottles)
• different packaging sizes with the same contents (e.g. packaging for 3, 6 or 9 bottles). A combination of both is also possible.

The test certificate is valid for 5 years.

The test certificate is effective for 5 years and may be extended for another 5 years at the end of this period if the repeat test of the packaging is successful.

The test report contains all the data relating to the tests carried out, the packaging tested, the test results and details of the customer.

DHL test certification comprises the following services:

• Testing of packaging item and package (including laboratory-assisted packaging check) and issuing of the DHL test certificate: EUR 799¹
• Multiple certification (for multiple packaging sizes and packaging families, price applied as of the second item): EUR 190¹
• Repeat test (extension of DHL test certificate): EUR 400¹

¹ subject to VAT

The customer’s packaging must comply with the specifications of DHL’s General Terms and Conditions for Paket/Express National. If this is not the case, we will apply a charge to cover the expenses of the laboratory-assisted packaging check.

The customer sends DHL a written application using the application form. DHL must also be provided with the following materials and information about the packaging to be tested:

• Three packaging samples (blank or printed)
• Original contents (e.g. wine bottle) => substitute contents may only be used by arrangement with the packaging check team.
• Material data (e.g. drawings and technical data for the packaging)