Technical-grade totes that respect what’s inside them.
Detergents, solvents, adhesives, lubricants, coolants, and process chemicals move safely in the right tote — one graded technical, checked for compatibility, and marked for how you plan to transport it.
Industrial liquids we outfit
If it’s not going in a mouth, it’s probably technical-grade territory. A snapshot of what our totes carry across California plants and warehouses.
Detergents & surfactants
Bulk cleaners, degreasers, and dilution concentrates for janitorial and process lines.
Solvents
Alcohols, glycols, and cleaning solvents — with compatibility confirmed for the specific solvent.
Adhesives & resins
Water- and solvent-based adhesives, coatings, and resin systems; wide valves for viscous flow.
Lubricants & oils
Hydraulic fluid, gear and motor oils, cutting fluids, and coolants for fleets and machine shops.
Acids & bases (mild)
Dilute acids and alkalis where HDPE and matched gaskets provide adequate resistance.
Inks & pigments
Industrial inks, dyes, and colorant bases for print and coating operations.
Wastewater & recovery
Process wastewater, solvent recovery, and used-fluid collection prior to disposal.
De-icers & brines
Road brine, glycol de-icers, and dust-control liquids for municipal and industrial fleets.
Three things to get right with chemicals
A tote is only as safe as the match between its materials, its markings, and your liquid. Nail these three and you’re compliant and covered.
Technical grade
Technical totes are cleaned for non-potable industrial contents — never sold as food-grade. It’s the correct, cost-right choice for chemicals. See the full breakdown in Grades Explained.
Material match
HDPE resists a wide range of chemicals, but not all — and the valve and gasket matter as much as the bottle. Check your product’s SDS against HDPE, EPDM, and Viton compatibility, or tell us the chemical and we’ll confirm the right fittings.
Transport rating
Hazardous liquids shipped by road need a UN-marked (UN31HA1) tote within its retest date. If you’re only storing on-site, an unrated tote may be fine. Tell us how you’ll move it and we’ll match the marking.
Reading the plate & sizing the tote
| Marking / spec | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| UN31HA1 | Rigid HDPE composite IBC rated for Group II/III liquids in transport |
| Retest date | UN totes require periodic inspection/retest to stay compliant for hazmat transport |
| Bottle material | HDPE — inert to many chemicals; always verify against your SDS |
| Gasket / valve | EPDM or Viton options matched to solvent, acid, or oil exposure |
| Capacity | 275 gal / 1,040 L or 330 gal / 1,250 L on a 40 × 48 in footprint |
Full dimensions, weights, and tolerances live on the Size Chart & Specs page. Not sure which grade fits your chemical? Start with Grades Explained.
Chemical & industrial tote FAQ
How do I know if my chemical is compatible with an HDPE tote?
Do I need a UN-rated tote?
Can a tote that held chemicals ever be food-grade again?
What about end-of-life and empty chemical totes?
Packing groups, ratings, and safe transfer
The plate on a chemical tote isn’t decoration — it tells you exactly what the container is certified to carry and how to move it. Six things worth knowing before you fill.
Packing Group I / II / III
Great, medium, and minor danger. Group I is the most hazardous; most IBC totes carry Group II and III liquids.
The X / Y / Z letter
On the UN plate it shows which groups the tote is certified for: X covers Groups I–III, Y covers II–III, Z covers III only.
Decode UN31HA1
31 designates a rigid or composite IBC for liquids; the HA marks an HDPE inner bottle inside a steel outer cage.
Retest and inspection
UN IBCs get a leak-tightness test every 2.5 years and a full periodic inspection every 5 years to stay valid for hazmat.
Secondary containment
Put chemical totes on a bund or spill pallet sized to hold at least 110% of the largest container.
Bonding and grounding
When transferring flammable liquids, bond and ground the tote to dissipate static and prevent ignition.
HDPE and gasket match by chemical class
HDPE resists a wide range of chemicals, but the gasket and valve matter as much as the bottle. Always verify against your product’s SDS — concentration and temperature change the answer.
| Chemical class | HDPE resistance | Suggested gasket | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dilute acids | Good | EPDM or Viton | Verify concentration on the SDS |
| Caustics / alkalis | Good | EPDM | Watch stress cracking at high concentration |
| Alcohols / glycols | Good | EPDM | Confirm for the specific alcohol |
| Aromatic / chlorinated solvents | Limited | Viton | Case by case; some attack HDPE |
| Oils / lubricants | Good | Viton | Wide valve for viscous flow |
| Oxidizers | Variable | Per SDS | Strong oxidizers may need a different container |
Send us the chemical name and concentration and we’ll confirm the bottle, valve, and gasket — or read Grades Explained first.
Ratings & compliance FAQ
What do packing groups actually mean?
What’s the difference between X, Y, and Z totes?
How often does a UN tote need retesting?
Do I need secondary containment?
Can I stack chemical totes when full?
Are there temperature limits?
What a compliant chemical tote gives you
Related pages
Tell us the chemical — we’ll spec a compliant tote.
Whether you have ten idle totes in a yard or need three hundred delivered next week, we can help — and the planet gets a win either way.