Gelo seco: How Do You Ship It Right in 2025?

If you ship with dry ice UPS, you must mark UN1845, show the net dry ice in kilograms, and use vented packaging under IATA PI 954. UPS also applies a 68 kg (150 lb) per‑package cap for small‑package air, so plan labels, AWB text, and packouts to pass acceptance on the first try. These rules keep your team safe and your payload frozen.

Pass acceptance first time with a PI 954 checklist, UN1845 marks, and AWB wording (UPS PI 954 checklist).
Right‑size refrigerant loads using a simple dry‑ice sizing rule for 24–96 h routes (dry ice UPS sizing).
Choose compliant packaging—vented EPS/VIP shippers; no sealed liners (dry ice UPS packaging).
Set up UPS tools to enter dry‑ice weights in kg and avoid common rejection traps.

What exactly does dry ice UPS require in 2025?

Short answer: Ventive o pacote, mark “Dry Ice” / “Carbon Dioxide, sólido" + “UN1845,” and print the net dry‑ice mass in kilograms on the outer carton; repeat UN1845 + net kg on the Air Waybill. UPS small‑package air overlays a 68 kg per‑package limit even though IATA’s general max is 200 kg when used as a refrigerant for non‑DG.

Why this matters: Carriers audit these lines. A missing “net kg,” a sealed liner, or assuming the IATA max applies in UPS small‑package lanes are the fastest paths to rejection. Treat the carton as a “vented mini‑freezer”: gas must escape; labels and AWB must match; and any ground shipment that could be uplifted to air should be built air‑compliant by default.

How to label a dry ice UPS box (UN1845) the right way

Put all marks on one side: “UN1845,” the proper name, o NET KG, remetente/consignatário, plus the Aula 9 diamante. On the AWB’s Nature & Quantity of Goods line, enter UN1845, the proper name, package count, e NET KG. Keep packaging ventilado; never heat‑seal an inner bag around dry ice.

What you’re doing	Aqui está Pi 954	UPS Small‑Package Air	What it means for you
Per‑package dry‑ice limit	Até 200 kg	68 kg max	Split loads or use a different service if above 68 kg.
Venting	Required	Required	No sealed liners; maintain a CO₂ escape path.
Marks on carton	UN1845 + proper name + NET KG	Same	Usar kilograms on the box and AWB.
Declaration	Not required for non‑DG contents	Same	Use the dry‑ice acceptance checklist only.

Practical tips to pass acceptance

Convert to kg and round down on the label if you track weight in pounds.
Don’t write on the Class 9 diamante; keep the label face clean.
Print an AWB helper (UN1845 + proper name + NET KG + package count) to avoid missed fields.

Real‑world case: A biotech added an auto‑print for “UN1845 — Net X.X kg” and retrained on the 68 kg cap. Acceptance failures dropped near zero and porch‑time buffers cut spoilage ~15% during heat waves.

How much dry ice do you need for dry ice UPS routes?

Rule of thumb: Plan 5–10 lb per 24 h in a well‑insulated shipper; start at 7.5 lb/day, add +2 lb/day for thin EPS (<1.5″), subtract −1 lb/day for VIP, and add +2 lb/day for hot lanes or long doorstep dwell. Each pound vents ≈ 8.3 ft³ of CO₂, so ventilate packout rooms and vehicles.

Make it yours: Pre‑freeze the payload and the shipper, minimize headspace, cradle the blocks to reduce abrasion, and design a clear vent path. Pilot 3 boxes on your longest lane, log temps and residual mass, then tune the load by 10–20% for seasonality.

Copy‑paste calculator (Excel/Sheets)

InsulationAdj: +2 if EPS <1.5″; −1 if VIP
AmbientAdj: +2 hot lanes / long porch dwell
TransitDays: include 0.5–1 day buffer

Insulation choice	Typical wall	What you get	What to watch
EPS	1.5–2.0″	Affordable baseline for dry ice UPS	Larger outer box; more dry ice
PUR	~1.5″	Smaller carton at same performance	Odor/compatibility checks
Painéis VIP	0.5–1.0″	Longest holds, smallest carton	Custo mais alto; careful handling

Actionable scenarios

48–72 h meal kits: Start near 7.5–10 lb/day; add +1 day buffer in summer.
96 h lab route: Use VIP to cut load by ~1 lb/day; double‑box for abuse lanes.
Bulk frozen foods: Split packages to stay ≤ 68 kg for air; migrate heavy loads to ground where economical.

Actual case: A frozen D2C brand right‑sized from the “max ice” habit to the rule above and reduced cost while holding temps across 72 h lanes.

Dry ice UPS for ground vs. air vs. international—what changes?

Chão (U.S.): When used only as a refrigerant for non‑hazardous contents, dry ice is generally not regulated as hazmat; still mark UN1845 and keep packaging vented. Ar: Follow Pi 954 and UPS’s 68 kg cap for small‑package air; include UN1845 details on the AWB. International: Same PI 954 essencial; check UPS operator variations and accepted countries, plus ISC participation where relevant.

Do you need a contract or ISC for dry ice UPS?

For domestic non‑DG contents, no DG Shipper’s Declaration is required—use the PI 954 acceptance checklist and proper AWB text. Some international lanes or commodities may require ISC participation; verify per lane before pickup. Configure WorldShip/DG tools to select Dry Ice (UN1845) and enter kg for net mass.

2025 dry ice UPS developments and trends

What’s new: IATA refreshed its 2025 acceptance checklist (Pi 954 essentials: UN1845 on the AWB, vented packaging, no LQ), and UPS’s International Chemical Table (eficaz 01/01/2025) continues the 68 kg operator maximum for small‑package air. Expect tighter audits of AWB wording and net‑kg markings at acceptance.

Latest progress at a glance

Standardized acceptance checks: AWB and on‑carton net‑kg fields are scrutinized.
Carrier variations matter: Plan early splits to live under the 68 kg cap.
Healthcare growth: UPS continues to add temp‑controlled capacity; dry‑ice demand swings seasonally.

Insight de mercado: For many U.S. shippers, chão is a cost‑effective fallback because dry ice used only as a refrigerant is often outside hazmat scope on highway—build air‑compliant labels by default so routing flips don’t cause rework.

Perguntas frequentes

Q1: What is the maximum dry ice UPS allows per package by air?
UPS small‑package air shows 68 kg (150 lb) por pacote, even though IATA’s general maximum is 200 kg when used as a refrigerant for non‑DG.

Q2: Do I need a Shipper’s Declaration when dry ice cools non‑DG contents?
Geralmente no. Label the carton and include UN1845 details (nome, package count, NET KG) on the AWB; packaging must vent under Pi 954.

Q3: Can I seal a plastic bag around dry ice for cleanliness?
Não. The package must vent CO₂. Sealed liners risk rupture and rejection at acceptance.

Q4: How much CO₂ gas does a pound of dry ice release?
Sobre 8.3 ft³ per pound—ventilate packout rooms and vehicles; monitor exposure against 5,000 ppm (TWA) e 30,000 ppm (STEL) guidelines.

Q5: Where do I enter dry‑ice details in UPS tools?
In WorldShip/DG workflows, select Gelo Seco (UN1845) and enter the weight in kg so labels and AWB match acceptance checks.

Resumo & Recommendations

Key points: To ship with dry ice UPS, vent packaging, print UN1845 + NET KG, seguir Pi 954 for air, and respect UPS’s 68 kg small‑package cap. Use rigid insulation, minimize headspace, and size 5–10 lb/24 h, then validate with a 3‑box pilot. Ventilate work areas to keep CO₂ within safe exposure limits.

Next steps:

Pick your service (ground vs. ar); verify lane acceptance/ISC for international.
Design the packout: choose EPS/VIP, compute load with the calculator above.
Rótulo & document: UN1845 + proper name + NET KG; apply Class 9 on the same side; mirror details on the AWB.
Configure UPS tools e train teams on the 68 kg cap and venting. Talk to Tempk for a lane‑by‑lane SOP and label set.

Sobre Tempk

We design carrier‑ready cold‑chain packouts that pass acceptance on the first try. Our engineers tune insulation and refrigerant loads for dry ice UPS lanes, automate UN1845/net‑kg rótulos, and build SOPs your team can run in days—cutting rejections and spoilage on your busiest routes.

CTA: Request a free lane review—get a printable dry ice UPS SOP, a validated sizing plan, and ready‑to‑use label templates.