Shelf-Life Terms
Users Guide
Shelf-Life Shelf-Life (SL): The total period of time
beginning with the date of manufacture, cure, Shelf-Life Management for Paints,
Management: assembly, or pack that an item may remain in the
combined wholesale (including manufacture)
Sealants and Adhesives, Federal
Supply Classes 8010, 8030, &
Paints, Sealants, and and retail storage system and still remain
suitable for issue to the end user.
8040
Adhesives Shelf-Life Item: An item of supply possessing
(Includes paints, sealants, and adhesives)
deteriorative or unstable characteristics to the Determining Shelf-Life Codes
degree that a storage time period must be Check the DOD Federal Logistics
assigned to ensure that it will perform Information System (FLIS) using the
satisfactorily in service. There are two types of National Stock Number (NSN), Item Name
shelf life items: Code (INC), or Item Name (IN) to
determine the shelf-life codes (SLC). If
Type I Shelf-Life Item: An individual item of FLIS is not accessible, use FedLog to check
supply, which is determined through an for the information. For additional
evaluation of technical test data and/or actual information, contact the DLIS Shelf-Life
experience, to be an item with a definite non- Point of Contact (POC).
extendible period of shelf-life. A one position
alpha code (non-extendible), except code “X”, is When an item is not a shelf-life item, it will
assigned to a Type I SL item. be identified by a SLC of “0” (zero). If
such an item is suspected to be sufficiently
Type II Shelf-Life Item: An individual item of deteriorative, the SLC of 0 in the FLIS may
GSA Global Supply Hardware supply having an assigned shelf-life time period be invalid and a SLC challenge should be
SuperStore that may be extended after completion of forwarded to the GSA Shelf-Life POC.
inspection, test, or restoration action. A one
1500 E. Bannister Road Bldg #6 position numeric code (extendible) or code “X” Hazardous items of supply shall require
Kansas City, MO 64131 is assigned to a Type II SL item. special storage and handling in accordance
816-926-7315 with DLAI 4145.11 (see References).
The GSA Hardware SuperStore manages For discrepancies or questions concerning
Federal Supply Classes 8010, 8030, and 8040 shelf-life codes, contact the GSA Shelf-Life
and assigns shelf-life time periods for the NSNs POC at 703-308-6532 sles.gsa@dla.mil.
assigned to these commodities. As an active
participant in DOD’s initiatives in shelf-life
management, GSA offers this brochure as a
basic guide and information resource for
shelf-life management .
Guidelines laboratory testing is required nine (9) months GSA Extension Inquiries
prior to the re-test date for those items. The
Inspection of Container for General testing is performed to determine whether the Shelf.life@gsa.gov, 209-547-8636
Condition and Serviceability item remains suitable for use by the end-user. Points of Contact
The containers should be clean, secure,
Shelf-Life Extension & Disposal Shelf-Life Program
free from leaks and excessive rust,
distortion and/or other deterioration When Type I shelf-life items reach the DOD, sles.dod@dla.mil, 703-767-1585
expiration date, they can no longer be issued for DLA, sles.dla@dla.mil, 703-767-2529
Labels should be legible and securely use and are to be processed for reutilization, Army, sles.army@dla.mil, 570-895-7685
attached to the container. Labels recycling, or disposal without delay to your Navy, sles.navy@dla.mil, 717-605-1506
should include: servicing DRMO. Contact your facility AF, sles.airforce@dla.mil, 478-926-4005
NSN environmental office to classify the hazardous MC, sles.marine@dla.mil, 703-695-8947
Manufacturer and CAGE code material in order to turn-in to the DRMO. If GSA, sles.gsa@dla.mil, 703-308-6532
Contract number/Lot number assistance is needed for classification of the FAA, sles.faa@dla.mil, 202-267-8840
Date manufactured, and either hazardous waste, contact the Hazardous USCG, sles.uscg@dla.mil, 202-267-2183
expiration or inspect/test date Technical Information Service (HTIS) or the DTRA, sles.dtra@dla.mil, 505-846-8917
DRMO/DRMS Shelf-Life POC. DRMS, sles.drms@dla.mil, 1-888-352-2255
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
When Type II shelf-life items reach their DLIS, sles.dlis@dla.mil, 1-877-352-2255
If needed, obtain an MSDS for the hazardous inspect/test-date, check the DOD Quality Status
material from the Hazardous Material List (QSL) or Federal Standard 793 for GSA Websites
Information Resource System (HMIRS). The managed items, for SL extensions. The QSL, in http://www.shelflife.hq.dla.mil
HMIRS is available on the Web at the Test Due column, contains extension http://www.drms.dla.mil
http://www.dlis.dla.mil/hmirs/ and on the information for Type II items that have been http://www.gsa.gov
HMIRS CD-ROM. Both MSDS sources allow laboratory tested. This extension information is http://www.dscr.dla.mil/htis/
product information search using NSN, valid only if the stock to be extended has been http://www.dlis.dla.mil/hmirs/
manufacturer, supplier, CAGE code, properly stored per the applicable storage
specification number, or part number. To obtain standards. The QSL is available online on the GSA MSDS Request Center
a copy of the CD-ROM, or if you have any shelf-life website (see Websites). Comm.816-926-5097; DSN 465-5097
questions regarding HMIRS, contact the GSA msds@gsa.gov, or 1-866.588.7659
MSDS Request Center or your Focal Point listed When Type II shelf-life items fail laboratory
in the HMIRS website. testing, they can no longer be issued for use and References
are to be processed for reutilization, recycling, DOD 4140.27-M, Shelf-Life Management Manual,
Laboratory Testing or disposal without delay to your servicing May 2003
DRMO. Contact your facility’s environmental DLAD 4155.37/AR702-18/NAVSUPINST
Testing is an element of inspection that 4410.56A/AFMAN 23-110/MCO 4450.13A, Material
office to classify the hazardous material prior to
generally denotes the determination, by technical Quality Storage Standards Policy for Shelf Life
turning it in to the servicing DRMO. If Material, March 2004
means, of properties or elements of chemicals or
assistance is needed for classification of the DLAI 4145.11/TM 38-410/NAVSUP PUB
other chemical products (hazardous or non-
hazardous waste, contact the HTIS or 573/AFJMAN 23-209/MCO 4450.12A, Storage and
hazardous) or of their components. It also Handling of Hazardous Materials, January 1999
DRMO/DRMS Shelf-Life POC.
involves the application of established scientific Federal Standard 313, Material Safety Data, April 1996
principles and procedures. For items in storage, Federal Standard 793, Depot Storage Standards,
October 1998