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Grand Rapids, MI · est. 2007
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Grade decoder

A, B, C, D — the four grades, and what each one really means.

The industry uses these four labels almost interchangeably. They're not. Here's our internal definition for each, what got it that grade, and what we'll actually sell it for.

Start the conversation

Same form, every page. Tell us once — we route it to whoever's closest to your tote.

01Who you are
02Where you are
03What you need
⟁ Replies within one business day · no phone calls
A
Food / Beverage

Grade A · Food / Beverage

$135 – $185
Wash

Tri-stage caustic + neutral rinse + potable polish, fresh gasket, sealed cage

Prior fill

Only tanks with previously food-contact-only fills (syrups, edible oils, brines, juices)

Use cases

Beverage holds, edible oil transfer, food brine, vinegar production, condiment manufacturing

B
Clean Industrial

Grade B · Clean Industrial

$105 – $135
Wash

Hot rinse + caustic wash, gasket inspected

Prior fill

Tanks from neutral industrial fills — glycol, soaps, lubricant base oils, non-toxic chems

Use cases

Process water, cooling loops, soap/detergent staging, neutral chemistry storage

C
Light Industrial

Grade C · Light Industrial

$89 – $115
Wash

Hot rinse only

Prior fill

Tanks from mild industrial fills — water-based paints, anti-freeze, fertilizers

Use cases

Construction water, ag fertilizer, fleet wash supply, non-potable industrial

D
Non-Potable / Outdoor

Grade D · Non-Potable / Outdoor

$65 – $95
Wash

Rinse only, cage cosmetically cleaned

Prior fill

Tanks with non-toxic but stained prior fills, often outdoor-stored

Use cases

Rainwater capture, livestock water, fire suppression, dust control, ballast

The big asterisk

"Food grade" alone tells you almost nothing.

A Grade A tote at one reconditioner can be the same wash level as another reconditioner's Grade B. The grade label is an industry convention, not a regulator's definition.

That's why every tote that leaves our yard carries a chain-of-custody tag: prior fill, wash process used, date washed, lot number, and grade assignment. Your auditor can trace it back to us. Most can't say the same.

The grade decision tree

A short walk through which grade fits which job.

Grade A — food, beverage, edible oil, sensitive industrial. Tri-stage caustic + neutral rinse + potable polish. Fresh food-grade EPDM gasket. Chain-of-custody tag. Prior fill must have been food-contact-compatible. Auditable end-to-end.

Grade B — clean industrial, neutral chemistry. Hot rinse plus caustic wash. Gasket inspected, replaced if needed. Prior fill must have been clean industrial — glycol, soap concentrate, lubricant base oil, neutral chems. Not food-contact rated but visually clean.

Grade C — light industrial, ag, outdoor. Hot rinse only. Cage cosmetically cleaned. Prior fill may be mild industrial — water-based paint, antifreeze, fertilizer concentrate. Suitable for non-potable outdoor and industrial uses.

Grade D — non-potable, water storage, ballast. Surface rinse and inspection. Prior fill may be non-toxic but stained. Outdoor-stored. Suitable for rainwater catch, livestock water, fire suppression, dust control, construction water, ballast caddies.

If you can't tell which grade your application needs, tell us the application. We'll spec the grade. Application-driven sizing is dramatically less error-prone than preference-driven sizing.

Key takeaways

If you only read one section.

  1. 01Grade is a workflow output, not a marketing label. We assign grade after the wash.
  2. 02Chain-of-custody documentation is what makes a grade auditable.
  3. 03Grade A only for food, beverage, sensitive industrial. Don't shortcut.
  4. 04Grade D wins on price for non-potable applications. Save your budget for chemistry that actually needs it.
  5. 05If you cite our grade in an audit, bring the tag. The tag is the audit trail.

Two reconditioners' Grade A's can be apples to oranges. Ours is a documented six-stage process with a chain-of-custody tag. Theirs might be a hot rinse and a sharpie.

Reyna Mata, yard manager

Common questions

Grade questions.

Does FDA define Grade A?
No — the grades are industry convention. The FDA's 2021 draft guidance affirms reconditioned IBCs for food contact when the reconditioning is documented and the prior fill is acceptable. The chain-of-custody tag is the documentation FDA-aligned guidance points to.
Can a Grade A tote be downgraded to Grade B for non-food use?
Yes — Grade A is the most restrictive grade, so it qualifies for any application below it. Buying Grade A for a clean industrial application means paying more than needed but doesn't harm the application.
What if I need Grade A but only Grade B is in stock?
We'll run the tank through stage four and five (potable polish + fresh gasket) to upgrade it. Lead time about 3 days.
Do you ever sell ungraded tanks?
Used (as-is) tanks are inspected and graded at intake but not washed. They're effectively Grade C or D depending on the inspection. We don't ship anything fully ungraded.