9 classes of dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are materials or items with hazardous properties which, if not properly controlled, present a potential hazard to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their means of transport.
The transportation of dangerous goods is controlled and governed by a variety of different regulatory regimes, operating at both the national and international levels. Prominent regulatory frameworks for the transportation of dangerous goods include the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, ICAO’s Technical Instructions, IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations and the IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. Collectively, these regulatory regimes mandate the means by which dangerous goods are to be handled, packaged, labelled and transported.
Regulatory frameworks incorporate comprehensive classification systems of hazards to provide a taxonomy of dangerous goods. Classification of dangerous goods is broken down into nine classes according to the type of danger materials or items present, click on a class to read more details;
Class 1 – Explosives
Explosives are materials or items which have the ability to rapidly conflagrate or detonate as a consequence of chemical reaction.
Sub-Divisions
Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both
Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package
Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard
Reason for Regulation
Explosives are capable by chemical reaction of producing gases at temperatures, pressures and speeds as to cause catastrophic damage through force and/or of producing otherwise hazardous amounts of heat, light, sound, gas or smoke.
Commonly Transported Explosives
- Ammunition / cartridges
- Fireworks / pyrotechnics
- Flares
- Blasting caps/detonators
- Fuse
- Primers
- Explosive charges (blasting, demolition etc)
- Detonating cord
- Air bag inflators
- Igniters
- Rockets
- TNT / TNT compositions
- RDX / RDX compositions
- PETN / PETN compositions
Class 2 – Gases
Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which have a vapour pressure of 300 kPa or greater at 50°c or which are completely gaseous at 20°c at standard atmospheric pressure, and items containing these substances. The class encompasses compressed gases, liquefied gases, dissolved gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, mixtures of one or more gases with one or more vapours of substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas and aerosols.
Sub-Divisions
Division 2.1: Flammable gases
Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Division 2.3: Toxic gases
Reason for Regulation
Gases are capable of posing serious hazards due to their flammability, potential as asphyxiants, ability to oxidize and/or their toxicity or corrosiveness to humans.
Commonly Transported Gases
- Aerosols
- Compressed air
- Hydrocarbon gas-powered devices
- Fire extinguishers
- Gas cartridges
- Fertilizer ammoniating solution
- Insecticide gases
- Refrigerant gases
- Lighters
- Acetylene / Oxyacetylene
- Carbon dioxide
- Helium / helium compounds
- Hydrogen / hydrogen compounds
- Oxygen / oxygen compounds
- Nitrogen / nitrogen compounds
- Natural gas
- Oil gas
- Petroleum gases
- Butane
- Propane
- Ethane
- Methane
- Dimethyl ether
- Propene / propylene
- Ethylene
Class 3 – Flammable liquids
Flammable liquids are defined by dangerous goods regulations as liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour (have a flash point) at temperatures of not more than 60-65°C, liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their flash point or substances transported at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a flammable vapour at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.
Sub-Divisions
There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids.
Reason for Regulation
Flammable liquids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.
Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids
- Acetone / acetone oils
- Adhesives
- Paints / lacquers / varnishes
- Alcohols
- Perfumery products
- Gasoline / Petrol
- Diesel fuel
- Aviation fuel
- Liquid bio-fuels
- Coal tar / coal tar distillates
- Petroleum crude oil
- Petroleum distillates
- Gas oil
- Shale oil
- Heating oil
- Kerosene
- Resins
- Tars
- Turpentine
- Carbamate insecticides
- Organochlorine pesticides
- Organophosphorus pesticides
- Copper based pesticides
- Esters
- Ethers
- Ethanol
- Benzene
- Butanols
- Dichloropropenes
- Diethyl ether
- Isobutanols
- Isopropyls
- Methanol
- Octanes
CLASS 4 – FLAMMABLE SOLIDS; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which emit flammable gases when in contact with water
Flammable solids are materials which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction, self-reactive substances which are liable to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction or solid desensitized explosives. Also included are substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal transport conditions, or to heating up in contact with air, and are consequently liable to catch fire and substances which emit flammable gases or become spontaneously flammable when in contact with water.
Sub-Divisions
Division 4.1: Flammable solids
Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Division 4.3: Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Reason for Regulation
Flammable solids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.
Commonly Transported Flammable Solids; Spontaneous Combustibles; ‘Dangerous When Wet’ - Materials
- Alkali metals
- Metal powders
- Aluminium phosphide
- Sodium batteries
- Sodium cells
- Firelighters
- Matches
- Calcium carbide
- Camphor
- Carbon
- Activated carbon
- Celluloid
- Cerium
- Copra
- Seed cake
- Oily cotton waste
- Desensitized explosives
- Oily fabrics
- Oily fibres
- Ferrocerium
- Iron oxide (spent
- Iron sponge/direct-reduced iron (spent)
- Metaldehyde
- Naphthalene
- Nitrocellulose
- Phosphorus
- Sulphur
Class 5 – Oxidizing substances; Organic peroxides
Oxidizers are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which may cause or contribute to combustion, generally by yielding oxygen as a result of a redox chemical reaction. Organic peroxides are substances which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide where one or both hydrogen atoms of the chemical structure have been replaced by organic radicals.
Sub-Divisions
Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances
Division 5.1: Organic peroxides
Reason for Regulation
Oxidizers, although not necessarily combustible in themselves, can yield oxygen and in so doing cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials. Organic peroxides are thermally unstable and may exude heat whilst undergoing exothermic autocatalytic decomposition. Additionally, organic peroxides may be liable to explosive decomposition, burn rapidly, be sensitive to impact or friction, react dangerously with other substances or cause damage to eyes.
Commonly Transported Oxidizers; Organic Peroxides
- Chemical oxygen generators
- Ammonium nitrate fertilizers
- Chlorates
- Nitrates
- Nitrites
- Perchlorates
- Permanganates
- Persulphates
- Aluminium nitrate
- Ammonium dichromate
- Ammonium nitrate
- Ammonium persulphate
- Calcium hypochlorite
- Calcium nitrate
- Calcium peroxide
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Magnesium peroxide
- Lead nitrate
- Lithium hypochlorite
- Potassium chlorate
- Potassium nitrate
- Potassium perchlorate
- Potassium permanganate
- Sodium nitrate
- Sodium persulphate
Class 6 – Toxic substances; Infectious substances
Toxic substances are those which are liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm human health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact. Infectious substances are those which are known or can be reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Dangerous goods regulations define pathogens as microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites and fungi, or other agents which can cause disease in humans or animals.
Sub-Divisions
Division 6.1: Toxic substances
Division 6.2: Infectious substances
Reason for Regulation
Toxic and infectious substances can pose significant risks to human and animal health upon contact.
Commonly Transported Toxic Substances; Infectious Substances
- Medical / Biomedical waste
- Clinical waste
- Biological cultures / samples / specimens
- Medical cultures / samples / specimens
- Tear gas substances
- Motor fuel anti-knock mixture
- Dyes
- Carbamate pesticides
- Alkaloids
- Allyls
- Acids
- Arsenates
- Arsenites
- Cyanides
- Thiols/mercaptans
- Cresols
- Barium compounds
- Arsenics / arsenic compounds
- Beryllium/ beryllium compounds
- Lead compounds
- Mercury compounds
- Nicotine / nicotine compounds
- Selenium compounds
- Antimony
- Ammonium metavanadate
- Adiponitrile
- Chloroform
- Dichloromethane
- Hexachlorophene
- Phenol
- Resorcinol
Class 7 – Radioactive material
Dangerous goods regulations define radioactive material as any material containing radionuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity exceeds certain pre-defined values. A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus and which consequently is subject to radioactive decay.
Sub-Divisions
There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.
Reason for Regulation
Whilst undergoing radioactive decay radionuclides emit ionizing radiation, which presents potentially severe risks to human health.
Commonly Transported Radioactive Material
- Radioactive ores
- Medical isotopes
- Yellowcake
- Density gauges
- Mixed fission products
- Surface contaminated objects
- Caesium radionuclides / isotopes
- Iridium radionuclides / isotopes
- Americium radionuclides / isotopes
- Plutonium radionuclides / isotopes
- Radium radionuclides / isotopes
- Thorium radionuclides / isotopes
- Uranium radionuclides / isotopes
- Depleted uranium / depleted uranium products
- Uranium hexafluoride
- Enriched Uranium
Class 8 – Corrosives
Corrosives are substances which by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon contact.
Sub-Divisions
There are no subdivisions within Class 8, Corrosives.
Reason for Regulation
Corrosives cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue or, in the case of leakage, damage or destroy surrounding materials.
Commonly Transported Corrosives
- Acids / acid solutions
- Batteries
- Battery fluid
- Fuel cell cartridges
- Dyes
- Fire extinguisher charges
- Formaldehyde
- Flux
- Paints
- Alkylphenols
- Amines
- Polyamines
- Sulphides
- Polysulphides
- Chlorides
- Chlorosilanes
- Bromine
- Cyclohexylamine
- Phenol / carbolic acid
- Hydrofluoric acid
- Hydrochloric acid
- Sulfuric acid
- Nitric acid
- Sludge acid
- Hydrogen fluoride
- Iodine
- Morpholine
Class 9 – Miscellaneous Dangerous goods
Miscellaneous dangerous goods are substances and articles which during transport present a danger or hazard not covered by other classes. This class encompasses, but is not limited to, environmentally hazardous substances, substances that are transported at elevated temperatures, miscellaneous articles and substances, genetically modified organisms and micro-organisms and (depending on the method of transport) magnetized materials and aviation regulated substances.
Sub-Divisions
There are no subdivisions within Class 9, Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.
Reason for Regulation
Miscellaneous dangerous goods present a wide array of potential hazards to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their means of transport.
Commonly transported Miscellaneous Dangerous goods
- Dry ice / cardice / solid carbon dioxide
- Expandable polymeric beads / polystyrene beads
- Ammonium nitrate fertilizers
- Blue asbestos / crocidolite
- Lithium ion batteries
- Lithium metal batteries
- Battery powered equipment
- Battery powered vehicles
- Fuel cell engines
- Internal combustion engines
- Vehicles
- Magnetized material
- Dangerous goods in apparatus
- Dangerous goods in machinery
- Genetically modified organisms
- Genetically modified micro-organisms
- Chemical kits
- First aid kits
- Life saving appliances
- Air bag modules
- Seatbelt pretensioners
- Plastics moulding compound
- Castor bean plant products
- Polychlorinated biphenyls
- Polychlorinated terphenyls
- Dibromodifluoromethane
- Benzaldehyde
The multitude of dangerous goods regimes across the world and the complexity of dangerous goods classifications and regulations render compliance a particularly difficult task. However ColliCare Logistics, as a logistics company specialising in dangerous goods, is well placed to deliver tailored solutions to all customer’s dangerous goods needs.
ColliCare Logistics, is proficient in all nine classes of dangerous goods and provides a range of services including labelling and freight forwarding.
| Rule: | How it works: |
| Hazard Precedence Table: |
If above two rules do not apply, please refer to the following hazard precedence table to choose primary hazard. |
| Dominant Hazard Rule: |
The following hazard class always takes precedence irrespective of packing groups: Materials class 7 (except radio-active materials in excepted packages) Substances and articles of class 1 Gases of class 2 Liquide desensitised explosives of class 3 Self-reactive sunstances and solid desensitised explosives of division 4.1 Pyrophoric substances of division 4.2 Substances of division 5.1 Substances og division 6.1 or class 3 with packing group by inhalation Infectious substances of division 6.2 |
| Hazard Precedence Table |
If above two rules do not apply, please refer to the following hazard precedence table to choose primary hazard. |