Photo of the day: Dangerous Goods Classes

Table of Contents

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, labeled, 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 dangerous 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.

DGI is proficient in handling explosives, Class 1 Dangerous Goods. DGI have the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of explosives; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

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

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

Commonly Transported Explosives

Ammunition/cartridges, Fireworks/pyrotechnics, Flares, Blasting caps/detonators, Fuse, Primers, Explosive charges (blasting, demolition, etc), Detonating cord, Airbag inflators, Igniters, Rockets, TNT / TNT compositions, RDX / RDX compositions, PETN / PETN compositions.

Class 2 – Gases

Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances that have a vapor 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 vapors of substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas, and aerosols.

DGI is proficient in handling gases, Class 2 Dangerous Goods. DGI have the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of gases; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Gases are capable of posing serious hazards due to their flammability, potential asphyxiants, ability to oxidize, and/or their toxicity or corrosiveness to humans.

Sub-Divisions

Division 2.1: Flammable gases

Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

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 vapor (have a flashpoint) 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 vapor at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.

DGI is proficient in handling flammable liquids, Class 3 Dangerous Goods. DGI has the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of flammable liquids; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Flammable liquids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility, and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids.

Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids

Acetone/acetone oils, Adhesives, Paints/lacquers/varnishes, Alcohols, Perfumery products, Gasoline / Petrol, Diesel fuel, Aviation fuel, Liquid biofuels, 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; Spontaneous Combustibles; ‘Dangerous When Wet’ Materials

Flammable solids are materials that, 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 that 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.

DGI is proficient in handling flammable solids, Class 4 Dangerous Goods. DGI has the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of flammable solids; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Flammable solids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility, and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.

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

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 fibers, Ferrocerium, Iron oxide (spent, Iron sponge/direct-reduced iron (spent), Metaldehyde, Naphthalene, Nitrocellulose, Phosphorus, Sulphur.

Class 5 – Oxidizers; Organic Peroxides

Oxidizers are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances that may cause or contribute to combustion, generally by yielding oxygen as a result of a redox chemical reaction. Organic peroxides are substances that may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide where one or both hydrogen atoms of the chemical structure have been replaced by organic radicals.

DGI is proficient in handling oxidizing agents and organic peroxides, Class 5 Dangerous Goods. DGI have the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of oxidizing agents and organic peroxides; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

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 the eyes.

Sub-Divisions

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances

Division 5.1: Organic peroxides

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 chlorate, 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.

DGI is proficient in handling toxic and infectious substances, Class 6 Dangerous Goods. DGI have the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of oxidizing agents and organic peroxides; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Toxic and infectious substances can pose significant risks to human and animal health upon contact.

Sub-Divisions

Division 6.1: Toxic substances

Division 6.2: Infectious substances

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, Arsenic / 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.

DGI is proficient in handling radioactive material, Class 7 Dangerous Goods. DGI has the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of radioactive material; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Whilst undergoing radioactive decay radionuclides emit ionizing radiation, which presents potentially severe risks to human health.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.

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 that by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon contact.

DGI is proficient in handling corrosives, Class 8 Dangerous Goods. DGI has the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of corrosives; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

Reason for Regulation

Corrosives cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue or, in the case of leakage, damage or destroy surrounding materials.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 8, Corrosives.

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.

DGI is proficient in handling miscellaneous dangerous goods, Class 9 Dangerous Goods. DGI has the ability to service all customer requests pertaining to the logistics of miscellaneous dangerous goods; packing, packaging, compliance, freight forwarding, and training.

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.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 9, Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.

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, Airbag modules, Seatbelt pre-tensioners, Plastics molding compound, Castor bean plant products, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated terphenyls, Dibromodifluoromethane, Benzaldehyde.