THE 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.

 

1. Explosives

2. Gases

3. Flammable Liquids

4. Flammable Solids

5. Oxidizing Substances

6. Toxic & Infectious Substances

7. Radioactive Material

8. Corrosives

9. Miscellaneous Dangerous Good

 

CLASS 1 – EXPLOSIVES

 

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

 

CLASS 2 – GASES

 

Sub-Divisions

Division 2.1: Flammable gases

Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

 

CLASS 3 – FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

 

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids

 

CLASS 4 – FLAMMABLE SOLIDS; SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION; SUBSTANCES WHICH EMIT FLAMMABLE GASES 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

 

CLASS 5 – OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES; ORGANIC PEROXIDES

 

Sub-Divisions

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances

Division 5.1: Organic peroxides

 

CLASS 6 – TOXIC SUBSTANCES; INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

 

Sub-Divisions

Division 6.1: Toxic substances

Division 6.2: Infectious substances

 

CLASS 7 – RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

 

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.

 

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.

 

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