9 classes of dangerous goods

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

1. ammunition/cartridges

2. fireworks/pyrotechnics

3. flares

4. blasting caps/detonators

5. fuse

6. primers

7. explosive charges (blasting, demolition etc)

8. detonating cord

9. air bag inflators

10. igniters

11. rockets

12. TNT/TNT compositions

13. RDX/RDX compositions

14. 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

1. aerosols

2. compressed air

3. hydrocarbon gas-powered devices

4. fire extinguishers

5. gas cartridges

6. fertilizer ammoniating solution

7. insecticide gases

8. refrigerant gases

9. lighters

10. acetylene/oxy acetylene

11. carbon dioxide

12. helium/helium compounds

13. hydrogen/hydrogen compounds

14. oxygen/oxygen compounds

15. nitrogen/nitrogen compounds

16. natural gas

17. oil gas

18. petroleum gases

19. butane

20. propane

21. ethane

22. methane

23. dimethyl ether

24. propene/propylene

25. 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

1. acetone/acetone oils

2. adhesives

3. paints/lacquers/varnishes

4. alcohols

5. perfumery products

6. gasoline/petrol

7. diesel fuel

8. aviation fuel

9. liquid bio-fuels

10. coal tar/coal tar distillates

11. petroleum crude oil

12. petroleum distillates

13. gas oil

14. shale oil

15. heating oil

16. kerosene

17. resins

18. tars

19. turpentine

20. carbamate insecticides

21. organochlorine pesticides

22. organophosphorus pesticides

23. copper based pesticides

24. esters

25. ethers

26. ethanol

27. benzene

28. butanols

29. dichloropropene

30. diethyl ether

31. isobutanol

32. isopropyl

33. methanol

34. 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 desensitised 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

1. alkali metals

2. metal powders

3. aluminium phosphide

4. sodium batteries

5. sodium cells

6. firelighters

7. matches

8. calcium carbide

9. camphor

10. carbon

11. activated carbon

12. celluloid

13. cerium

14. copra

15. seed cake

16. oily cotton waste

17. desensitised explosives

18. oily fabrics

19. oily fibres

20. ferrocerium

21. iron oxide

22. iron sponge/direct-reduced iron (spent)

23. metaldehyde

24. naphthalene

25. nitrocellulose

26. phosphorus

27. sulphur

Class 5 – oxidising substances; organic peroxides

Oxidisers 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: oxidising substances
Division 5.1: organic peroxides

Reason for regulation

Oxidisers, 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 oxidisers; organic peroxides

1. chemical oxygen generators

2. ammonium nitrate fertilisers

3. chlorates

4. nitrates

5. nitrites

6. perchlorates

7. permanganates

8. persulphates

9. aluminium nitrate

10. ammonium dichromate

11. ammonium nitrate

12. ammonium persulphate

13. calcium hypochlorite

14. calcium nitrate

15. calcium peroxide

16. hydrogen peroxide

17. magnesium peroxide

18. lead nitrate

19. lithium hypochlorite

20. potassium chlorate

21. potassium nitrate

22. potassium perchlorate

23. potassium permanganate

24. sodium nitrate

25. 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

1. medical/biomedical waste

2. clinical waste

3. biological cultures/samples/specimens

4. medical cultures/samples/specimens

5. tear gas substances

6. motor fuel anti-knock mixture

7. dyes

8. carbamate pesticides

9. alkaloids

10. allyls

11. acids

12. arsenates

13. arsenites

14. cyanides

15. thiols/mercaptans

16. cresols

17. barium compounds

18. arsenics/arsenic compounds

19. beryllium/beryllium compounds

20. lead compounds

21. mercury compounds

22. nicotine/nicotine compounds

23. selenium compounds

24. antimony

25. ammonium metavanadate

26. adiponitrile

27. chloroform

28. dichloromethane

29. hexachlorophene

30. phenol

31. 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 sub-divisions 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

1. radioactive ores

2. medical isotopes

3. yellowcake

4. density gauges

5. mixed fission products

6. surface contaminated objects

7. caesium radionuclides/isotopes

8. iridium radionuclides/isotopes

9. americium radionuclides/isotopes

10. plutonium radionuclides/isotopes

11. radium radionuclides/isotopes

12. thorium radionuclides/isotopes

13. uranium radionuclides/isotopes

14. depleted uranium/depleted uranium products

15. uranium hexafluoride

16. enriched uranium

Class 8 – corrosives

Corrosives are substances which by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon contact.

Sub-divisions

There are no sub-divisions 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

1. acids/acid solutions

2. batteries

3. battery fluid

4. fuel cell cartridges

5. dyes

6. fire extinguisher charges

7. formaldehyde

8. flux

9. paints

10. alkylphenols

11. amines

12. polyamines

13. sulphides

14. polysulphides

15. chlorides

16. chlorosilanes

17. bromine

18. cyclohexylamine

19. phenol/carbolic acid

20. hydrofluoric acid

21. hydrochloric acid

22. sulfuric acid

23. nitric acid

24. sludge acid

25. hydrogen fluoride

26. iodine

27. 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) magnetised materials and aviation regulated substances.

Sub-divisions

There are no sub-divisions 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

1. dry ice/cardice/solid carbon dioxide

2. expandable polymeric beads/polystyrene beads

3. ammonium nitrate fertilisers

4. blue asbestos/crocidolite

5. lithium ion batteries

6. lithium metal batteries

7. battery powered equipment

8. battery powered vehicles

9. fuel cell engines

10. internal combustion engines

11. vehicles

12. magnetised material

13. dangerous goods in apparatus

14. dangerous goods in machinery

15. genetically modified organisms

16. genetically modified micro-organisms

17. chemical kits

18. first aid kits

19. life saving appliances

20. air bag modules

21. seatbelt pretensioners

22. plastics moulding compound

23. castor bean plant products

24. polychlorinated biphenyls

25. polychlorinated terphenyls

26. dibromodifluoromethane

27. benzaldehyde