DANGEROUS GOODS

What are the 9 classes of Dangerous

Goods?
DG
• ‘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.
• ​ eason for Regulation
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• ​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
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
vapors of substances of other classes, articles
charged with a gas and aerosols.
• 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.
• 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 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.​
• 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 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; Spontaneous Combustibles; ‘Dangerous
When Wet’ Materials

• 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.
• 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 fibres, 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 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.
• 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.
• 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,
parasites and fungi, or other agents which can
cause disease in humans or animals.
• 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, 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.
• 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 which by chemical

action degrade or disintegrate other materials
upon contact.​
• 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.​
• 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, Air bag modules, Seatbelt
pretensioners, Plastics moulding compound, Castor bean plant
products, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Polychlorinated
terphenyls, Dibromodifluoromethane, Benzaldehyde.