UN Classification of Hazardous Materials

Classification of Hazardous Materials Given Below:

Class 1 – Explosives

Class 2 – Gases

Class 3 – Flammable Liquids

Class 4 – Flammable Solids

Class 5 – Oxidizing Substances

Class 6 – Toxic Substances 

Class 7 – Radioactive Substances 

Class 8 – Corrosive Substances

Class 9 – Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials

UN Class	Dangerous Goods	Division(s)	Classification
1	Explosives	1.1 - 1.6	Explosive
2	Gases	2.1	Flammable gas
		2.2	Non-flammable, non-toxic gas
		2.3	Toxic gas
3	Flammable liquid		Flammable liquid
4	Flammable solids	4.1	Flammable solid
		4.2	Spontaneously combustible substance
		4.3	Substance which in contact with water emits flammable gas
5	Oxidizing substances	5.1	Oxidizing substance
		5.2	Organic peroxide
6	Toxic substances	6.1	Toxic substance
		6.2	Infectious substance
7	Radioactive material		Radioactive material
8	Corrosive substances		Corrosive substance
9	Miscellaneous dangerous goods		Miscellaneous dangerous goods

The multitude of Hazardous Materials regimes across the world and the complexity of dangerous goods classifications and regulations render compliance a particularly difficult task.

CLASS 1: EXPLOSIVES

Explosives are materials or items which have the ability to rapidly conflagration or detonate as a consequence of chemical reaction.

Subdivisions:

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

Fireworks

Flares

Fuse

Primers

Igniters

Rockets

CLASS 2 : GASES

Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which 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 vapours of substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas and aerosols.

Subdivisions

Division 2.1: Flammable gases

Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

Commonly Transported Gases

Acetylene

Carbon Dioxide

Helium

Hydrogen Gas

Oxygen Gas

Nitrogen Gas

Natural Gas

Oil Gas

Petroleum Gases

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.

Subdivisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids.

Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids

Adhesives

Paints

Alcohols

Petrol

Diesel

Kerosene

CLASS 4 : FLAMMABLE SOLIDS

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.

Subdivisions

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

Carbon

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.

Subdivisions

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances

Division 5.1: Organic peroxides

Commonly Transported Oxidizers; Organic Peroxides

Calcium Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide

Magnesium Peroxide 

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.

Subdivisions

Division 6.1: Toxic substances

Division 6.2: Infectious substances

Commonly Transported Toxic Substances; Infectious Substances

Biomedical Waste

Bacteria & Viruses

Clinical Waste

Biological Cultures

Medical Cultures

Dyes

Acids

Chloroform 

CLASS 7 : RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

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.

Subdivisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.

Commonly Transported Radioactive Material

Radium

Thorium

Uranium

CLASS 8 : CORROSIVES SUBSTANCES

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

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

Subdivisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 8, Corrosives.

Commonly Transported Corrosives

Acids

Batteries

Dyes

Formaldehyde

Paints

Sulphides

Polysulphides

Nitric Acid

Iodine

CLASS 9 : MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

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 microorganisms and magnetized materials and aviation regulated substances.

Commonly Transported Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

Vehicles

Chemical Kits

First Aid Kits

Benzaldehyde