Dangerous Goods Classes 1 to 9 Explained
Every dangerous substance or article is put into one of nine classes based on the main hazard it carries. Here is what each class means in plain English. We carry all nine.
Class 1. Explosives.
Explosives are anything designed to explode or with an explosive effect. Detonators, detonating cord, cartridged explosives, fireworks, signal devices and other pyrotechnics all sit here. The divisions 1.1 to 1.6 grade the danger, from a whole load going up at once down to articles that are extremely hard to set off. Specialist work, and it has its own page.
Class 2. Gases.
Gases are carried in cylinders and under pressure, and include refrigerated liquids like liquid nitrogen. Three groups: 2.1 flammable gases like propane, 2.2 non-flammable, non-toxic gases, and 2.3 toxic gases like chlorine.
Class 3. Flammable liquids.
Flammable liquids are liquids that catch fire easily. Paints, inks, resins, solvents, adhesives and fuels. No subdivisions here. They are graded instead by packing group I to III on how easily they ignite.
Class 4. Flammable solids.
Flammable solids are solids that can catch fire, whether from friction, from heat, or on their own. Three groups: 4.1 solids that burn easily, 4.2 substances that can heat up and catch fire on their own, and 4.3 substances that give off flammable gas when they get wet.
Class 5. Oxidisers.
Oxidisers are substances that feed a fire with oxygen and make it burn more fiercely. Two groups: 5.1 oxidising substances, and 5.2 organic peroxides, which are unstable on top of that.
Class 6. Toxic and infectious.
Toxic and infectious substances split in two. 6.1 toxic substances, poisons that harm if swallowed, breathed in or absorbed through the skin. 6.2 infectious substances, goods carrying germs, from diagnostic samples up to Category A material.
Class 7. Radioactive material.
Radioactive material covers sealed sources, medical isotopes and other radioactive goods. No subdivisions. Packages are labelled I-WHITE, II-YELLOW or III-YELLOW by radiation level. Specialist work, and it has its own page.
Class 8. Corrosives.
Corrosives are substances that eat through skin or metal: acids and caustics. They are graded by packing group I to III on how corrosive they are.
Class 9. Miscellaneous.
Miscellaneous dangerous goods are the catch-all. Lithium batteries, environmentally hazardous substances, airbag units and other safety devices, and other dangerous goods that do not fit Classes 1 to 8.
Not sure which class your goods fall under?
Tell us what you have and we will confirm the class, the paperwork and the price before you commit to anything.
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