Classification and Labeling of Hazardous Goods

Due to the potential danger to the life and health of other road users, the transportation of hazardous cargo represents a specific type of transportation. For this reason, there are a number of increased requirements for both the transport vehicles carrying such cargo and the personnel involved. 

The company “European Transport Systems” actively collaborates with automobile enterprises that own specialized mobile units equipped with communication tools, additional equipment, and ADR (Accord Dangereux Routier) kits. 

The transportation of hazardous cargo by automobile is carried out by drivers who have undergone special training, have extensive work experience, and hold the corresponding certification. Hazardous cargo includes materials, substances, products, and waste from industrial or other activities that possess properties that, under certain conditions, may lead to fires, explosions, damage of technical equipment, structures, and devices, causing material losses and potentially causing significant harm to the environment, injuries, and fatalities among people and animals.

How hazardous cargo is classified

All hazardous cargo is divided into the following classes, and specific rules are developed for the transportation of each:

Class 1

These are explosive materials that possess explosive properties, capable of causing a fire from explosive action, devices containing explosive substances, and various blasting agents used in the production of pyrotechnic effects:

• 1.1 – Pyrotechnic explosives capable of detonating with the entire mass of cargo.
• 1.2 – Pyrotechnic explosives that do not detonate with the entire mass.
• 1.3 – Pyrotechnic materials with minimal explosive activity or none, but a risk of ignition.
• 1.4 – Pyrotechnic materials with a low risk of explosion during transport.
• 1.5 – Explosive materials with low sensitivity to detonation, but a risk of ignition.
• 1.6 – Materials that are insensitive to detonation, with a low chance of accidental initiation.

Class 2

These are compressed, dissolved under pressure gases, which correspond to one or several conditions listed below: 

• the critical temperature is below 50 degrees Celsius. According to their physical state, gases are divided into compressed gases (with a critical temperature lower than -10°C), liquefied gases (with a critical temperature equal to or higher than -10°C but no more than 70°C), liquefied gases (with a critical temperature equal to or higher than 70°C), dissolved under pressure, liquefied by refrigeration, compressed gases, and aerosols that are subject to special regulations; 
• non-flammable gases; 
• toxic non-flammable gases; 
• easily flammable gases; 
• toxic easily flammable gases; 
• chemically unstable gases; 
• toxic chemically unstable gases.

Class 3

These are mixtures of liquids, easily flammable liquids, liquids containing solid substances in suspension or salt solution, and liquids that emit easily flammable vapors, with a flash point in a closed cup of approximately 61°C or lower. 

• easily flammable liquids with a low flash point and low flash temperature (flash point in a closed cup below -18°C); 
• easily flammable liquids with a flash point ranging from -18°C to +23°C; 
• easily flammable liquids with a flash point in a closed cup between +23°C and +61°C.

Class 4 

These are easily flammable materials and substances (except explosives) that can easily catch fire during the transportation of dangerous goods from any external ignition source, as a result of moisture absorption, friction, heating, or spontaneous chemical transformation. 

• easily flammable solid substances that can easily ignite from brief exposure to friction, flame, or sparks, and burn very actively; 
• self-igniting substances that can spontaneously ignite and heat up during normal transportation; 
• substances that, when interacting with water, release flammable gases.

Class 5 

These are organic peroxides and substances that oxidize, easily release heat, and support combustion. They are capable, under appropriate conditions or when mixed with other substances, of causing explosions and spontaneous ignition. 

• oxidizing substances, which are not flammable by themselves but can cause rapid ignition of other materials that release heat when burned, thereby increasing the intensity of the flame; 
• organic peroxides, typically flammable, act as oxidizing agents and can dangerously interact with other substances (some of them are highly sensitive to friction and impact, easily igniting).

Class 6 

These are infectious and poisonous substances that can cause poisoning, illness, or death when they enter the organism or come into contact with mucous membranes or skin. 

• toxic (poisonous) substances that can cause severe poisoning when they enter the body, come into contact with the skin, or when inhaled. 
• materials and substances that contain harmful microorganisms dangerous to living beings.

Class 7 

Radioactive substances, whose specific activity exceeds 2 mCi/g (70 kBq/kg). Our company, European Transport Systems, does not engage in the transportation of hazardous cargo of this class.

Class 8

These are corrosive and caustic substances that affect the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes, damage the skin, cause damage to structures, cargo, vehicles, and metal corrosion. When interacting with certain chemicals and organic materials, they can cause fires. Examples include: 

• alkalis
• acids
• corrosive and caustic substances.

Class 9

These are substances that are characterized by low danger during the transportation of hazardous cargo, which do not fall into any of the higher classes mentioned above, but still require the application of special storage and transportation regulations. This includes:

• liquid and solid flammable materials and substances that do not belong to Class 3 or Class 4, but under certain conditions, can become fire-hazardous (for example, fibrous and similar materials, flammable liquids, with flash points reaching 61-100°C in a closed cup). 
• substances that can become corrosive or caustic only under specific conditions.