Useful info

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods classification For ease of identification of dangerous goods, the international community has created a classification system. All dangerous goods are included in one of the nine primary classes. In some cases it has also been necessary to sub-divide some of the classes into divisions in order to adequately provide for the nature of the properties of the individual goods. There is a label for each class/division to categorise the nature of the hazard. These labels must be affixed to the outside of the package when it is offered for transport and must remain on the package while it is in transit. Examples of these are illustrated below: Class 1 Explosives explosive substances, explosive articles, pyrotechnic devices. Includes ammunition, fireworks, detonators, etc Class 2 Gases transported as either compressed, liquefied, refrigerated liquefied or gas in solution. Includes aerosols. This class has three divisions: Division 2.1 - flammable gases i.e. butane, propane Division 2.2 - non-flammable, non-toxic gases i.e. oxygen, liquid nitrogen, compressed air Division 2.3 - toxic gases i.e. chlorine, coal gas. Class 3 Flammable liquids includes liquids with a boiling point of 35 degrees C or less or a flash point of 60.5 degrees C or less. Examples are Petrol, Alcohol, etc. Class 4 Flammable solids substances liable to spontaneous combustion and substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases. Class 4 has 3 divisions: Division 4.1 - flammable solids such as hexamine solid fuel tablets for camping stoves; self-reactive substances and desensitized explosives. Division 4.2 - substances liable to spontaneous combustion under the normal conditions encountered in air transport - such as Phosphorus which burns by itself when exposed to air. Class 4.3 - substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases. i.e. "Dangerous when wet". Examples are sodium, zinc particles etc. Class 5.1 Oxidising substances substances which in themselves are not necessarily combustible, but which by yielding oxygen may cause or contribute to the combustion of other material. Example is generators which produce oxygen by chemical reaction. Class 5.2 Organic peroxides these are thermally unstable substance which may undergo heat generating, self accelerating decomposition - which may be explosive, rapid, sensitive to impact or friction or react dangerously with other substances. Example is Hydrogen Peroxide. Class 6.1 Toxic substances those substances which are liable to cause death or injury if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Examples are pesticides and poisons. Class 6.2 Infectious substances those known to contain , or reasonably expected to contain, pathogens. Class 7 Radioactive material Class 8 Corrosives substances which, in the event of leakage, can cause severe damage by chemical action when in contact with living tissue or materially damage other freight, containers or the aircraft. Examples are Mercury, Battery acids. etc. Class 9 Miscellaneous includes magnetic articles, which can have an impact on the aircraft's compass, Internal combustion engines, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) etc.