If you want to ship your chemical goods to a country, you need to classify them based on the dangerous goods classification according to the region's laws. Therefore, Luwjistik provides you with the category of hazardous goods for each class.

You will learn the following:

We often don't think about it, but some everyday items we use can harm aircraft. For example, things like lithium batteries, dry ice, and aerosol whipped cream, which seem harmless, can become hazardous when transported by air. Factors like vibrations, static electricity, temperature changes, and pressure variations can make these items leak, release toxic fumes, start fires, or even explode if not handled properly, as stated in the update.

Following the update by IATA, Dangerous goods (also referred to as hazardous materials or hazmat) encompass articles or substances that have the potential to present risks to health, safety, property, or the environment. These materials are detailed in the roster of dangerous goods within the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or are categorised as per the provisions of those Regulations.

Regulatory guidelines include detailed systems for categorising hazards, helping create a structured way to understand dangerous substances. These substances are grouped into nine different categories based on the kind of risks they pose.

Here's a list of the nine dangerous goods classifications for your reference.

For Explosive class, an explosive is defined as any substance or article, including a device, intended to operate through explosive means (i.e., a rapid release of gas and heat) or capable of functioning similarly through self-contained chemical reactions, even if not explicitly designed for explosion, unless otherwise categorised under the provisions of this subchapter. This definition encompasses pyrotechnic substances or articles unless they fall under other classifications within this subchapter.

As explained in the update, there are six divisions of explosives, each associated with the behaviour of the product upon initiation, such as:

Common Examples of Class 1 Explosives

Here are the examples of Class 1 Explosives:

Gases class is characterised following hazardous materials regulations as substances with a vapour pressure equal to or exceeding 300 kPa at 50°C or as substances entirely in a gaseous state at 20°C under standard atmospheric pressure. This classification encompasses compressed gases, liquefied gases, dissolved gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, mixtures of gases and vapours from other classes, items containing gases, and aerosols.

There are three divisions of gases that are mentioned in the update, each associated with the behaviour of the product upon initiation, such as:

Common Examples of Class 2 Gases

Here are the examples of Class 2 Gases:

Flammable liquids, as per hazardous materials regulations, are characterised as substances that, under specified conditions, emit a combustible vapour (possess a flash point) at temperatures no higher than 60-65°C. These substances encompass liquids, liquid mixtures, or suspended or dissolved solids.

Moreover, they contain liquids presented for transportation at temperatures equal to or exceeding their flash point and materials transported in a liquid state at elevated temperatures, which release a flammable vapour at or below the highest allowable transport temperature. As shown in the update, there are no subdivisions within this class.

Common Examples of Class 3 Flammable Liquids

Here are the examples of Class 3 Flammable Liquids:

Flammable solids are materials that can easily catch fire or contribute to fires during transportation due to factors like friction. They can also include substances that react strongly and release heat or solid explosives that are not easily detonated.

Additionally, this category covers materials that can heat up on their own under normal transport conditions or when exposed to air, making them likely to catch fire. It also includes substances that emit flammable gases or can spontaneously catch fire when they come into contact with water.

The update further stated that there are three divisions for Class 4 dangerous goods:

Common Examples of Class 4 Flammable Solids

Here are the examples of Class 4 Flammable Solids:

According to hazardous materials guidelines, Oxidisers can induce or enhance combustion, typically by releasing oxygen through a redox chemical reaction.

On the other hand, organic peroxides can be considered compounds derived from hydrogen peroxide, where organic radicals replace one or both of the hydrogen atoms in the chemical structure.

There are two divisions for class 5 in the update, including:

Common Examples of Class 5 Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides

Here are the examples of Class 5 Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides:

Toxic substances are those that have the potential to either result in fatal or severe harm or pose a threat to human health when ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin. Contagious materials are those that are confirmed or can be reasonably anticipated to contain disease-causing agents.

Following regulations on hazardous materials, these agents encompass microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi, or other substances capable of inducing illnesses in humans or animals.

As for class 6, there are two divisions mentioned in the update, such as:

Common Examples of Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances

Here are the examples of Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances:

According to hazardous materials regulations, radioactive material is classified as any substance that contains radionuclides with activity concentrations and total activities surpassing predetermined thresholds. A radionuclide has an unstable nucleus, making it susceptible to radioactive decay. This class doesn't have any divisions, as shown in the update.

Common Examples of Class 7 Radioactive Material

Here are the examples of Class 7 Radioactive Material:

Corrosive substances exhibit a remarkable level of reactivity, leading to pronounced chemical interactions. When these substances come into contact with other materials, they initiate chemical reactions that lead to the deterioration of the latter. In cases where this interaction involves living tissue, the consequences can be severe, causing substantial injury. As shown in the update, there are no divisions within class 8.

Common Examples of Class 8 Corrosives

Here are the examples of Class 8 Corrosives:

Miscellaneous dangerous goods include substances and articles that, during transportation, pose risks or hazards that do not fall under the purview of other defined classes.

This category includes, without being exhaustive, environmentally hazardous materials, substances transported at elevated temperatures, various miscellaneous articles and substances, genetically modified organisms and micro-organisms, and, depending on the mode of transportation, magnetised materials and aviation-regulated substances. As for the divisions, the update shows that class 9 doesn't have any.

Common Examples of Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

Here are the examples of Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods:

Packaging requirements for shipping dangerous goods can vary based on the specific type, class, and quantity of hazardous materials being transported. Often, packaging must undergo rigorous testing and certification to align with the regulations governing the safe shipment of hazardous materials via air transport.

The choice of appropriate packaging hinges on the Packing Group classification assigned to the substance, which categorises materials by their level of hazard as follows:

The update also adds that it is essential to adhere to the following best practices to ensure compliance and safety:

Air shipments of hazardous materials typically necessitate compliance with UN-approved packaging, also known as Performance-Oriented Packaging (POP). Performance-oriented packaging is subjected to rigorous tests to withstand the shocks, loadings, and atmospheric pressure changes generally encountered during transportation.

Packages that have successfully met these testing requirements are marked with UN certification labels, indicating the specific level of testing they have undergone. The update also suggests referring to the Package ID Table below for assistance determining the appropriate packaging identification.

(Source: faa.gov)

(Source: faa.gov)

(Source: faa.gov)

Apart from hazard labels, proficient personnel must affix handling labels as necessary. These 14 handling labels must be employed by the staff in conjunction with the relevant hazard labels:

If you encounter any issues during shipment, contact our support team at [email protected] for further information and assistance.