Dangerous loads

What you need to prepare in advance when shipping dangerous goods

For a smooth handling of your shipment, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following:

1. Dangerous good classification

In accordance with the IMDG code, dangerous goods are grouped into 9 different classes (and subclasses) and named with specific UN numbers.

Materials such as weapons and ammunition, fireworks, party poppers, explosives and pyrotechnics, etc.
Class 1 - Explosive substances and articles

Substances such as calcium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, fertilizers based on potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate, hair dyes, etc.
Class 5.1 - Oxidizing substances

Materials such as aerosols, lighters, liquid gas, acetylene (for welding), ethylene (for ripening fruit), hydrogen (for industrial use), etc.
Class 2.1 - Flammable gases

Materials such as glass fiber repair kits, hardeners
Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides

Substances such as extinguishing agents, refrigerant gases, carbon dioxide (for soft drink dispensers, helium and argon, etc.)
Class 2.2 - Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Materials such as pesticides, sodium cyanide for metal treatment, chromium salt for electroplating, toluene diisocyanate, etc.
Class 6.1 - Toxic substances

Materials such as chlorine, ammonia (for industrial freezing), methyl bromide and ethylene oxide (for fumigation), etc.
Class 2.3 - Toxic gases

Substances such as blood samples, biological products derived from living organisms, etc.
Class 6.2 - Infectious substances

Materials such as paints, enamels, perfumery products, adhesives, resin based solutions, printing inks, dry cleaning solutions, etc.
Class 3 - Flammable liquids

Materials such as industrial devices for thickness measurement, for the sterilization of medical products, smoke detectors, etc.
Class 7 - Radioactive materials

Materials such as matches, sulfur powder, camphor, mothballs (pellets), paraformaldehyde, borneol, etc.
Class 4.1 - Flammable solids

Substances such as dishwasher tablets, acetic acid, citric acid, caustic soda, car and truck batteries, etc.
Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Materials such as phosphorus, copra, fish meal, etc.
Class 4.2 - Substances subject to spontaneous ignition

Substances or articles with dangerous properties not covered by classes 1-8
Class 9 - Substances and articles with different hazards

Class 1 - Explosives

Substance like Arms & Ammunition, Fireworks, Party Poppers, Cartridge & Pyrotechnic etc.

Class 2.1 - Flammable gases

Substance like Aerosol, Lighters, Liquified Gas, Acetylene (For welding) Ethylene (for ripening fruits), Hydrogen (For Industrial use) etc.

Class 2.2 - Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Substance like Fire Extinguishers, Refrigerant Gas, Carbon di oxide (For Soft drink dispensing machine, Helium & Argon etc.

Class 2.3 - Toxic gases

Substance like Chlorine, Ammonia (for industrial Freezing), Methyl bromide & Ethylene oxide (for fumigation) etc.

Class 3 - Flammable liquids

Substance like Paint, Varnish, Perfumery products, Adhesives, Resin solution, Printing ink, Dry cleaning fluids etc.

Class 4.1 - Flammable solids

Substance like Matches, Sulfur Powder, Camphor, Naphthalene (balls), Paraformaldehyde, Borneol etc.

Class 4.2 - Spontaneously combustibles

Substance like Phosphorus, Copra, Fish meal etc.

Class 4.3 - Dangerous when wet

Substance like Calcium Carbide, Sodium, Ferrosilicon and Potassium metals.

Class 5.1 - Oxidizing substances

Substance like Calcium hypochlorite, Hydrogen per oxide, Fertilisers Potassium Nitrate & Ammonium Nitrate, Hair coloring etc.

Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides

Substance like Hardeners, Fiberglass repair kit.

Class 6.1 - Toxic substances

Substance like Pesticides, Sodium Cyanide for Metal treatment, Chromium Salt for electroplating & Tolune Diisocyanate etc.

Class 6.2 - Infectious substances

Substance like Blood sample, Biological product derived from living organisms etc.

Class 7 - Radio active material

Substance like Industrial thickness measuring devices, for sterilization of medical product, Smoke detector etc.

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Substance like Dishwasher tablets, Acetic acid, Citric Acid, Caustic soda, Car & Truck Batteries etc.

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous goods

Substance or article have dangerous properties not covered by classes from 1 to 8.

2. Packing group

Depending on how the Dangerous Goods shipment is packaged, the level of danger in the transport phase changes. There are three packing groups:

Packing group I: very dangerous substances
Packing group II: medium dangerous substances
Packing group III: substances not very dangerous

3. Proper shipping name (PSN)

Always use the correct proper shipping name for cargo declaration, in accordance with the IMDG code. This clearly specifies the nature of the load.

For example:

UN No. 1266, channel No. 5 - incorrect
UN No. 1266, PERFUMERY PRODUCTS - correct

4. Dangerous goods documentation

In most cases you have to present us the safety data sheet (MSDS) and the declaration of dangerous goods (DGD). Sometimes it is necessary that you provide us with further documentation, such as eg. the certificate certifying exposure to the environment, certificate of analysis (CoA) or Approval of the competent authority (CAA).

5. Emergency contact details

It may happen that we need to contact you on your emergency number to obtain more information regarding your cargo. By providing us with your correct emergency number, you allow us to take the necessary action in time.

Reach out to us for more information

When you contact us, you will most likely be asked to provide correct information for all of the above categories.

Reach out to one of our local offices if you are unsure whether we can carry your cargo, or if you need more information on what documents to prepare.