Classification of DGR Goods
Dangerous goods are substances and articles potentially hazardous to people and property. This reference explains the international classification system and hazard labels used in air-freight compliance preparation.
Dangerous goods are substances and articles potentially hazardous to people and property. Understand the classification system and hazard labels used in air-freight compliance preparation.
Why dangerous goods classification matters
Dangerous goods may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, oxidizing or reactive with water. Whatever their properties, great care is needed in handling, storage and transport.
Regulations require that certain chemicals and gases be stored and transported in accordance with the law, with safety standards to protect workers, the community and the environment from fires, explosions and escapes.
Classification systems based on United Nations guidelines help people quickly recognize dangerous goods, their properties and associated hazards through standardized labels and class numbers.
Dangerous goods class labels
Dangerous goods are divided into nine classes according to their hazardous properties. Except for very small packages, containers and unit loads holding dangerous goods for transport must carry the correct class label showing the hazard and class number.
Class 1 — Explosives
Class 2 — Gases
Class 3 — Flammable liquids
Class 4 — Flammable solids
Class 5 — Oxidizing substances
Class 6 — Toxic & infectious substances
Class 7 — Radioactive material
Class 8 & 9
Segregation of dangerous goods
Segregation means keeping incompatible goods apart from one another using a barrier or intervening space. Chemicals must be segregated when stored or shipped to ensure they do not mix in case of spillage. To use the table below, select two classes to be kept together, locate the first class on the top row and the second class in the left column, then read the code at their intersection.
| Class | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 / 3.3 / 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | NA | NA | FS | FS | FS | PR | FS | PR | PR | FS | FS | SG | |
| 2.2 | NA | NA | NA | FS | FS | PR | FS | PR | PR | FS | FS | SG | |
| 3.1 | FS | SG | SG | ||||||||||
| NA | |||||||||||||
Table 2 — Types of isolation required when storing classes of dangerous goods together (reference excerpt from the legacy Amigo Logistics guide). Regulations are designed to assist authorities and emergency services and to ensure adequate incident response information.
Shipping dangerous goods by air?
Our team can help with classification review, documentation readiness and carrier-compliant routing for DGR shipment.
Request Quote More References