CLASSIFYING DANGEROUS GOODS
The transportation of dangerous and sea-polluting goods by ship is regulated by the International Convention for the Safety of the Life at Sea (SOLAS) and International Convention for the Prevention of pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
In the relevant sections of SOLAS and MARPOL "International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code" has explained the necessary regulations in detail and adopted the law on the transportation of these materials by sea. As of January 1, 2004, the IMDG Code became mandatory.
Classification and risk definitions of dangerous goods for all transport types (sea, air, train, land and inland waterways) are also made by the UNITED NATIONS Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN).
The dangerous goods classifications defined within these regulations are as follows;
Class 1: Explosives
Subclass 1.1: Explosives with a mass explosion hazard
Consists of explosives that have a mass explosion hazard. A mass explosion is one which affects almost the entire load instantaneously.
Subclass 1.1: Explosives with a mass explosion hazard
Consists of explosives that have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
Subclass 1.3: Explosives with a fire
Consists of explosives that have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both but not a mass explosion hazard.
Subclass 1.4: Minor fire or projection hazard
Consists of explosives that present a minor explosion hazard. The explosive effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire must not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents of the package.
Subclass 1.5: An insensitive substance with a mass explosion hazard
Consists of very insensitive explosives with a mass explosion hazard (explosion similar to 1.1). This division is comprised of substances which have a mass explosion hazard but are so insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or of transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions of transport.
Subclass 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles
Consists of extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosive hazard. This division is comprised of articles which contain only extremely insensitive detonating substances and which demonstrate a negligible probability of accidental initiation or propagation
Class 2: Gases
Subclass 2.1: Flammable Gas
Gases which ignite on contact with an ignition source, such as acetylene and hydrogen. Flammable gas gas means any material which is ignitable at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psi) when in a mixture of 13 percent or less by volume with air, or has a flammable range at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psi) with air of at least 12 percent regardless of the lower limit.
Subclass 2.2: Non-Flammable Gases
Gases which are neither flammable nor poisonous. Includes the cryogenic gases/liquids (temperatures of below -100°C) used for cryopreservation and rocket fuels. This division includes compressed gas, liquefied gas, pressurized cryogenic gas, compressed gas in solution, asphyxiant gas and oxidizing gas. A non-flammable, nonpoisonous compressed gas means any material which exerts in the packaging an absolute pressure of 280 kPa (40.6 psia) or greater at 20°C (68°F), and does not meet the definition of Division 2.1 or 2.3.
Subclass 2.3: Poisonous Gases
Gases liable to cause death or serious injury to human health if inhaled. Gas poisonous by inhalation means a material which is a gas at 20°C or less and a pressure of 101.3 kPa (a material which has a boiling point of 20°C or less at 101.3kPa (14.7 psi)) which is known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a hazard to health during transportation, or in the absence f adequate data on human toxicity, is presumed to be toxic to humans because when tested on laboratory animals it has an LC50 value of not more than 5000 ml/m3.
Class3 :FlammableLiquids
A flammable liquid means a liquid which may catch fire easily or any mixture having one or more components with any flash point. As example: acetone, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, oil etc. There is strongly recommended for transportation at or above its flash point in a bulk packaging. There are three main groups of flammable liquid.
High flash point group – liquids with flash point from +23°C
Class 4:Flammable
Subclass 4.1: Flammable solids
Solid substances that are easily ignited. Self-reactive materials, which are thermally unstable and that can undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition even without participation of air. Readily combustible solids that can cause a fire through friction and show a burning rate faster than 2.2 mm (0.087 inches) per second, or metal powders that can be ignited and react over the whole length of a sample in 10 minutes or less.
Subclass 4.2: Spontaneously combustible solids
Solid substances that ignite spontaneously. Spontaneously combustible material is a pyrophoric material, which is a liquid or solid that can ignite within five minutes after coming in contact with air or a self-heating material that when in contact with air and without an energy supply is liable to self-heat.
Subclass 4.3: Dangerous when wet
Solid substances that emit a flammable gas when wet. Dangerous when wet material is a material that when it makes contact with water is liable to become spontaneously flammable or give off flammable or toxic gas at a rate greater than 1 L per kilogram of the material per hour.
Class 5 : Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
Subclass 5.1: Oxidizing agent
Oxidizing agent means a material that may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause or enhance the combustion of other materials.
Subclass 5.2: Organic peroxide oxidizing agent
Organic peroxide means any organic compound containing oxygen in the bivalent structure and which may be considered a derivative of hydrogen peroxide, where one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals.
Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
Subclass 6.1: Poison
Toxic substances which are able to cause death or serious hazard to humans health during transportation.
Subclass 6.2: Biohazard
Infectious Substance material is known to contain or suspected of containing a pathogen. Infectious substances are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as prions, which can cause disease in humans or animals.
Class 7: Radioactive substances
Radioactive
Radioactive substances comprise substances or a combination of substances which emit ionizing radiation
Class 8: Corrosive substances
Corrosive
Corrosive materials mean a liquid or solid that causes full thickness destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specified period of time. A liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum is also a corrosive material.
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Miscellaneous
A material which presents a hazard during transportation but which does not meet the definition of any other hazard class. This class includes: any material which has an anesthetic, noxious or other similar property which could cause extreme annoyance or discomfort to a flight crew member so as to prevent the correct performance of assigned duties or material for an elevated temperature material, a hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or a marine pollutant.