UN Classification of

Chemicals

Paper VII

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Hazardous Substances

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 What is Hazardous/Dangerous
Goods
• Hazardous substances:

• An element, compound, mixture or preparation which, by

virtue of chemical, physical or (eco) toxicological
properties constitutes a hazard.

• Dangerous Goods:

• Dangerous Goods are those substances which are

capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety,
property or the environment when transported by air,
sea, road or rail.
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 The U.N. Classification
United Nations Committee of Experts on
the Transport of Dangerous Goods
The UN updates and publishes “The
Recommendations on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods” the UN “Orange Book”
every two years
The 15th edition of the Orange Book was
published in December 2008.

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 The U.N. “Orange Book”
The Committee of Experts on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods meets every two years and
reviews and approves the proposed changes
recommended by its Sub-committee
These approved changes are published in the UN
Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous
Goods (i.e., the UN “Orange Book”).
Currently, twenty-five countries are full voting
members of the Sub-Committee.

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The Books on Safe Transportation of
Dangerous Goods by Road

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 The U.N. “Orange Book”
The Recommendations on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods (the U.N. Orange Book)
deals with the transportation of dangerous
or hazardous goods.

It provides an extensive list of dangerous

goods and their control in transport by air,
rail, road, sea and inland waterways.

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 The U.N. “Orange Book”
It covers classification and definitions of all
dangerous substances; packaging, labelling
and relevant shipping documentation; and
training of transport workers.

This manual is indispensable to national

and international regulatory authorities,
manufacturers, shippers and packers of
dangerous goods.
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Statutory Requirements in India
• The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMV
Rules) deal with certain provisions regarding safe
transportation of dangerous goods by road.
– Rules 129 to 137 pertain to the safety in transportation
of hazardous goods by road.
• In addition, Rule 9 of the CMV Rules deals with
the qualification and training of the driver of the
vehicle transporting hazardous goods.
• Rule 134 deals with the EIP (Emergency Information Panel).
• Rule 137 deals with the hazard class labels.
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 Dangerous Goods
Transportation
Consignor’s (Shipper’s) Transporter’s (haulier’s)
Responsibilities (Rule Responsibilities (Rule
131 of the CMV Rules): 132 of the CMV Rules):
– Classify – Inspect Documents
– Identify – Inspect Packages
– Pack – Store
– Mark – Load
– Label – Transport
– Document – Deliver
Shippers must also contact Operators must both deliver
the consignee to make all the package and one
the necessary import copy of the shipper's
arrangements. declaration.
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 Dangerous Goods
Transportation

It is the job of a consignor (shipper)

to classify which U.N. Number and
hence Packing Group a shipment
relates to.
The consignor must be knowledgeable.
He should have trained staff to do it.

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 Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods are defined as those

goods which meet the criteria of one or more
of nine U.N. Hazard Classes and, where
applicable, to one of three U.N. packing
groups.

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 Hazard Class Labels
The hazard class labels know us the
nature of hazard at a glance.
Even a person not able to read can
also identify a hazard label
Colour of label
Pictorial depiction

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 Packaging Groups
The nine Hazard Classes relate to the type
of hazard, whereas the Packing Groups
relate to the applicable degree of danger
within the Class.

There are three Packing Groups.

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 Packing Groups
• Classes 3, 4, 5.1, 6.1 and 8 have been divided
into three Packing Groups (PG): I, II and III.
– Packing Group I – Highest danger
– Packing Group II – Medium danger
– Packing Group III – Lowest danger

• Packing Group indicates the degree of risk

within the Classes and specifies the standard
of packaging.
• The IMDG Code uses the term Packaging
Group instead of Packing Group.

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HAZARDOUS GOODS CLASS LABELS

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Emergency Information Panel
(EIP)
[See Rule 134 of the CMV Rules, 1989]

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 Specification of EIP
[See Rule 134 of the CMV Rules, 1989]

05

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 EIP

U.N. No.

FLAMMABLE LIQUID
Hazchem

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 The UN Number
United Nations (UN) Numbers are four-digit
numbers used world-wide in international
commerce and transportation to identify
hazardous chemicals or classes of hazardous
materials.
These numbers generally range between 0000
and 3500 and are ideally preceded by the letters
"UN" (for example, "UN 1005") to avoid
confusion with other number codes.

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Emergency Action Code (EAC)
or Hazchem Code

The Hazchem Code provides advisory

information to the emergency services
personnel to enable them to take the
appropriate action to combat the
incident.

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 Hazchem Code
Hazchem Code consists of a numeral and
an English alphabet, which is sometimes
followed by the letter ‘E’.

Hazchem Code is useful for the rescuers

and fire-fighters in a hazardous chemical
incident.

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Emergency Action Code (EAC)
or Hazchem Code

1: Water jet
2: Water Fog
3: Foam
4: Dry agent

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Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code

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 Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code
• V - Can be violently or even explosively reactive.
• BA - Use breathing apparatus plus protective gloves.
• FULL - Use full body protective clothing with breathing
apparatus.
• DILUTE - Wash to drain with large quantities of water.
• CONTAIN - Prevent spillage from entering drains or
watercourses.
• WATER FOG - In the absence of fog equipment, a fine
spray may be used.

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 Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code
• For example :
• Ethylene Oxide :UN number 1040
• Hazchem Code is 2PE and would be
decoded as: 2- Fog equipment is
recommended. P- Can be violently (V)
reactive. Full body clothing with breathing
apparatus is necessary. The substance
may be diluted and washed to drain.
• E stands for evacuation.
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 U.N. Classification of
Dangerous or Hazardous Goods
There are nine Hazard Classes:
1. Explosives 5. Oxidising substances
2. Gases and organic peroxides
6. Toxic substances
3. Flammable liquids
7. Radioactive substances
4. Flammable solids and
8. Corrosive substances
substances producing
flammable gases in 9. Miscellaneous
dangerous substances
contact with water

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 Classification of
Dangerous or Hazardous Goods
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous goods.
There are a wide range of substances in this class
Asbestos,
Formaldehyde solutions in water,
Some fertilizers,
Polystyrene beads, and
Environmentally hazardous products, etc.
Some other examples of Class 9 hazards:
Substances which are transported at an elevated
temperature (molten sulphur)
Substances which are extremely cold (dry ice)
Substances with a noxious odour (benzaldehyde,
DMDS)
Magnetic substances (large concert speakers) 28
 U.N. Hazard Class Labels
(See Rule 137 of the CMV Rules, 1989)
Each hazard class has been assigned with
one or more identification labels
These labels are diamond shaped
The upper half of the label depicts a
picture signifying the nature of hazard
The lower half has an inscription with
hazard class number at the bottom corner
Class 9 is not assigned any label (in India)
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Colour of Hazard Class Labels
The hazard class labels have colours
These colours signify the nature of hazard
Orange: Explosives
Red: Flammable
Green: Non-flammable
White: Toxic/Infectious
Blue: Dangerous when wet
Yellow: Supports combustion
Black / White: Corrosive
White / Yellow: Radioactive
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 Hazard Class Labels
(See Rule 137 of the CMV Rules, 1989)
The hazard class labels have prescribed
dimensions
They are diamond shaped
The labels are applied on the packages of
hazardous substances
Labels are also the part of EIP and displayed on
vehicles carrying dangerous goods
If a substance has more than one type of
hazard, then two labels are required
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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 1: Explosives

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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 2: Gases – Compressed / Liquefied /
Dissolved under pressure
2.1: Flammable 2.2: Non-flammable, 2.3: Poison
Gas Non-toxic Gas Gas

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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 3: Flammable Liquids

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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 4:
4.1: Flammable solids,

4.2: Spontaneously
combustible solids, or

4.3: Materials emitting

flammable gases
when wet

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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 5:

5.1: Oxidizing Agent

5.2: Organic
Peroxides

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 Hazard Class Labels
Class 6:
Poisonous/toxic, or
infectious substances

6.1: Poisonous/Toxic

6.1: Harmful

6.2: Infectious
 Hazard Class Labels
Class 7: Radioactive Substance
 Hazard Class Labels
Class 8: Corrosive Substances

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 Hazard Class Labels

Class 9:
Miscellaneous
Dangerous Goods

No label has been

prescribed in India
Internationally, two types
of labels are in use
 Transport Emergency Card
(Tremcard)
Rule 132 (3) of the CMV Rules, 1989,
requires that a Tremcard of the hazardous
material being transported must be given
by the consignor to the driver.
Driver should possess only one Tremcard,
pertaining to the material being transported.
Tremcard should be available in the driver’s
cabin.

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 What is a Tremcard?
(See Rule 134 of the CMV Rules, 1989)
To enable the drivers and the emergency
services to deal with incidents involving the
carriage of dangerous goods by road, national
and international regulations require dangerous
goods vehicles to have emergency information
in writing – a Tremcard.
The information in Tremcards is set out in a
prescribed format (in A4 or A5 paper size)
The Tremcards should be in English, Hindi and
in the language of the States of origin, transit
and destination.
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 Tremcards
If the Tremcard is in two languages only
then it can be printed on both sides of A4
size sheet.
If it is in more than two languages, then it
can be printed in A5 size paper
It is recommended that the Tremcards
should be printed in the format and the
colour scheme used in the CEFIC
Tremcards
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 The CEFIC Tremcards
Over 20 years ago, CEFIC developed a standard
way of producing multi-lingual instructions in
writing known as CEFIC Tremcards and
published in the book form.
CEFIC uses the vast expertise of its staff and
membership to maintain an up-to-date system in
compliance with current legislation in the
European Union.
CEFIC book has been reprinted in India by
Chemical Council of India (formerly ICMA).
Format of these Tremcards is followed in India.
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Tremcard

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 Tremcard
The driver must read and understand the
contents of the Tremcard issued to him.

In the event of an incident or accident

involving his vehicle, he must take out the
Tremcard from his cab for reference by
fire-fighters, rescuers and the police.
* * * * *
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