Commonly used dangerous goods
Learn about the 9 classes of dangerous goods and examples of which ones are used most often.
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Dangerous goods classes and divisions
There are 9 classes of dangerous goods. Some are also subdivided into divisions. Learn more about what they are and which ones are most commonly used.
Class 1: Explosives
- Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard
- Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard
Class 2: Gases
- Division 2.1: Flammable gases
- Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
- Division 2.3: Toxic gases
Class 3: Flammable liquids
Class 4: Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gases
- Division 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, solid desensitised explosives and polymerizing substances
- Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
- Division 4.3: Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
Class 5: Oxidising substances, organic peroxides
- Division 5.1: Oxidising substances
- Division 5.2: Organic peroxides
Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
- Division 6.1: Toxic substances
- Division 6.2: Infectious substances
Class 7: Radioactive material
Class 8: Corrosive substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles including environmentally hazardous substances
Examples of commonly used dangerous goods
Below is a list some of the most commonly used dangerous goods and their class or division. These substances may be dangerous depending on their concentration.
- Corrosive substances – ACIDS
- Acetic acid – class 8
- Hydrochloric acid – class 8
- Nitric acid – class 8
- Phosphoric acid – class 8
- Chromic acid – class 8
- Hydrofluoric acid – class 8
- Corrosive substances – ALKALIS
- Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) – class 8
- Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) – class 8
- Ammonium solution – class 8
- Ferric chloride (water treatment) – class 8
- Sodium hypochlorite (disinfectant) – class 8
- Mercury (non-alkaline) – class 8
- Agricultural chemicals
- Chlorpyrifos (organophosphorus insecticide) – division 6.1
- Dichlorvos (organophosphorus insecticide – division 6.1
- Cresols – division 6.1
- Carbamate pesticides – division 6.1
- Endosulfan (insecticide) – class 3
- Methyl bromide (fumigant) – division 2.3
- Aluminium phosphide (phospine fumigant) – division 4.3
- Ammonium nitrate (fertilisers) – division 5.1
- Fuels
- Petrol – class 3
- Kerosene – class 3
- Aviation gasoline – class 3
- Diesel
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – division 2.1
- Gases
- Acetylene – division 2.1
- Natural gas – division 2.1
- Nitrogen, compressed or liquefied – division 2.2
- Argon, compressed or liquefied – division 2.2
- Carbon dioxide, compressed or liquefied – division 2.2
- Helium, compressed or liquefied – division 2.2
- Oxygen, compressed or liquefied – division 2.2
- Nitrous oxide, compressed – division 2.2
- Ethylene oxide (sterilising gas) – division 2.3
- Chlorine, compressed or liquefied – division 2.3
- Ammonia, anhydrous, liquefied – division 2.3
- Sulfur dioxide, compressed or liquefied – division 2.3
- Oxidising agents
- Calcium hypochlorite (pool chlorine, granules) – division 5.1
- Potassium permanganate (condy's crystals) – division 5.1
- Sodium nitrite (water coolants, meat curing) – division 5.1
- Hydrogen peroxide (bleach, hairdressing) – division 5.1
- Solvents/thinners
- Turpentine – class 3
- Hexane (glues) – class 3
- Methanol – class 3
- Methyl acrylates (acrylic nails, household paints) – class 3
- Methyl methacrylate (acrylic nails, paints) – class 3
- Ethyl acrylate – class 3
- Ethyl acetate (nail polish and nail polish remover) – class 3
- Styrene (fibreglass gelcoat) – class 3
- Toluene (glues and thinners) – class 3
- Xylene (glues and thinners) – class 3
- Methyl ethyl ketone (surface coatings, resins) – class 3
- Acetone (enamel paints, nail polish remover) – class 3
- Chloroform – division 6.1
- Trichloroethylene (degreasing solvent) – division 6.1
- Dichloromethane (paint stripper) – division 6.1
- Perchloroethylene (dry cleaning) – division 6.1
- Organic peroxides
- Benzoyl peroxide (plastics, fibreglass resin) – division 5.2
- Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) – division 5.2
- Toxic substances
- Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) (foam production) – division 6.1
- Formaldehyde (resins, disinfectant, fungicide) – division 6.1
- Pentachlorophenol (timber preservative) – division 6.1
- Cyanides – division 6.1
- Isocyanates (two pack paints) – division 6.1