Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Signs) - Free advice,on fire safety and fire prevention

Note for Guidance

The Fire Safety Advice Centre

Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Signs)

Introduction

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) and the European agreement ADR which together regulate the carriage of dangerous goods by road are highly prescriptive. The regulations were substantially restructured for 2009 with direct referencing to ADR for the main duties. CDG 2009 now cross-refers almost totally to ADR, and it is ADR that contains the detailed requirements. I am not an expert in this field and this legislation is very complicated, the following are simple images of the signs (Labels) used however treat all the information with caution.

Class 1 Explosive substances and articles containing explosives

Explosive substances and articles used to produce explosions or pyrotechnic effect

	1.1 - Explosives with a mass explosion hazard		Division 1.2 - Explosives with a severe projection hazard
	Division 1.3 - Explosives with a fire, blast or projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard		x = Place for compatibility group - to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk
	Division 1.4 - Explosives with a minor fire or projection hazard		Division 1.5 - An insensitive substance with a mass explosion hazard
	Division 1.6 - Extremely insensitive articles		x = Place for compatibility group - to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk

Class 2 Gases

Division 2.1 - Flammable gas

White on red or Black on Red

Division 2.2 - Non-flammable, compressed gas

Black on green or White on Green

Division 2.3 - Toxic gas

Class 3 Flammable liquids

Division 3 - Flammable liquids

White on Red or Black on Red

Class 4 Flammable solids

Flammable solids self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives sign

Division 4.1 - Flammable solids self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives

Substances liable to spontaneous combustion sign

Division 4.2 - Substances liable to spontaneous combustion

Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases sign

Division 4.3 - Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

White on Blue or Black on Blue

Class 5 Oxidising agents

Class 5.1 - Oxidizing substances

Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides

Symbol Black or White

Class 6 Toxic substances and Infectious substances

Class 6.1 - Toxic substances

Class 6.2 - Infectious substances

Class 7 Radioactive material

	Radioactive material Category I-WHITE (Symbol 7A)		Radioactive material Category II-YELLOW (Symbol 7B)
	Radioactive material 7 Category III-YELLOW (Symbol 7C)		Radioactive material Criticality safety index label (Symbol 7E)

Class 8 Corrosive substances, 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

Further labels

	Orange-coloured plates, with hazard-identification number and UN-Number		Indicating elevated temperature (liquid state at a temperature equal to or exceeding 100 °C, in a solid state at a temperature equal to or exceeding 240 °C)
	Orientation arrows, black or red

PLACARDS AND PLATE MARKINGS FOR NATIONAL CARRIAGE

United Kingdom Tankers (Road)

Hazchem Information Sign

Continental Tankers (Road)

EC Orange-coloured plate sign

A plate known as a orange-coloured plate and displayed on vehicles and containers carrying hazardous loads is now included in the latest regulations (CDG 2009) It is designed to help the emergency services to deal with incidents involving such vehicles or containers.

The UK orange-coloured plate has more information than the continental plate and the first panel (1), which provides instant information for responding emergency crews, uses a different code than the continental plate. The UK uses a Emergency Action Code also known as Hazchem Code and the continental panel (1) uses a Hazard Identification Number also known as the Kemler Code. The both use the same system in the second panel (2) which is the UN Substance Identification Number.

All about Labeling (Signs) the Official information

Further Information

This legislation is very complicated and If you need information on this subject I have provided links which should prove useful.The most useful to start with is Development of dangerous goods legislation and the following links all relate to the subject.

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007

Department for Transport Dangerous Goods Transport

Vehicle Type Approval Authority

Carriage of Dangerous Goods Manual

This handout provides a general overview and basic information on this topic. It may not apply to everyone, consequently to find out if this guide applies to you and to get more information on this subject, study all the relevant legislation, guides and British/European Standards. Also you should seek advice from an expert on the subject or your local Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Professional.

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Merseyside Fire Liaison Panel. Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses.

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This page was last checked and modified on Thursday, 8 July, 2010 22:26