Explanation of ADR hazard classes
Is there a logic to the structure of the hazard classes?
Historically, the transportation of dangerous goods began with the transportation of gunpowder. Therefore, explosive substances and objects are number one.
| 1 | Explosive substances and objects |
|---|
Classes 2, 3 and 4.1 are distinguished, among other things, by the form of the substances, also called aggregation states, namely “gas,” “liquid” and “solid.
| 2 | Gases |
|---|---|
| 3 | Flammable liquids |
| 4.1 | – Combustible solids |
| – Self-depleting substances (liquid/solid) |
What Classes 3, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 have in common is flammability.
NOTES. Class 4.1 includes 2 types of substances. Self-depleting substances can react violently to heat and in contact with other substances (fire and/or explosion hazard).
Self-ignition/self-heating can occur in a reaction with oxygen.
The numbers 1, 2 and 3 after the 4 allow you to relate to classes 1, 2 and 3.
- 1= the explosion hazard of self-reactive substances
- 2= the reaction with gas (oxygen) of self-igniting substances
- 3= the reaction with liquid (water) of substances that develop flammable gases with water
| 3 | Flammable liquids |
|---|---|
| 4.1 | – Combustible solids |
| – Self-depleting substances (liquid/solid) | |
| 4.2 | Substances susceptible to self-ignition |
| 4.3 | Substances that develop flammable gas with water |
The substances of 5.1 and 5.2 are both oxidizing (oxygenated). They both begin with the letter “O.
Organic peroxides, in addition to being oxidizing, are flammable (organic) and self-reactive (can break apart violently).
| 5.1 | Oxidizing substances |
|---|---|
| 5.2 | Organic peroxides (self-reactive) |
The substances in 6.1 and 6.2 are bad for health when ingested. The inverted 6.1 looks like 9i(ftig).
| 6.1 | Toxic substances |
|---|---|
| 6.2 | Infectious substances |
Classes 1 and 7 are separate examinations. They do belong to the general knowledge of hazard classes.
| 7 | Radioactive substances |
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The capital letter B(ijtend) resembles the 8 of class 8.
| 8 | Corrosive substances |
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Class 9 substances are different from each other: environmentally hazardous, asbestos, heated substances, etc.
| 9 | Miscellaneous hazardous substances and objects |
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Danger labels
The hazard characteristics of the different hazard classes are indicated by the hazard labels below.
