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PACKAGING & LABELLING OF DANGEROUS GOODS
FOR TRANSPORT



Note there are two forms of classification designated by Arabic and Roman numerals

FLAMMABILITY

Flammable Liquids are placed into categories for labelling

Class 3.1  Flash Point  < -18º
Class 3.2  Flash Point  -18º to <23º
Class 3.3  Flash Point  23º  to  61º

NOTE the label only shows the number "3"

"DANGER " OR "PACKING" GROUPS

GROUP   I - VERY DANGEROUS GOODS - Initial boiling point <35º
GROUP  II - GOODS PRESENTING A MEDIUM DEGREE OF DANGER Flash Point <23º-Initial boiling Point >35º
GROUP III - GOODS PRESENTING A MINOR DEGREE OF DANGERFlash Point  23º- 61º- Initial boiling Point >35º

NOTE the container is marked for identification.

CLICK FOR DETAILS OF UNITED NATION DRUM MARKINGS
There can be considered an additional PACKING GROUP IV - Flash Point 61º to 100º. This is not from U.N. Recommendations - It covers the provisions of Local by-laws for transport and storage. These goods are do not require a UN Number - they are not listed in SANS 10228/9. The are however "Flammable Liquids or Substances" in terms of the By Laws of the major cities and as such are subject to regulation. Among the regulations is the need for all vehicles to carry the placards:-

"NO NAKED FLAMES"         and "NO SMOKING'.    

(In the case of viscous materials some, with flash points as low as 5', can be packed in group III containers).  However the transport label must be for the correct class.
SANS 10229 also caters for liquids with a flash point >35º to be excluded if they contain only traces of flammable substances and will not sustain combustion as measured with a method included in the text.(8.1.2)


FLAMMABLE SOLIDS AND OXIDISERS

In the case of Classes 4 and 5 no general rules are laid down and each specific substance must be treated on its own merit using an analogy with already listed substances.  Care has to be taken here when dealing with mixtures.  In the case of oxidisers such as peroxides these are difficult materials to handle and lead to a specialised grouping of containers.  As this is a very specialised field we will not go into this in any depth.

TOXICITY

Here the parameters are based upon LD (Lethal Dose) or LC (Lethal Concentration) values.

GROUP LD50 ORAL LD50 DERMAL LC50 INHAL
I <= 5 <= 40  <=.5
II 5- <= 50  40 - <= 200 .5 - <= 2
III SOLIDS 50 - <=200 200 - <=1000 2 - 10
III LIQUIDS 50  - <=500 200 - <=1000 50  - <=500

Note - Toxicity value for "CHIPS" purposes (packaging for use) differ from these.



CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES

The packing groups for corrosives are briefly as follows:-

PACKAGING GROUP I

1) Substances that when tested for a period of up to 3 min, cause visible necrosis; - or
2) Substances that, when tested for a period of more than 3 min and up 60 min, cause visible necrosis and, in addition, have an inhalation toxicity that corresponds to an LC50 50ml/m2 but <200 ml/m2.
Note -  Substances which have an inhalation toxicity that corresponds to an LC50 of <=50 ml/m2 should be considered as toxic.

PACKAGING GROUP II

1) Substances that, when tested for a period 3 min and up to 60 min, cause visible necrosis; or
2) Liquid waste substances that have a pH value of less than 2,0 or more than 12.5.

PACKAGING GROUP III

1) Substances that, when tested for 1 hour up to 4 hours, cause visible necrosis; or
2) Substances that corrode steel or aluminium surfaces.

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