Classification and Identification of Dangerous Goods
All articles or substances considered as dangerous goods must be identified, classified, and assigned to one of the standard names used in the transport of dangerous goods. This information can be found in chapter 4 of the IATA manual "Dangerous Goods Regulations". In this manual you can also find information such as the UN number, type of aircraft in which it can be transported, packaging etc.

Dangerous Goods Classification
Dangerous Goods are classified in one or more of the nine UN hazard classes and, where applicable, to one of the three UN packing groups.

Hazard Classes
The nine classes relate to the type of hazard and some of them are further divided into hazard divisions due to the wide scope of the class. The order in which they are numbered is for convenience and does not imply a relative degree of danger.

Class 1 : Explosives
This class has six divisions, in addition this class has 13 Compatibility Groups which identify the kind of explosive articles and substances that are deemed to be compatible, which is very important when handling this type of cargo.

Class 2 : Gases
This class comprises compressed gases, liquefied gases, gases in solution, mixtures of one or more gases with one or more vapors of substances of other classes.

This class is divided in three, based on the primary hazard of the gas during transport.

Division 2.1
Flammable gas
Division 2.2
Non-flammable, non-toxic gas
Division 2.3
Toxic gas

Class 3: Flammable Liquids
This class has no subdivisions and includes liquids or mixtures of liquids, liquids containing solids in solution or in suspension, which give off a flammable vapor at temperature of not more than 60,5 C (150 F) open-cup test normally referred to as the flash point. For example paints, varnishing, lacquers etc.

Class 4: Flammable Solids
This class is divided into three divisions and includes all flammable solids and substances liable to spontaneous combustion or substances, which in contact with water, emit flammable gases.

Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
This class has two divisions:

Division 5.1
Oxidizing substances, which themselves are not necessarily combustible, but may generally cause or contribute to the combustión of other material by yielding oxygen .
Division 5.2
Organic Peroxides, which are substances that are thermally unstable and may undergo exothermic, selfacelerating decomposition. They are sensitive to impact and friction .

Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
This class has two divisions:

Division 6.1
Toxic substances, which are liable to cause death or injury or to harm human death if swallowed, inhaled or contacted by the skin.
Division 6.2
Infectious substances, which includes all those substances that are infectious to human and/or animals, and includes micro-organisms and organisms, biological products, diagnostic specimens and medical waste.

Class 7: Radioactive Material
Radioactive materials are articles or substances, which spontaneously and continuously emit certain types of radiation which can be harmful to health but which cannot be detected by any of the human senses.

In this group the principal considerations are the article activity and the transport index ( TI ), which is a single number, assigned to a cargo and is used to provide control of radiation exposure. It is also used to establish three categories for labelling which are:

Category I White
Articles with a Transport Index 0 and a maximum external radiation level of not more than 5 uSv/h.
Category II Yellow
Articles with a Transport Index more than 0 and less than 1, and the maximum external radiation level morel than 5 uSv/h, and less than 0,5 mSv/h .
Category III Yellow
Transport Index more than 1 and less than10, and the maximum external radiation level 2 mSv/h.

Class 8: Corrosives
Substances, which in event of leakage, can cause severe damage by chemical action when in contact with living tissue or can materially damage other freight or the means of transport.

Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
Articles and substances, which during air transport, present a danger not covered by other classes.

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