Dangerous Goods Classes & Labels

Under ADR, how many main classes of dangerous goods are there?

• AFive
• BNine✓
• CSeven
• DTwelve

Answer: Dangerous goods are divided into nine classes, from Class 1 explosives through to Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods. Some classes are further split into divisions, but there are nine classes in total.

Which class covers flammable liquids such as petrol and many solvents?

• AClass 3✓
• BClass 2
• CClass 4
• DClass 8

Answer: Class 3 is flammable liquids, which includes fuels such as petrol and many solvents. Class 2 is gases, Class 4 is flammable solids and related substances, and Class 8 is corrosives.

What does a Class 2 danger label indicate the substance is?

• AA gas, which may be flammable, non-flammable or toxic✓
• BA corrosive liquid that will attack skin and metal on contact
• CA radioactive material that emits harmful ionising radiation
• DAn explosive substance that can detonate if it is disturbed

Answer: Class 2 covers gases, subdivided into flammable (2.1), non-flammable non-toxic (2.2) and toxic (2.3) gases. Corrosives are Class 8, radioactive material is Class 7, and explosives are Class 1.

Danger labels for dangerous goods packages are which shape?

• AA circle with a bold coloured border around the edge
• BA diamond (a square set on one of its points)✓
• CAn upright triangle with a red warning border
• DA rectangle divided into an upper and a lower half

Answer: ADR danger labels are diamond-shaped (a square set at 45 degrees) and use colours and symbols to show the hazard, such as a flame for flammable substances. Triangles, circles and rectangles are used for other signage.

Which class covers corrosive substances such as acids and alkalis?

• AClass 8✓
• BClass 5
• CClass 6
• DClass 9

Answer: Class 8 is corrosive substances, which attack skin, eyes and materials such as metal. Class 5 is oxidising substances, Class 6 is toxic and infectious substances, and Class 9 is miscellaneous dangerous goods.

What hazard does Class 5.1 (oxidising substances) present?

• AIt can intensify a fire and help other materials to burn✓
• BIt gives off ionising radiation that is harmful to health
• CIt is liable to explode if it is subjected to a sudden shock
• DIt is a gas that will suffocate people in a confined space

Answer: Oxidising substances (Class 5.1) release oxygen and can start or greatly intensify a fire in other materials, so they must be kept away from combustibles. Radiation, explosion and asphyxiation relate to other classes.

Which class covers radioactive material?

• AClass 1
• BClass 6
• CClass 7✓
• DClass 9

Answer: Class 7 is radioactive material and carries special transport and documentation requirements. Class 1 is explosives, Class 6 is toxic and infectious substances, and Class 9 is miscellaneous dangerous goods.

Which ADR class covers explosive substances and articles?

• AClass 9
• BClass 4.1
• CClass 5.2
• DClass 1✓

Answer: Class 1 covers explosive substances and articles, divided into divisions 1.1 to 1.6 according to the type of hazard.

What hazard does Class 1 division 1.1 present?

• AA minor fire hazard
• BNo significant hazard
• CA projection hazard
• DA mass explosion hazard✓

Answer: Division 1.1 covers substances and articles with a mass explosion hazard, meaning an explosion that affects almost the entire load virtually instantaneously.

Which Class 1 division is for explosives that present no significant hazard, with effects largely confined to the package?

• A1.4✓
• B1.1
• C1.5
• D1.2

Answer: Division 1.4 covers substances and articles presenting no significant hazard; effects are largely confined to the package, and no projection of fragments of appreciable size is expected.

What does a red Class 2.1 danger label indicate?

• AA flammable gas✓
• BA non-flammable gas
• CAn oxidising gas
• DA toxic gas

Answer: Class 2.1 is flammable gases, shown by a red label with a flame. Class 2.2 labels are green and Class 2.3 labels are white with a skull and crossbones.

What colour is the Class 2.2 label for non-flammable, non-toxic gases?

• AYellow
• BRed
• CBlue
• DGreen✓

Answer: Class 2.2 labels are green with a gas cylinder symbol. Non-flammable gases can still be dangerous, for example by displacing oxygen or through high pressure.

Which symbol appears on the label for Class 2.3 toxic gases?

• AAn exploding bomb
• BA flame over a circle
• CA gas cylinder on green
• DA skull and crossbones✓

Answer: Class 2.3 toxic gases carry a white label with a skull and crossbones. The flame over a circle is the Class 5.1 oxidising symbol.

Under ADR, what flash point range defines a Class 3 flammable liquid?

• ANot more than 60 degrees C✓
• BBetween 60 and 100 degrees C
• CNot more than 23 degrees C
• DAbove 100 degrees C

Answer: Class 3 covers liquids with a flash point of not more than 60 degrees C (with some special cases). A flash point below 23 degrees C usually means packing group I or II.

Which label shows red and white vertical stripes with a flame?

• AClass 4.2 spontaneous combustion
• BClass 4.3 dangerous when wet
• CClass 4.1 flammable solids✓
• DClass 3 flammable liquids

Answer: The Class 4.1 label has seven red vertical stripes on a white background with a black flame. It covers flammable solids, self-reactive substances and desensitised explosives.

What does a label with a white upper half and a red lower half show?

• ALiability to spontaneous combustion (Class 4.2)✓
• BA flammable liquid with a low flash point (Class 3)
• CA substance that is dangerous when wet (Class 4.3)
• DAn organic peroxide that can burn fiercely (Class 5.2)

Answer: The Class 4.2 label is white at the top and red at the bottom, with a flame. It covers substances liable to spontaneous combustion, which can heat up and ignite on contact with air.

What hazard does a blue Class 4.3 label warn of?

• AThe substance is harmful if it is swallowed
• BThe substance is a gas stored under pressure
• CThe substance may explode if it is heated
• DIt gives off flammable gas when wet✓

Answer: Class 4.3 substances give off flammable gases when in contact with water. Water must not be used on them, and they must be kept dry during carriage.

Which class covers organic peroxides?

• AClass 4.2
• BClass 5.1
• CClass 6.1
• DClass 5.2✓

Answer: Class 5.2 covers organic peroxides, which can decompose, burn rapidly and may need temperature control. Class 5.1 is oxidising substances.

Which class covers infectious substances, such as some clinical waste?

• AClass 8
• BClass 6.2✓
• CClass 6.1
• DClass 9

Answer: Class 6.2 covers infectious substances known or expected to contain pathogens. Class 6.1 covers toxic substances.

What does the Class 8 corrosive label show?

• ALiquid dripping onto a hand and a metal bar✓
• BA black bomb exploding on an orange label
• CA flame on a red and white striped label
• DA black skull and crossbones on a white label

Answer: The Class 8 label is white on top and black below, showing liquid from two test tubes attacking a hand and a piece of metal.

Which class includes lithium batteries and environmentally hazardous substances not covered elsewhere?

• AClass 4.3
• BClass 8
• CClass 9✓
• DClass 5.1

Answer: Class 9 covers miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles, including lithium batteries and environmentally hazardous substances not covered by other classes. Lithium batteries have their own label, 9A.

What does packing group I indicate about a substance?

• AHigh danger✓
• BIt is not dangerous
• CLow danger
• DMedium danger

Answer: Packing groups show the degree of danger: I is high danger, II medium danger and III low danger.

What does packing group III indicate?

• ALow danger✓
• BHigh danger
• CExtreme danger
• DMedium danger

Answer: Packing group III is used for substances presenting low danger. Packing group I is high danger and II medium danger.

What does a mark showing a dead fish and a dead tree indicate?

• AA substance carried at high temperature
• BAn environmentally hazardous substance✓
• CA substance that must be kept cool
• DA substance that is toxic to humans

Answer: The environmentally hazardous substance mark, a fish and a tree, is shown on packages and vehicles carrying substances hazardous to the aquatic environment.

What symbol is used on Class 7 radioactive labels?

• AA bomb
• BThe trefoil✓
• CA skull
• DA flame

Answer: Class 7 labels show the radiation trefoil. Packages are labelled 7A, 7B or 7C (I-WHITE, II-YELLOW or III-YELLOW) according to the radiation level.

Which class has a yellow label showing a flame over a circle?

• AClass 3 flammable liquids
• BClass 5.1 oxidising substances✓
• CClass 2.1 flammable gases
• DClass 4.1 flammable solids and self-reactives

Answer: The flame over a circle on a yellow label shows Class 5.1 oxidising substances, which can cause or intensify the burning of other materials.