Dangerous goods marks and classes description

This bulletin explains the classification requirements of dangerous goods. It does not change, create, amend or suggest deviations to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations).

Class 1 - Explosives
Class 2 – Gases
Class 3 – Flammable Liquids
Class 4 – Flammable Solids, Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion and Substances That on Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases (Water-reactive Substances)
Class 5 - Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Class 6 – Toxic and Infectious Substances
Class 7 – Radioactive Materials
Class 8 – Corrosives
Class 9 – Miscellaneous Products, Substances or Organisms
Other marks
Compliance with the TDG Act and Regulations
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Class 1 - Explosives

1.1 A substance or article with a mass explosion hazard
(Commonly used in the mining industry, such as dynamite and detonators)

1.2 A substance or article with a fragment projection hazard, but not a mass explosion hazard
(Examples include military grenades)

1.3 A substance or article which has a fire hazard along with either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
(Examples include certain fireworks, certain signal devices)

1.4 A substance or article which presents no significant hazard; explosion effects are largely confined to the package and no projection or fragments of appreciable size or range are to be expected
(Examples include cartridges and ammunition for weapons)

1.5 A very insensitive substance which nevertheless has a mass explosion hazard like those in division 1.1
(Commonly used in the mining industry and road construction, such as explosive (blasting))

1.6 An extremely insensitive article which does not have a mass explosion hazard
(These articles are not found in Canada)

Class 1: Text version

Top left image: Placard and label for Class 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Square on a point. Orange background. Starting from the bottom, the number 1, above it, * (asterisk) which corresponds to the Compatibility Group Letter and ** (double asterisk) for Division. Symbol of an exploding bomb in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Top middle image: Placard and label for Class 1.4. Square on a point. Orange background. Starting from the bottom, the number 1, above it, * (asterisk) which corresponds to the Compatibility Group Letter. Number 1.4 in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Right top image: Placard and label for Class 1.5. Square on a point. Orange background. Starting from the bottom, the number 1, above it, * (asterisk) which corresponds to the Compatibility Group Letter. Number 1.5 in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Bottom image: Placard and label for Class 1.6. Square on a point. Orange background. Starting from the bottom, the number 1, above it, * (asterisk) which corresponds to the Compatibility Group Letter. Number 1.6 in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 2 - Gases

2.1 Flammable Gases
(Commonly used as fuel, such as propane)

2.2 Non-flammable and Non-toxic Gases
(Commonly used in food refrigeration, such as nitrogen)

2.3 Toxic Gases
(Commonly used in pulp bleaching, such as sulfur dioxide)

2.2 (5.1) Oxygen and Oxidizing Gases

*Placard for UN1005, ANHYDROUS AMMONIA only

Class 2: Text version

Top left image: Placard and label for Class 2.1. Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 2. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Top middle image: Placard and label for Class 2.2. Square on a point. Green background. Starting from the bottom, the number 2. Symbol of a gas cylinder in white in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Top right image: Placard and label for Class 2.3. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 2. Symbol of a skull and crossbones in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Bottom left image: Placard for UN1005, Anhydrous Ammonia. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 2, above it, the number 1005. Symbol of a gas cylinder in black in top portion.

Bottom right image: Placard and label for Oxidizing Gases. Square on a point. Yellow background. Starting from the bottom, the number 2. Symbol of a flame over a circle (flaming "O") in black in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

A liquid which has a flash point less than or equal to 60°C using the closed-cup test method

(Commonly used as fuel, such as gasoline, ethanol and diesel)

Class 3: Text version

Placard and label for Class 3. Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 3. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 4 – Flammable Solids, Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion and Substances That on Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases (Water-reactive Substances)

4.1 A solid that under normal conditions of transport is readily combustible, or would cause or contribute to fire through friction or from heat retained from manufacturing or processing, or is a self-reactive substance that is liable to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction, or is a desensitized explosive that is liable to explode if not diluted sufficiently to suppress their explosive properties
(Commonly used in lacquers, such as naphthalene)

4.2 A substance liable to spontaneous combustion, under normal conditions of transport, or when in contact with air, liable to spontaneous heating to the point where it ignites
(Commonly used in rocket fuel, such as sodium hydrosulfite)

4.3 A substance that, on contact with water, emits dangerous quantities of flammable gases or becomes spontaneously combustible on contact with water or water vapour
(Commonly used in heat exchangers (valves), such as sodium)

Class 4: Text version

Left image: Placard and label for Class 4.1. Square on a point. White background with 7 red stripes. Starting from the bottom, the number 4. Symbol of a flame in black in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Middle image: Placard and label for Class 4.2. Square on a point. Upper half of background is white and lower half is red. Starting from the bottom, the number 4. Symbol of a flame in black in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Right image: Placard and label for Class 4.3. Square on a point. Blue background. Starting from the bottom, the number 4. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 5 - Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides

5.1 A substance which causes or contributes to the combustion of other material by yielding oxygen or other oxidizing substances whether or not the substance itself is combustible
(Commonly used in fertilizers, such as ammonium nitrate)

5.2 An organic compound that is thermally unstable that contain oxygen in the bivalent “-O-O-” structure which is a strong oxidizing agent and is liable to undergo exothermic self-accelerating decomposition. It has one or more of the following characteristics: liable to explosive decomposition, burn rapidly, sensitive to impact or friction, react dangerously with other substances, or cause damage to the eyes
(Commonly used in automobile body shops as body filler, such as dibenzoyl peroxide)

Class 5: Text version

Left image: Placard and label for Class 5.1. Square on a point. Yellow background. Starting from the bottom, the number 5.1. Symbol of a flame over a circle (flaming "O") in black in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Right image: Placard and label for Class 5.2. Square on a point. Upper half of background is red and lower half is yellow. Starting from the bottom, the number 5.2. Symbol of a flame in black in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances

6.1 A solid or liquid that is toxic through inhalation, by skin contact or by ingestion
(Commonly used as a germicide or general disinfectant, such as phenol)

6.2 Micro-organisms that are infectious or that are reasonably believed to be infectious to humans or animals
(Commonly used in disease research, such as rabies virus)

Class 6: Text version

Left image: Placard and label for Class 6.1. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 6. Symbol of a skull and crossbones in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Middle image: Placard for Class 6.2. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 6. Symbol of three crescents superimposed on a circle in top portion.

Right image: Label for Class 6.2. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 6, and above it, the following text: INFECTIOUS...IN CASE OF DAMAGE...OR LEAKAGE...IMMEDIATELY...NOTIFY...LOCAL AUTHORITIES...AND...CANUTEC...613-996-6666 (identical text in French). Symbol of three crescents superimposed on a circle in top portion.

Class 7 - Radioactive Materials

Substances defined as Class 7 – Radioactive Materials, in the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations
(Commonly used in nuclear fuel rods, such as radioactive material - LSA (yellow cake))

There are three categories which indicate the surface radiation level for a package with Category I being the lowest level and Category III the highest.

Class 7: Text version

Top left image: Placard for Class 7. Square on a point. Upper half of background (excluding border) is yellow and lower half and border is white. Starting from the bottom, the number 7, above this, the word RADIOACTIVE below the middle line. Symbol of a trefoil in top portion.

Top left middle image: Label for Class 7, Category I. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 7, above this, the following text: ACTIVITY...CONTENTS (identical text in French). Above this, the word RADIOACTIVE followed by one vertical bar in red below the middle line. Symbol of a trefoil in top portion.

Top right middle image: Label for Class 7, Category II. Square on a point. Upper half of background (excluding border) is yellow and lower half and border is white. Starting from the bottom, the number 7, above this, a box, then the following text: TRANSPORT INDEX...ACTIVITY...CONTENTS (identical text in French). Above this, the word RADIOACTIVE followed by two vertical bars in red below the middle line. Symbol of a trefoil in top portion.

Top right image: Label for Class 7, Category III. Square on a point. Upper half of background (excluding border) is yellow and lower half and border is white. Starting from the bottom, the number 7, above this, a box, then the following text: TRANSPORT INDEX...ACTIVITY...CONTENTS (identical text in French). Above this, the word RADIOACTIVE followed by three vertical bars in red below the middle line. Symbol of a trefoil in top portion.

Bottom image: Label for Class 7, Fissile. Square on a point. White background. Starting from the bottom, the number 7, above this, the following text in a box: CRITICALITY SAFETY INDEX. Above this, the word FISSILE.

Class 8 - Corrosives

A substance that causes destruction of skin or corrodes steel or non-clad aluminum

(Commonly used in batteries and industrial cleaners, such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide)

Class 8: Text version

Placard and label for Class 8. Square on a point. Upper half of background and border is white and lower half is black. Starting from the bottom, the number 8. Symbol of liquid spilling from two test tubes and attacking a hand and a metal bar in top portion. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Class 9 - Miscellaneous Products, Substances or Organisms

A substance that does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Classes 1 to 8. This includes substances or organisms, such as marine pollutants and, except for asphalt or tar, is offered for transport or transported at a temperature greater than or equal to 100°C if it is in a liquid state or at a temperature greater than or equal to 240°C if it is in a solid state

(Such as dry ice and ammonium chloride)

Class 9: Text version

Left image: Placard and label for Class 9. Square on a point. White background with 7 black stripes in upper half. Starting from the bottom, the number 9. Identical, but smaller image directly beside larger image.

Right image: Label for Class 9 for lithium batteries. Square on a point. White background with 7 black stripes in upper half; battery group, one broken and emitting flame in lower half. Starting from the bottom, the number 9.

Other marks

Lithium Battery Mark

Rectangle with red hatching slanted to the right around edge. White background. Black symbol of a group of batteries, one damaged and emitting flame.

Category B Mark
Biological substances, UN3373

Square on a point. White background with UN3373 in the center.

Orange panel

Rectangle with orange background and black border. * (asterisk) in the middle which corresponds to the UN number.

DANGER placard
Mixed load shipment

Square on a point. Red background with white horizontal band in the center with the word DANGER.

Marine Pollutant Mark

Square on a point. White background with symbol of a dead fish and a tree in the center.

Elevated Temperature Sign

Equilateral triangle with red border and white background. Symbol of red thermometer in the center.

Excepted Quantities Mark

Square with red hatching slanted to the right around edge. White background. Starting from the bottom, ** (double asterisk), which corresponds to the name of the consignor or the consignee, above it, * (asterisk) for the primary class. Symbol of a red stylized capital E in a circle.

Limited Quantities Mark

Square on point. Top and bottom portions are black with white background.

Limited Quantities Mark

In compliance with the ICAO Technical Instructions
Square on point. Top and bottom portions are black with white background. Black letter Y in center of mark.

Fumigation sign

Fumigation Sign

Rectangle with white background. Symbol of one skull and crossbones in top center of the rectangle with the word DANGER on top of it. Below this, the following text: This unit is under fumigation… with (fumigant name)...Applied on…(date)…(time)… Ventilated on (Date). The words DO NOT ENTER are displayed at the bottom of the rectangle and centered (identical text in French).

Display of UN number on small means of containment

Left image: Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 3. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion. Beside image on right, the text UN1203.

Right image: Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 3, the number 1203 in a white rectangle. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion.

Display of UN number on large means of containment

Left image: Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 3. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion. Beside image on right, orange panel with 1203 inside.

Right image: Square on a point. Red background. Starting from the bottom, the number 1203 in a white rectangle. Symbol of a flame in white in top portion.