Class 1 Dangerous Goods | Explosives

Class 1 dangerous goods [ explosives ] are substances and articles which have the ability to rapidly conflagrate or detonate as a consequence of chemical reaction.

There are 6 sub-divisions:

Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both

Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package.

Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard.

Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard.

In this article on Aviation Professional, you will learn how to identify Class 1 dangerous goods placards.

 

After you get an idea about the names of the six divisions of Class 1 dangerous goods it is important to know the meaning of the letters which always written beside the divisions number {e.g 1.4S }. the letter [s] mean the compatibility group [s].

 

Class 1 dangerous goods- Compatibility Groups

Class 1 dangerous goods are assigned to one of six DG divisions, depending on the type of hazard they present and to one of thirteen compatibility groups which identify the kinds of explosive articles and substances that are deemed to be compatible. 

Now, let us start with the first division of Class 1 dangerous goods.

 Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard

 

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.1	REX

 

 

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.1 Label

Example

TNT, UN 0209

 

L

J

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

Compatibility Group(s)

 

Note : These explosives are normally forbidden for carriage by air.

Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard

 

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.2	REX

 

 

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.2 Label

Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.3	REX
1.3 C	RCX
1.3 G	RGX

 

 

 

WHEN PERMITTED

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.3 Label

Example

ROCKET MOTORS, UN 0186

 

L

K

J

H

G

F

C

Compatibility Group(s)

 

 

Note : These explosives are forbidden for carriage by air.[ With Few Exception]

 

Note : Only explosives in Class 1 dangerous goods- division 1.3, compatibility groups C and G are permitted on a cargo aircraft.

Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package

 

This division comprises articles and substances which present only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport. The effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire must not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents of the package.

 

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.4 B	RXB
1.4 C	RXC
1.4 D	RXD
1.4 E	RXE
1.4 G	RXG
1.4 F	REX
1.4 S	RXS

 

 

 

 

 

  

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.4 Label

 

S

G

F

E

D

C

B

Compatibility Group(s)

 

 

Example

FIREWORKS, UN 0337

Division 1.4 is subdivided into various compatibility groups. The compatibility groups are shown by a letter at the end of the code, for example S. The letter shown on the label may be B,C,D,E,G or S.

 

Note 1 : Only explosives in Class 1 dangerous goods - division 1.4, compatibility group S are permitted on a passenger aircraft. 

Note 2 : Only explosives in Class 1 dangerous goods - division 1.4, compatibility groups B, C, D, E, G and S are permitted on a cargo aircraft only aircrafts.

Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard

Which are so insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or of transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions of transport.

 

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.5 D	REX

         

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.5 Label

  

Example

EXPLOSIVE,BLASTING, TYPE E,  UN 0332

 

D	Compatibility Group

 

 

Note : These explosives( 1.5) are normally forbidden for carriage by air

 

 

Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

This division comprises articles which contain only extremely insensitive substances and which demonstrate a negligible probability of accidental initiation or propagation.

 

 

Division	IATA IMP CODE
1.6	REX

Class 1 dangerous goods - Division 1.6 Label

Example

EXPLOSIVE,BLASTING, TYPE E,  UN 0332

Note : These explosives are forbidden for carriage by air.[ With Few Exception]

Note1: Aircraft operator (airline) has several responsibilities related to the carriage of dangerous goods by air - or its Ground Handling Agent (GHA).

Note2: In IATA dangerous goods table 2.3.a, only division 1.4 compatibility group (S) can be carried with passenger in their check-in baggage.

 

For more reading refer to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation or ICAO TI.

More Dangerous Goods Classes

DG Class 2 Gases.

DG Class 3 Flammable Liquids.

DG Class 4 Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases.

DG Class 5 Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides

DG Class 6 Toxic and Infectious substances.

DG Class 7 Radioactive material.

DG Class 8 Corrosive substances.

Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles, including environmentally hazardous substances.

See this video which will give you examples about Class 1 dangerous goods: