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 labels.

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 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.

 

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

IATA IMP CODE- REX

DG 1.1 Label

Example

TNT, UN 0209

 Compatibility Group(s) | A , B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L.

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

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

 IATA IMP CODE- REX

DG 1.2 Label

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

 IATA IMP CODE- REX,RCX,RGX

WHEN PERMITTED

DG 1.3 Label

Example

ROCKET MOTORS, UN 0186

 Compatibility Group(s) | C , F, C, G, H, J, K,  L.

 

 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.

Explosives 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.

 IATA IMP CODE- RXB,RXC,RXD,RXE,RXG,REX,RXS

DG 1.4 Label

 Compatibility Group(s) | B,C,D,E,F,G,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.

Explosives 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.

IATA IMP CODE- REX  

DG 1.5 Label

Example

EXPLOSIVE,BLASTING, TYPE E,  UN 0332.

  Compatibility Group(s) | D. 

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

 

Explosives 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.

IATA IMP CODE- REX 

DG 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.

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