In hazmat shipping, shippers may select shipping dangerous goods by using the term known as limited quantity hazmat. In dangerous goods regulations, this term means shipping hazmat in small quantities.
In other
meaning, the shipper can ship certain dangerous goods which do not exceed
certain quantity limits per inner packaging and outer packaging.
What is a limited quantity Hazmat?
This means that
dangerous goods packages, which do not exceed certain quantity limits per outer
and inner packaging gain relief from the dangerous goods regulations. This
relief is a simpler regulatory alternative to preparing all hazmat shipments as
fully regulated.
Why?
This hazmat
shipping option may pose a lower risk during transportation of hazmat by air
than shipping hazmat in larger quantities. The shipper will benefit from some
exemptions such as the strict packaging requirements, provided that a limited
quantity of hazmat is properly packaged and labeled.
Furthermore,
using the limited quantity Hazmat option, the shipper wishing to ship hazmat by
air can save considerable costs for packaging and shipping.
DG classes are permitted in a limited quantity
Only dangerous
goods which meet the criteria of the following classes, divisions, and packing
groups (if appropriate) may be carried under the provisions for dangerous goods
in limited quantities:
DG Class 2: Gases
Example:
- UN 1950 in divisions 2.1 and 2.2,
- UN 2037 in divisions 2.1 and 2.2 without a subsidiary hazard, etc.
DG Class 3: flammable liquids
Example:
- Flammable liquids in Packing Groups II and III; and
- UN 3478 (fuel cell cartridges, containing flammable liquids).
DG Class 4: Flammable solids
- Flammable solids of division 4.1 in packing groups II and III but excluding self-reactive substances and polymerizing substances irrespective of packing group.
- Substances of division 4.3 in packing groups II and III solids only, and
- UN 3476 (fuel cell cartages, containing water-reactive substances).
DG Class 5: Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
- Oxidizers of division 5.1 in packing groups II and III.
- organic peroxides of division 5.2 only when contained in a chemical kit, or a first aid kit.
DG Class 6: Toxic Substances
Toxic substances of division 6.1 in packing groups II and III.
DG Class 8: Corrosives
Corrosives of class 8 in packing groups II and III, etc.
DG Class 9: MiscellaneousDangerous Goods
Only the
following DG proper shipping names:
- Dibromodifluoromethane (UN 1941),
- Benzaldehyde (UN 1990),
- Ammonium nitratefertilizers (UN 2071),
- Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (UN 3077),
- Environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. (UN 3082),
- Chemical kit or First aid kit (UN 3316),
- Aviation regulated liquid, n.o.s. (UN 3334),
- Aviation regulated solid, n.o.s. (UN 3335), and
- Consumer commodity (ID 8000) of Class 9 substances.
Limited Quantity Packaging Requirements
General Packaging Requirements
Limited
quantities of dangerous goods must be packaged per the general packing
requirements.
Limited Quantity Packing Instruction
Limited
quantities of dangerous goods must be packaged per packing instructions
indicated in column G of the list of dangerous goods – table 4.2- in IATA
Dangerous Goods manual and which is identified by the prefix letter “Y”.
Furthermore, a
Max weight of 30 kg (approx. 66 lbs) per package, and single packaging,
including composite packaging, are not permitted.
Note: refer to
the current IATA Dangerous Goods manual,
and you must adhere to specific packaging requirements for the DG Class you are
shipping.
Package Performance Test
Drop Test:
The package as
prepared for transport must be capable of withstanding a 1.2 m drop test onto a
rigid, non-resilient, flat, horizontal surface, in a position most likely to
cause the most damage.
Stacking Test:
Each package
offered for transport must be capable of withstanding, without breakage or
leakage of any inner packaging and without significant reduction of
effectiveness, a force applied to the top surface for 24 hours equivalent to
the total weight of identical packages if stacked to a height of 3m (including
the test sample).
The List of Dangerous Goods – IATA DGR Table 4.2
I will give you
an example, using the IATA DGR manual- table 4.2- list of dangerous goods. In
this example, we will review all information regarding one dangerous good
substance from class 2 dangerous goods.
As you see in
the below image, you can ship Acetal, UN 1088 by using a limited quantity
provision. You must adhere to these dangerous goods instructions:
The total net
quantity per package must not exceed 1 Litter.
The inner
packings must not exceed, each:
- For glass inner packaging: 0.5 litter
- For Metal inner packaging: 0.5 litter
- For Plastic inner packaging: 0.5 litter
You may ask,
form where I got this information regarding the quantities for inner packaging.
Well, the
substance of each dangerous good has its packing instruction – see the image
below- for Acetal, UN 1088, the packing instruction is Y341.
Simply, search for packing instruction Y341 in
IATA DGR manual ed63 section 5- packing.
Now, what about 2 liters of Acetal, UN 1088?
Simply, you
have two options:
First: you can
ship it by air using a limited quantity provision, but you should pack it in 2
packages each one must not exceed 1litter.
Second: you can
ship it by air – passenger aircraft- using UN specification packaging which is
already tested and has a UN mark. See the image, column J, you can ship up to 5
litters per UN specification packaging. Let this for another article on the
aviation professional website.
Let us move to
the dangerous goods marking – limited quantity
Limited Quantity Hazmat Placard
Marking on The Limited Quantity Package
Before
explaining the labeling requirements for the limited quantity hazmat, you need
to know the marking on the package.
Each dangerous
goods package must show the following;
- The proper shipping name(s) of the contents. See the image above column B.
- The corresponding UN number(s) or ID number(s) for the dg substance. See the image above column A.
- The full name and address of the shipper and the consignee. See the air waybill.
- The net quantity of dangerous goods contained in the DG package. For our example it is 1 litter, see the image above column H.
- For limited quantity provisions, the DG package must be marked with the Limited Quantities mark (s), see the image blew.
 |
| limited quantity hazmat placard |
Hazards labels on the Limited Quantity Package
Simply, we
refer to the IATA DGR manual- table 4.2.
For Acetal, UN 1088, See the image above column D (hazards labels). It
tells us that the label which must be fixed on the dg package is a “flammable liquid label”.
 |
| DG Class 3 Label |
Handling labels on the Limited Quantity Package
Simply, it
depends on the nature of the dangerous goods substances. By referring to IATA
DGR manual ed63, a package orientation label is required for dangerous goods in
an inner packaging that 120ml or less. See the image below.
 |
| This Way Up Label |
How our limited-quantity package looks like
In our example,
UN 1088, Acetal. we will refer to the IATA DGR manual- table 4.2. For Acetal, UN 1088, See the image above
table columns A, B, E, D, H.
I will mark
each letter in the package for you to understand the Limited Quantity Hazmat
Placard and other marking and labeling requirements. See the image below with
red-colored letters A, B, E, D, H.
 |
| limited quantity packaging |
Summary
In hazmat
shipping, shippers may select shipping dangerous goods by using the term known
as limited quantity hazmat. A limited quantity exemption may apply to DG
shipment if shippers are shipping small quantities of dangerous goods.
Please note
that class 1 dangerous goods explosives cannot be transported in a Limited
Quantity. Furthermore, some states and airlines have variations that forbid
limited quantity packaging.
Note: I am using different dangerous goods terms in this article because of search engine optimization . for example : Placard =Mark =Label , Hazamt=Dangerous Goods.