Dangerous Cargo Placards and Signs utilised on

Containers
Placards
The following are the placards for each class that are required to be placed
one on each side and one on each end of the unit of a Cargo Transport
Unit (CTU) / container. These are the same symbols as used to mark the
packages within the CTU.
Class 1 - Explosive substances or articles

(No. 1)
Divisions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
Symbol (exploding bomb): black. Background: orange. Figure '1' in bottom corner.

(No. 1.4)
Division 1.4

(No. 1.5)
Division 1.5

(No. 1.6)
Division 1.6

Background: orange. Figures: black. Numerals shall be about 30 mm in height and be

about 5 mm thick
(for a label measuring 100 mm x 100 mm). Figure '1' in bottom corner.
** Place for division - to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk.
* Place for compatibility group - to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk.
Class 2 - Gases

(No. 2.1)
Class 2.1
Flammable gases
Symbol (flame): black or white
(except as provided for in
5.2.2.2.1.6.4).
Background: red. Figure '2' in bottom
corner.

(No. 2.2)
Class 2.2
Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Symbol (gas cylinder): black or white
Background: green. Figure '2' in bottom
corner.

Class 3 - Flammable liquids

(No. 2.3)
Class 2.3
Toxic gases

(No. 3)

Symbol (skull and crossbones): black.

Background: white. Figure '2' in bottom
corner.

Symbol (flame): black or white.

Background: red. Figure '3' in bottom
corner.

Class 4

(No. 4.1)
Class 4.1
Flammable solids

(No. 4.2)
Class 4.2
Substances liable to
spontaneous
combustion

Symbol (flame):
black.
Background: white Symbol (flame): black.
with
Background: upper
seven vertical red
half white,
stripes.
lower half red.
Figure '4' in bottom
Figure '4' in bottom
corner.
corner.

(No. 4.3)
Class 4.3
Substances which, in contact with
water,
emit flammable gases
Symbol (flame): black or white.
Background: blue.
Figure '4' in bottom corner.

Class 5

(No. 5.1)
Class 5.1
Oxidizing substances

(No. 5.2(a)*)
Class 5.2
Organic peroxides

Symbol (flame over circle): black.

Background: yellow.

Symbol (flame over circle): black.

Background: yellow.

Figures '5.1' in bottom corner.

Figures '5.2' in bottom corner.

* May be used until 1 January 2011

(No. 5.2(b))

Class 5.2
Organic peroxides
Symbol (flame): black or white;
Background: upper half red; lower half yellow;
Figure '5.2' in bottom corner.
Class 6

(No. 6.1)
Class 6.1
Toxic substances
Symbol (skull and crossbones): black.
Background: white. Figure '6' in bottom corner.

(No. 6.2)
Class 6.2
Infectious substances
The lower half of the label may bear the inscriptions INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE and
In case of damge or leakage immediately notify Public Health Authority.
Symbol (three crescents superimposed on a circle) and inscriptions: black.
Background: white. Figure '6' in bottom corner.
Class 7 - Radioactive material

(No. 7A)
Category I - White
Symbol (trefoil): black.
Background: white.
Text (mandatory): black in
lower half of label:
RADIOACTIVE
Contents....
Activity....
One red bar shall follow the
word
RADIOACTIVE.
Figure '7' in bottom corner.

(No. 7B)
Category II - Yellow

(No. 7C)
Category III - Yellow

Symbol (trefoil): black.

Background: upper half yellow with white border, lower
half white.
Text (mandatory): black in lower half of label:
RADIOACTIVE
Contents....
Activity....
In a black outlined box: Transport index...
Two red vertical bars shall
follow the word
RADIOACTIVE.

Three red vertical bars shall

follow the word
RADIOACTIVE.

Figure '7' in bottom corner.

(No. 7E)
Class 7 fissile material
Background: white.
Text (mandatory): black in upper half of label: FISSILE.
In a black outlined box in the lower half of the label: Criticality safety index...
Figure '7' in bottom corner.

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances

and articles

(No. 8)
Symbol (liquids, spilling from two glass
vessels
and attacking a hand and a metal): black.
Background: upper half white;
lower half black with white border.
Figure '8' in bottom corner.
A class 8 label with a shaded hand may
also be used.

(No. 9)
Symbol (seven vertical stripes in upper
half): black.
Background: white.
Figure '9' underlined in bottom corner.

Display of UN Numbers
Except for goods of class 1, the UN Number shall be displayed as required by this
chapter on consignments of:
.1 solids, liquids or gases transported in tank cargo transport units, including on
each compartment of a multi-compartment tank cargo transport unit;
.2 packaged dangerous goods loaded in excess of 4,000 kg gross mass, to which
only one UN Number has been assigned and which are the only dangerous goods
in the cargo transport unit;
The UN Number for the goods shall be displayed in black digits not less then 65
mm high, either:
.1 against a white background in the area below the pictorial symbol and above
the class number and the compatibility group letter in a manner that does not
obscure or detract from the other required label elements or
.2 on an orange rectangular panel not less than 120 mm high and 300 mm wide,
with a 10 mm black border, to be placed immediately adjacent to each placard or
marine pollutant mark. When no placard or marine pollutant mark is required, the
UN Number shall be displayed immediately adjacent to the Proper Shipping
Name.

Examples of display of UN Numbers

Signs
Dangerous Goods in limited quantities
Cargo transport units containing dangerous goods in only limited quantities need
not be placarded nor marked according as if they were considered as dangerous
cargo not in limited quantities. They shall, however, be suitably marked on the
exterior as "LIMITED QUANTITIES" or "LTD QTY" not less than 65mm high placed
one on each side and one on each end of the unit of a Cargo Transport Unit (CTU)
/ container.

Elevated temperature substances

Cargo transport units containing a substance that is transported or offered for
transport in a liquid state at a temperature equal to or exceeding 100C or in a
solid state at a temperature equal to or exceeding 240C shall bear on each side
and on each end the mark shown in the figure. The triangular shaped mark shall
have sides of at least 250 mm and shall be shown in red.

Mark for transport at elevated temperature

In addition to the elevated temperature mark, the maximum temperature of the

substance expected to be reached during transport shall be durably marked on
both sides of the portable tank or insulation jacket, immediately adjacent to the
elevated temperature mark, in characters at least 100 mm high.

Fumigated units
The marking of the proper shipping name (FUMIGATED UNIT) and the UN number
(UN 3359) is not required on fumigated units. However, if a fumigated unit is
loaded with dangerous goods, any mark required by the provisions of the Code
shall be marked on the fumigated unit.
A fumigated unit shall be marked with the warning sign, as specified in .3, affixed
in a location where it will be easily seen by persons attempting to enter the
interior of the unit. The marking, as required by this paragraph, shall remain on
the unit until the following provisions are met:
.1 The fumigated unit has been ventilated to remove harmful concentrations of
fumigant gas; and
.2 The fumigated goods or materials have been unloaded.
.3 The fumigation warning sign shall be rectangular and shall be not less than
300 mm wide and 250 mm high. The markings shall be in black print on a white
background with lettering not less than 25 mm high. An illustration of this sign is
given below:

Fumigation warning sign

Marine pollutant mark

Cargo transport units containing marine pollutants shall clearly display the marine pollutant
mark in locations one on each side and one on each end of the unit, even if the cargo
transport unit contains packages not required to bear the marine pollutant mark. The mark
shall conform to the specifications as below and shall have minimum dimensions of 250 mm
x 250 mm.
Marine pollutant mark: Under amendment 34 (voluntary from 1st Jan 2009) mandatory
from 1st Jan 2010

Marine pollutant mark: Under amendment 33 allowed until 1st Jan 2010