“Packing Groups”

Packing Groups

Substances, other than of classes 1, 2, 5.2, 6.2 and 7 and the self-reactive substances of division 4.1, are assigned to three Packing Groups in accordance with the degree of danger presented by the substance in transport. The Packing Groups have the following meanings:

 

 Packing Group I

 Substances presenting a high danger

 Packing Group II

 Substances presenting a medium danger

 Packing Group III

 Substances presenting a low danger

 

Packing Group assignment for Flammable Liquids (Class 3)

 

PG

Flashpoint in °C Closed-cup (c.c.)

Initial boiling point in °C

I

II

III

–

˂ 23

≥ 23 to ≤ 60

≤ 35

> 35

> 35

 

Packing Group assignment for substances of Division 4.1 (not metal powders)                                                                                

PG

Flammable Solids

I

 Not applicable

II

 The burning time measured in the test is less than 45 seconds, and the flame passes the wetted zone.

III

 The burning time measured in the test is less than 45 seconds, and the flame is stopped by the wetted zone for at least four minutes.

 

Packing Group assignment for substances of Division 4.2

PG

Substances liable to spontaneous combustion

I

 All pyrophoric solids & liquids

II

 Self-heating substances which give a positive result in a test using a 25mm sample cube at 140°C

III

 Other self-heating substances which do not meet the criteria for PG II

 

Packing Group assignment for substances of Division 4.3

PG

Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

I

 Any substance which reacts vigorously with water at ambient temperatures & demonstrates generally a tendency 'for the gas produced to ignite spontaneously, or which reacts readily with water at ambient temperatures such that' the rate of evolution of flammable gas is equal to or greater than 10 L/kg of substance over any one minute period.

II

 Any substance which reacts readily with water at ambient temperatures such that the maximum rate of evolution of 'flammable gas is equal to or greater than 20L/kg of substance per hour, and which does not meet the criteria for PG I

III

 Any substance which reacts slowly with water at ambient temperatures such that the maximum rate of evolution of flammable gas is equal to or greater than 1 L/kg of substance per hour, and which does not meet the criteria for PGs I or II

 

 

Packing Group assignment for substances of Division 5.1
 

PG

Solid Oxidizing Substances

Liquid Oxidizing Substances

I

 Any substance which, in the 4:1 or 1:1 sample-to-
 cellulose ratio (by mass) tested, exhibits a mean
 burning time less than the mean burning time of a
 3:2 mixture (by mass) of potassium bromate & cellulose

 Any substance which, in the 1:1 mixture (by mass)
 of substance & cellulose tested, spontaneously ignites;
 or the mean pressure rise time of a 1:1 mixture (by
 mass) of substance & cellulose is less than that of a 1:1
 mixture'(by mass) of 50% perchloric acid & cellulose

II

 Any substance which, in the 4:1 or 1:1 sample-to-

 cellulose ratio (by mass) tested, exhibits a mean
 burning time equal to or less than the mean burning 
 time of a 2:3 mixture (by mass) of potassium bromate & cellulose, and the criteria for PG I are not met

 Any substance which, in the 1:1 mixture (by mass)
 of substance & cellulose tested, exhibits a mean
 pressure rise time less than or equal to the mean
 pressure rise time of a 1:1 mixture (by mass) of 40%
 aqueous sodium'chlorate solution & cellulose; & the
 criteria for PG I are not met

III

 Any substance which, in the 4:1 or 1:1 sample-to-

 cellulose ratio (by mass) tested, exhibits a mean
 burning time equal to or less than the mean burning 
 time of a 3:7 mixture (by mass) of potassium bromate and cellulose, and the criteria for packing groups I & II are not met

 Any substance which, in the 1:1 mixture (by mass)
 of substance & cellulose tested, exhibits a mean
 pressure rise time less than or equal to the mean
 pressure rise time of a 1:1 mixture (by mass) of 65%
 aqueous nitric acid & cellulose; & the criteria for
 PGs I & II are not met

 

Packing Group assignment for Toxic substances of Division 6.1 

 

Administration through Oral Ingestion, Dermal Contact & Inhalation of Dusts & Mists

PG

Oral Toxicity

LD50

(mg/kg)

Dermal Toxicity

LD50

(mg/kg)

Inhalation Toxicity by Dusts & Mists

LC50

(mg/l)

I

≤ 5.0

≤ 50

≤ 0.2

II

> 5.0 but ≤ 50

> 50 but ≤ 200

> 0.2 but ≤ 2.0

III

> 50 but ≤ 300

 

> 200 but ≤ 1000

 

> 2.0 but ≤ 4.0

 

 

Packing Group assignment for Corrosive substances of Class 8
 

PG

Corrosive Substances

I

 Substances that cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 60 minutes starting after an exposure time of 3 minutes or less

II

 Substances that cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 14 days starting after an exposure time of between 3 and 60 minutes

III

 Substances that cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue within an observation period of up to 14 days starting after an exposure time of more than 60 minutes, but not more than 4 hours; or are judged not to cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissues but which exhibit a corrosion rate on steel or aluminium surfaces exceeding 6.25 mm a year at a test temperature of 55°C