Hand carrying
In general, when non-UN packaging is used for transporting Dangerous Goods in small quantities the following guidelines should be followed:
- The packaging should be of good quality and strong enough to withstand the shocks and loading experienced during carriage.
- Packaging should be constructed and closed so as to prevent any loss of contents which might occur due to environmental conditions during transport – vibration, temperature, humidity, pressure etc.
- Parts of packaging that are in direct contact with Dangerous Goods shall (a) not be affected or significantly weakened by those Dangerous Goods and (b) not cause a dangerous effect e.g. catalysing a reaction or reacting with the Dangerous Goods.
- When filling packaging with liquid sufficient free volume (ullage) should be left for expansion of the liquid with temperature, remembering that the package could be exposed to fluctuating high and low temperatures and pressure/altitude during carriage.
- Liquids may only be placed into inner packaging which has an appropriate resistance to the internal pressure that may be developed under normal conditions of carriage.
- Dangerous Goods must not be packed in the same outer packaging if they react dangerously with each other and cause: combustion and/or evolution of heat; evolution of flammable, toxic or asphyxiating gases; formation of corrosive substances; or the formation of unstable substances.
- The maximum quantities allowed in each package are given in
Appendix 3A for road transport and
3B for air transport.
Transport by road
Transport in limited quantities – quantities considered significantly small enough that they are exempt from most of the usual provisions of ADR 2023:
Inner Packaging | No specific requirements. |
Outer Packaging | The following may be used: steel /aluminium /plastic drums with removable head; steel /aluminium /plastic jerricans with removable head; plywood fibre drums; boxes of natural wood, plywood, reconstituted wood, fibreboard, plastics, steel or aluminium |
Labelling | No specific requirements. |
Marking | Each package should clearly and durably be marked with the UN number of the goods it contains, preceded by the letters "UN". In the case of different goods with different UN numbers within a single package the outer packaging should be marked with all the UN numbers of the goods it contains, preceded by the letters "UN" or "LQ". |
Documentation | No specific requirements. |
Transport by air
Transport in excepted quantities - quantities considered significantly small enough that they are exempt from most of the usual provisions of IATA regulations (Edition 63 2023):
Inner Packaging | Must be constructed of plastic having a minimum thickness of not less than 0.2mm, or of glass, earthenware or metal. Removable closures must be held securely in place with wire, tape or other positive means. Each inner packaging must be securely packed in an intermediate packaging with cushioning material. For liquids the cushioning material must contain enough absorbent material to absorb the entire contents of the inner packaging. |
Outer Packaging | No specific requirements, but must be large enough to bear the excepted quantities label. |
Labelling | Each package containing Dangerous Goods in excepted quantities must be labelled with a completed excepted quantities label. |
Marking | No specific requirements |
Documentation | No specific requirements |
Note: All known information must be given and provided to logistics team to ensure the correct handling and safe transport. This is to mitigate all foreseeable consequences.