IMO classes
In order for a container to transport IMO goods, it must have a label on all four sides
indicating the IMO class and number as detailed below:
Class 1: Explosives
Various goods based on their mass explosion hazard, projection hazard, or fire hazard.
Some examples of explosives include bombs, rockets, fuses, fireworks, ammunition,
and flares.
Subclass 1.1. Objects that have a mass explosion hazard.
Subclass 1.2. Objects that have a projection hazard but not a mass
explosion hazard.
Subclass 1.3. Objects that have a fire hazard and a minor blast hazard.
The label for these first three subclasses contains an image of an exploding bomb in
black, with an orange background and the number “1” at the bottom.
Subclass 1.4. Explosives that do not present a significant hazard.
Subclass 1.5. Insensitive substances that have a mass explosion hazard.
Subclass 1.6. Extremely insensitive articles that do not have a mass
explosion hazard.
Labels for these goods contain the number of the subclass in black, on an orange
background. They also contain the number “1” at the bottom of the label.
Class 2: Gases
Gases in liquid, compressed, or refrigerated form. Depending on their properties, these
goods are classified as either asphyxiant, oxidizing, flammable, or toxic gases. Based on
the reactions they cause, these gases are divided into three subclasses:
Subclass 2.1. Flammable gases. This is any type of gas that is ignitable
when it comes in contact with a heat source, such as propylene, ethane, or
butane. The label must contain a symbol with a black or white flame on a red
background, with the number “2” at the bottom.
Subclass 2.2. Non-flammable, non-toxic gases. These are gases that
displace oxygen, causing asphyxiation; one example of these gases is helium.
The label contains an image of a black or white bottle of gas on a green
background, with the number “2” at the bottom.
Subclass 2.3. Toxic gases. These are gases that can cause serious injury or
death when inhaled. They can be flammable, corrosive, or oxidizing, such as
chlorine. The label contains an image of a black skull over black crossbones.
The background is white and it contains the number “2” at the bottom.
Class 3: Flammable liquids.
This classification includes flammable liquids and insensitive liquid explosives.
Examples include turpentine, gasoline, paints, and varnishes. The label contains a
symbol with a black or white flame on a red background (like the label for gases in
Class 2.1). The label for Class 3 is different in that it has a number “3” at the bottom.
Class 4: Flammable solids.
This class is divided into the following subcategories based on the properties of the
solids:
Subclass 4.1. Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, and desensitized
explosives. These solids are liable to spontaneous combustion. The label
contains a black flame on a white background with seven vertical red stripes
and the number “4” at the bottom.
Subclass 4.2. These are spontaneously flammable substances. This means
that they could suddenly ignite when they come in contact with the air or
during transport. Examples include coal, ferrous metal shavings, wet cotton,
etc. The label contains a black flame on a background that is white on top
and red on the bottom, with the number “4”.
Subclass 4.3. Substances that emit flammable gases when they come in
contact with water. Some of the most common materials in this subclass
include sodium, potassium, and calcium carbide. The label contains a black
or white flame on a blue background with the number “4” at the bottom.
Class 5: Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides.
This class is divided into the following subcategories based on the properties of the
solids:
Subclass 5.1. Oxidizing substances. Liquids or solids that can cause
combustion or create a flammable environment. One example is ammonium
nitrate. The label contains a black flame on top of a circle, with a yellow
background and the number “5.1” at the bottom.
Subclass 5.2. Organic peroxides. These substances are derived from
hydrogen peroxide. They are highly dangerous and may only be transported
in certain quantities in special cargo units. The label contains a black or white
flame with a background that is red on top and yellow on the bottom. It also
contains the number “5.2” at the bottom.
Class 6: Toxic substances.
This class is divided into the following subcategories based on the properties of the
substance:
Subclass 6.1. Toxic substances. These are substances that may cause death
by inhalation, cutaneous absorption, or ingestion. Examples include
methanol and dichloromethane. The label for this subclass contains a black
skull and crossbones over a white background (like the label for Class 2.3,
toxic gases) but is distinguished by the number “6” at the bottom.
Subclass 6.2. Infectious substances. These substances contain pathogens
(microorganisms) that could cause disease. Some examples include
diagnostic specimens, material for preparing vaccines, secretions, blood,
excrement, lab cultures, etc. The label for this subclass may contain the
words “Infectious substances” or “In case of damage, flood, or fire, alert the
health authorities immediately” at the bottom. The label includes a symbol
made up of three black crescent moons on top of a circle, with a white
background and the number “6” at the bottom.
Class 7: Radioactive material.
Materials that contain radionuclides, such as uranium, plutonium, and thorium. The
labels for this substance are determined as follows:
Category I. Packages with a maximum surface radiation level of 0.5
mrem/hr or containers that do not contain packages with higher categories.
The label for this category is white with a black trefoil shape; below this is the
word “Radioactive”, followed by a small red vertical line. The label also
contains the words “Contents,” “Quantity,” and “Activity,” as well as the
number “7” at the bottom.
Category II. Packages with a surface radiation level greater than 0.5
mrem/hr, but no more than 50 mrem/hr . The transport index must not
exceed 1.0; this can also apply to containers with a transport index not
exceeding 1.0 with no Category III packages visible.
Category III. Packages with a maximum surface radiation level of 200
mrem/hr, or containers whose transport index is less than or equal to 1.0
and which are transporting visible Category III packages.
The label for Categories II and III is yellow with a border on top and white on the
bottom. It includes an image of a black trefoil and should always include the word
“Radioactive” followed by two or three small vertical lines, depending on the category. It
must also contain the words “”Contents” and “Activity,” along with a box outlined in
black that says “Transport Index”. It also contains the number “7” at the bottom of the
label.
Category IV. Fissionable materials. This label is white and must contain
the word “FISSIONABLE” in black at the top. At the bottom is a box that says
“Critical Care Index” and the number “7”.
Class 8: Corrosive substances.
These substances have a destructive effect when they come in contact with other
substances, meaning that they are damaging to skin tissue. Some examples of
corrosive substances are sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite. The label must contain
a symbol with two test tubes pouring liquid over a hand and a piece of metal; the
background of the top portion is white and the bottom is black with the number “8”.
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles.
This category includes dangerous substances not included in the other classes, such as
dioxins, lithium batteries, dry ice, etc. The label is white with seven vertical black lines
on the top half and the number “‘9”, underlined, in the bottom half.
These labels are always in the shape of a diamond with minimum dimensions of
100mm x 100mm. The labels may be smaller than this only if the package size requires
it, as long as they are visible.
