SDS Section 14: UN number and ADR transport information

The subsections of Section 14

If the product is not dangerous in transport, "Not regulated as dangerous goods" is written in 14.1–14.4; the subsections are not left empty.

The 9 hazard classes in ADR

From CLP classification to transport class

For most chemical manufacturers, these are the common mappings; if there is a product-specific UN entry (e.g. a particular solution), that one is used:

• Flammable liquid (H224, H225, H226) → Class 3. The packing group comes from the flash point and boiling point: boiling point ≤ 35 °C gives PG I; flash point < 23 °C and boiling point > 35 °C gives PG II; a flash point between 23 and 60 °C gives PG III. Generic entry UN1993.
• Skin corrosive (H314) → Class 8. The sub-category determines the packing group: 1A → PG I, 1B → PG II, 1C → PG III. Generic entry for liquids UN1760.
• Acutely toxic (H300, H301, H310, H311, H330, H331) → Class 6.1. The packing group is determined from the LD50/LC50 values.
• Aquatic Acute 1 or Chronic 1–2 (H400, H410, H411) → environmentally hazardous substance. If it does not fall into another class, Class 9, PG III: liquids UN3082, solids UN3077. If it falls into another class (e.g. class 3), it is transported in that class and "environmentally hazardous" is marked in 14.5.

Eye irritation (H319), skin irritation (H315), sensitisation (H317) or Aquatic Chronic 3 (H412) on its own does not make a product dangerous goods under ADR. So the assumption "it has a hazard label, so it falls under ADR" is wrong; conversely, writing "not dangerous" for a product that meets the class 8 criteria is one of the common mistakes.

When there is more than one hazard

If a product is both flammable and corrosive, the precedence table in ADR 2.1.3.10 determines which class is primary and which is the subsidiary hazard. For example, a flammable and corrosive liquid is transported as "3 (8)" or "8 (3)" depending on the packing groups, and the UN number is chosen accordingly (e.g. UN2924 FLAMMABLE LIQUID, CORROSIVE, N.O.S. or UN2920 CORROSIVE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE, N.O.S.).

Exemptions: limited quantities and small packages

• Small packages of environmentally hazardous substances: UN3077/UN3082 consignments with a net quantity per single or inner packaging of no more than 5 litres for liquids or 5 kilograms for solids are not subject to ADR (special provision 375).
• Limited quantities (LQ, ADR 3.4): consignments below a certain quantity per inner packaging are transported with relaxed marking and documentation. The limit is given separately for each UN number in ADR Table A.

These exemptions do not change the classification in Section 14; the product is still listed with its UN number, and the exemption is noted in 14.6 where needed.

Sea and air transport

The classes and UN numbers are largely the same in the ADR, RID (rail), IMDG (sea) and IATA (air) rules; the differences are in the details. At sea, an environmentally hazardous substance is marked as a "marine pollutant". If you export, state each mode of transport used separately in Section 14, not only ADR. ADR is updated with a new edition every two years (currently ADR 2025); Section 14 should be reviewed along with these changes.

Chemoris calculates the ADR class, packing group and UN N.O.S. entry as a suggestion from the mixture's CLP classification and applies the precedence table; the chemist can change the product-specific UN entry manually. You can try it with a free account.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• ADR 2025, sections 2.1.3.10 (precedence table), 2.2.3.1.3, 2.2.8.1.6, 2.2.9.1.10, 3.2 Table A, 3.3 (special provision 375), 3.4 (UNECE).
• KKDİK Regulation (23/06/2017, Official Gazette No. 30105), Annex 2 Section 14.
• IMDG Code (IMO) and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.