Consolidating Dangerous and Non-Dangerous Goods with Expertise

Can I ship dangerous and non-dangerous goods together?

Yes, it is quite often a situation.

But, there are some rules which you have to consider when consolidating dangerous and non-dangerous packages.

The first thing you should know is how your dangerous goods can react while shipping with non-dangerous products.

You have to be sure that not tearing, nor temperature and pressure oscillation will affect hazardous cargo.

Normally, the consolidation of such freight is done by special agents, who have licenses and knowledge with hazardous materials, as well as with their properties.

Ottshipping has staff members who pass overtraining and have all the needed permissions to deal with dangerous goods.

What is considered as shipping dangerous goods in limited/excepted quantity?

Some dangerous goods packed in small quantities (limited quantity) or very small volumes (excepted quantity) pose a lesser risk during transportation.

Such cargo can be qualified as less dangerous and it does not go through the strict packaging process.

This could save a lot of money for you.

Still, there are some rules even in the case of shipping goods in limited/excepted quantities:

Limited quantities

All products have to be carried in small containers or bottles and then packed together in boxes or on shrink-wrapped trays.

Packages must go through a certain testing process which is not so tough than in the case of UN-approved packages.

The maximum gross weight of a package is 30 kgs (66 lbs) for boxes or 20 kgs (44 lbs) for shrink-wrapped trays.

Outer packages must contain limited quantities of mark and symbols for hazardous materials.

Excepted quantities

Dangerous goods hazard symbols are not required.

Packages must go through drop and stacking testing process.

The total number of packages carried on a single transport unit shall not exceed 1000 pieces.

Outer package must contain the mark of excepted quantity.

Please, bear in mind that all packages have to be marked and labeled properly as well.

What is the connection between the ICAO Technical Instructions and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations?

International transport of dangerous goods by air is regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

Interesting fact: these instructions and regulations are not free of charge.

What are the main rules when shipping dangerous goods to the USA?

In the US, it is possible to ship dangerous goods in small quantities.

Such packages are considered as exceptions from basic rules which DOT (Department Of Transportation) and USPS hazardous goods requirements contain.

Foreign parties should consult their national dangerous goods regulations to ensure compliance of their cargo before moving it in the USA.

In the better part of cases, it means using IATA instructions which were mentioned before in this FAQ.

Below are the important relevant points from the DOT and USPS regulations:

• Small quantities of dangerous goods can be sent through:
• the United States Postal Service via air transportation;
• surface transportation as Standard or Parcel Post;
• by any of the three major courier companies (FedEx, UPS, and DHL).
• Dangerous goods from third class (all packing groups) are acceptable (ethanol and isopropanol).
• The maximum quantity of dangerous goods per one container cannot exceed 30 mL for acceptable liquids (as above).

Such a container cannot be filled full.

Removable cover on such package must be held in place using wire, tape or other acceptable means.

Multiple containers have to be placed inside a securely sealed secondary package.

Absorbent means (that can't react with your dangerous goods) have to surround each inner container.

Multiple packages have to be placed in a strong box which can withstand drop and compressive load tests without breakage or leakage.

While drop testing, the box is dropped free on top, the bottom, long and short side from 1.8 m (5.9 feet) onto a solid unyielding surface.

While performing a compressive load test, boxes are stacked to a height of no less than 3 m (10 feet) for 24 hours.

The gross mass of such box (package) must not exceed 29 kg (64 pounds).

What are the main rules when shipping dangerous goods to the UK?

When shipping dangerous goods in the UK by air, the internationally agreed rules for covered by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are applied.

In particular, these are International Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Anyone packing dangerous goods for aircraft has to go through a special training process.

When shipping dangerous goods in the UK by road, other internationally agreed rules for come in charge.

UK government using ADR regulations in this case (ADR is an abbreviation for European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).

Finally, when trying to ship dangerous goods in the UK by sea, you have to complete a certain notification for any hazardous materials you move.

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency guide transporting dangerous goods by sea.

Note: if you fail to complete some of the above-mentioned rules, you might be fined for breaking them.

You can be prosecuted and face a large fine and a prison sentence for serious breaches, for example transporting animal by-products in an unsafe way.

What is DG packing?

DG is simply an abbreviation for dangerous goods.

Does my carrier have to have a special license to transport dangerous goods?

Exactly!

In the vast majority of countries, shippers and carriers have to undergo rough training process to get the license (certificate) confirming that they are capable to manage with dangerous goods.

In some cases, shipping companies have to achieve additional licenses, like:

The dangerous goods transport approval certificate. Such a certificate might be needed to prove that certain vehicle (vessel, aircraft) can deal with dangerous cargo.

Driver training certificates (for truck freight companies). Drivers need to know dangerous cargo to carry out the delivery without incidents.

If the shipping company also provides storage services, it has to obtain licenses for its warehouse operators.

Is perfume considered as dangerous material?

Because perfume contains some amount of ethyl alcohol, they are considered a flammable liquid (third hazard class in the GHS).

Is nail polish considered a dangerous good?

The better part of nail polishes contains toxic and hazardous liquid, which make them flammable.

Nail polishes are categorized to the third class of dangerous goods (flammable liquids).

Is paint a dangerous good?

Paint also might be considered as a dangerous product.

Practically all paints in aerosol forms are hazmats because of the pressurized gas used as a propellant in the can.

Water-based paints are non-flammable, however, they may cause corrosion, either acid or alkali.

Certain oil-based paints can be easily flammable near the fire source.

Are matches considered dangerous goods?

Yes, matches and matchboxes are classified as flammable solids.

The reason for this is the ability to match to become easily flammable near the source of the fire.

Packages must be marked on address side with the ORM D warning graphic (in the photo below).