Transport of ADR dangerous goods

Security requirements

It is essential to comply with the safety requirements established by current regulations.

These requirements are:

All transports assigned to transport dangerous goods must have two clearly visible panels, one in front and one behind. This sign, known as “Señal V-11”, has an orange rectangular shape with numbers in two lines and black borders.
According to the CLASS of the merchandise, the appropriate labeling and symbol must be displayed on a diamond-shaped panel.
The driver of the vehicle must have the appropriate training to drive with hazardous materials and know how to respond to any eventuality that may occur.
On the other hand, the vehicle must have passed the inspection tests established by law to carry this kind of merchandise.
During the journey, the vehicle must reduce its maximum speed to 10 km/h below the limit for that type of vehicle according to the type of road.

Classes of dangerous goods

As previously mentioned, the UN uses Model Standards to classify dangerous goods into 9 different classes, according to their level of danger taking into account their nature.

Next, we will review each of them:

CLASS 1: Explosives

Dangerous goods classified as explosives have a molecular composition that is formulated in such a way that they quickly change from a solid to a gaseous state, at a very high temperature, generating a sudden and violent impact.

Despite having this quality, the way these products are made ensures their stability as long as they are not subjected to strong collisions or stimulating factors such as a flame.

CLASS 2: Gases

The gases also represent a clear danger to health and the environment if adequate precautions are not taken when transporting them.

The transport of this merchandise is carried out at high pressure, in a liquid state, to reduce its volume and make the most of space, being able to move more quantity at once.

CLASS 3: Flammable liquids

Flammable liquids can come from petroleum products, by an industrial or natural process.

The importance of flammable liquids falls on several essential areas for humanity, such as the fuel needed by land, sea and air vehicles.

In addition to other materials and components for development or personal comfort such as paints, inks, adhesives, among others.

CLASS 4: Flammable solids

They are all those materials that burn easily, even faster than other fuels of organic origin.

They give off a lot of heat and burn suddenly, generating toxic gases and vapors.

Also included in this class are all liquids or solids that burn immediately when they come into contact with oxygen, or when they come into contact with water they produce a flammable gas that could burn.

CLASS 5: Oxidizing substances

Dangerous goods classified as oxidizers are in turn divided into two groups: oxidizing materials and organic peroxides.

Oxidizing materials have a high oxygen content and react with combustible and flammable elements. They do not depend on conventional oxygen to burn, as their composition supplies its own oxygen to keep burning.

Organic peroxides are all those materials that contain organic carbon and peroxide in their properties. These, when combined with oxygen, can burn independently.

They are characterized by being extremely harmful to human health.

CLASS 6: Toxic and infectious substances

Toxic substances are chemical poisons that are harmful to the human body. They should be prevented from entering our body, either by topical (through the skin), respiratory or digestive routes (by ingesting them through the mouth or nose).

For their part, CLASS 6 dangerous substances contain microorganisms that cause infectious diseases, a direct risk to people and animals due to their pathogens.

CLASS 7: Radioactive material

Any material that emits radiation that affects and damages the human body in some way is considered within CLASS 7.

Being a high-level dangerous goods, the packaging and transport care must be handled following very high safety standards.

CLASS 8: Corrosive

Corrosive materials are highly reactive on contact with objects and the skin itself, destroying tissues and producing irreversible changes. They are made up of acids and require special handling depending on their ability to damage materials.

CLASS 9: Hazardous materials in general

This CLASS 9 includes all materials that represent a risk to human, environmental and transport health, but are not cataloged within