Transport Classification: More Than a Label on a Drum
Understanding Section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet
Most people think of transport classification as a label you slap on a drum before it hits the road.
But for a SHEQ manager, Section 14 of the SDS is much more than that. It’s the bridge between product safety, logistics compliance, and emergency preparedness, and it’s often misunderstood, even by experienced professionals.
Why Section 14 Exists
Section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet aligns chemical safety information with the rules of dangerous goods transport.
It translates what we know about the product’s hazards into the formats defined by:
- ADR/RID – Road and rail transport in Europe
- IMDG Code – Maritime transport
- IATA-DGR / ICAO-TI – Air transport
- ADN – Inland waterways
Each of these systems has its own nuances, and Section 14 provides the common ground.
In short, it tells you how to legally move the product, under what conditions, and what to do if something goes wrong.
The Building Blocks of Transport Classification
Section 14 normally includes the following elements. Understanding how they fit together makes you a much stronger partner for logistics, warehousing, and emergency teams.
1. UN Number
The UN number is the universal identifier for dangerous goods, a four-digit code that defines what’s inside.
Examples:
- UN 1203 – Gasoline
- UN 1090 – Acetone
- UN 3082 – Environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s.
A single UN number can represent many similar mixtures if they share comparable hazards.
Choosing the right one requires analyzing the product’s physical state, main hazard, and composition thresholds.
2. Proper Shipping Name
This is the standardized name that appears on shipping papers, packages, and vehicle placards.
It must exactly match the official entry in the transport regulations (for example, “Paint” or “Adhesive containing flammable liquid”).
Manufacturers often add a technical name in parentheses for clarification, e.g. UN 3082, Environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. (contains bisphenol-A epoxy resin).
3. Transport Hazard Class and Division
Each dangerous good belongs to a class (1–9) depending on its main risk.
Examples:
- Class 3 – Flammable liquids
- Class 6.1 – Toxic substances
- Class 8 – Corrosive substances
- Class 9 – Miscellaneous hazardous materials
Some classes are divided into divisions (for example, 4.1 flammable solids, 4.2 self-heating substances).
Knowing the class is key for labeling, segregation, and emergency response.
4. Packing Group
The Packing Group (PG) indicates the degree of danger within a class:
- PG I – High danger
- PG II – Medium danger
- PG III – Low danger
It drives packaging requirements, testing standards, and sometimes transportation restrictions.
PG isn’t based solely on hazard classification, it’s often derived from test data, like flash point, corrosivity, or acute toxicity.
5. Environmental Hazards
Transport rules consider aquatic toxicity separately from workplace safety.
If a product meets Aquatic Chronic 2 or worse under CLP, it may also be classified as “Marine Pollutant” or “Environmentally hazardous substance” in transport.
This affects labeling (fish-and-tree symbol) and sometimes limited quantity exemptions.
6. Special Provisions and Exemptions
Transport regulations include hundreds of special provisions, coded entries (for example, 274, 640C, A97) that modify how a substance must be handled.
Examples:
- Some provisions allow omission of technical names.
- Others grant limited quantity packaging exemptions.
- Certain materials are “not subject to ADR” if below specific thresholds.
Understanding these nuances helps optimize shipping without compromising safety.
Why Classification Differs by Transport Mode
A common question:
“Why does my SDS say Class 3 under ADR, but a different entry under IATA?”
That’s not an error, it’s a reflection of how each mode handles risk and containment differently.
- Air transport (IATA) is the strictest, because pressure, temperature, and cabin oxygen make some goods more dangerous in the air.
- Sea transport (IMDG) allows higher quantities per container but focuses on environmental hazards and marine pollution.
- Road and rail (ADR/RID) balance safety and practicality, considering rescue accessibility and route risk.
So, a mixture that can travel freely by road may be forbidden by air or need different packaging at sea.
Why Mixtures Are Especially Tricky
Mixtures rarely behave like their pure components.
Even if each ingredient has a known UN number, the final product’s flash point, viscosity, or toxicity can shift classification entirely.
For example:
- A flammable solvent diluted with water might no longer meet the criteria for Class 3.
- A small percentage of corrosive acid can make an otherwise harmless liquid Class 8.
- “Generic” entries such as UN 3082 exist to capture mixtures that don’t match a specific substance entry.
Never assume that a mixture inherits the transport class of its main component.
Each formulation must be tested or calculated according to the relevant criteria, otherwise, packaging and labeling could be wrong.
From Barrels to Containers: Packaging Matters
Classification defines what you transport, packaging defines how.
And for SHEQ managers, understanding the packaging hierarchy is key to both safety and efficiency.
1. Inner and Outer Packaging
Dangerous goods are often packed in composite systems, for instance, bottles (inner packaging) inside a drum or box (outer packaging).
Each component must meet UN performance tests (drop, leakproofness, pressure).
2. Drums and Barrels
Drums are the workhorses of chemical logistics.
They come in steel, plastic, or fiberboard variants, each marked with a UN approval code (for example, 1A1, 1H1).
The code tells you:
- Material (1A = steel, 1H = plastic)
- Type (1 = drum, 2 = jerrican, 3 = composite)
- Performance level (X / Y / Z = PG I / II / III)
Using the wrong type or reusing damaged drums invalidates certification and exposes you legally if a spill occurs.
3. Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
IBCs (codes like 31H1 or 31A) are efficient but come with limitations:
- Not all classes or PG I materials are allowed in IBCs.
- They require regular inspection and retesting (every 2.5 and 5 years).
- For mixtures, ensure compatibility of both the container material and gasket with the product.
4. Containers and Bulk Transport
For large shipments, like tank containers or flexitanks, ADR and IMDG impose extra requirements: venting, grounding, emergency shut-off valves, and segregation.
Class 3 flammables, for example, need dedicated container ventilation and exclusion zones from oxidizers or gases.
5. Customer Packaging
What leaves your facility might not be what the end-user receives.
Re-packaging or diluting products for downstream customers can alter flash points and hazard classes, triggering new transport classifications.
SHEQ managers should ensure packaging changes trigger a re-evaluation of Section 14 data.
Packaging, in short, is where safety, compliance, and practicality meet. The most beautiful SDS in the world won’t save you from a leaking drum on the highway.
Beyond the Label: What This Means for SHEQ Managers
For SHEQ professionals, Section 14 data influences far more than shipment paperwork.
1. Logistics Compliance
Ensures carriers, warehouses, and freight forwarders apply correct ADR, IMDG, or IATA rules, preventing costly delays or rejected shipments.
2. Warehouse Segregation
Defines how goods are stored together. ADR classes identify incompatible combinations, for example, flammable liquids separate from oxidizers.
3. Emergency Response Planning
UN numbers and classes dictate what fire services, first responders, or spill teams must know. Information feeds into transport emergency cards (TREMcards) and response procedures.
Going a Step Further: Consistency and Data Quality
Medium-experienced SHEQ managers often discover that different suppliers provide different Section 14 data for the same substance.
That’s because transport classification isn’t globally harmonized.
This inconsistency complicates logistics automation and compliance tracking, one more reason structured SDS data is essential.
How NextSDS Helps You Stay on Track
At NextSDS, we go beyond what’s printed in Section 14.
Our platform automatically extracts UN numbers, classes, packing groups, and packaging details from SDS documents, and cross-checks them with our curated global transport regulation database.
That means you can:
- Verify consistency across ADR, IMDG, and IATA modes
- Identify missing or outdated classifications
- Flag mixtures that may need review due to packaging or formulation changes
- Link transport data directly to warehouse segregation and emergency response systems
For SHEQ teams, this turns static SDS text into dynamic, actionable transport intelligence.
✅ Section 14 isn’t just about moving drums safely, it’s about connecting the dots between product data, packaging, logistics, and emergency readiness.
With NextSDS, you can trust that every shipment is backed by accurate, harmonized, and regulation-compliant transport data.
👉 Want to know how NextSDS can help you automate transport classification, packaging validation, and reduce shipment risks? Get in touch with us.