Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

• Publisher: United Nations
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9789213619605
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Intergovernmental Organizations
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The Manual of Tests and Criteria contains criteria, test methods and procedures to be used for classification of dangerous goods according to the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, as well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). As a consequence, it supplements also national or international regulations which are derived from the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods or the GHS.

SECTION 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

NOTE: This general introduction relates only to Parts I to III of the Manual of Tests and Criteria and its Appendices 1 to 9. At its second session (10 December 2004), the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals decided to add a new Part IV relating to tests methods concerning transport equipment. At its seventh session, the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals decided to add a new Part V relating to classification procedures, test methods and criteria relating to sectors other than transport.

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 The purpose of this text is to present the United Nations schemes for the classification of certain types of dangerous goods and to give descriptions of the test methods and procedures considered to be the most useful for providing competent authorities with the necessary information to arrive at a proper classification of substances and articles for transport. The Manual of Tests and Criteria should be used in conjunction with the latest version of the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (hereafter referred to as the Recommendations) and of the Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods annexed to these Recommendations (hereafter referred to as the Model Regulations).

1.1.2 It should be noted that the Manual of Tests and Criteria is not a concise formulation of testing procedures that will unerringly lead to a proper classification of products. It therefore assumes competence on the part of the testing authority and leaves responsibility for classification with them. The competent authority has discretion to dispense with certain tests, to vary the details of tests, and to require additional tests when this is justified to obtain a reliable and realistic assessment of the hazard of a product. In some cases, a small scale screening procedure may be used to decide whether or not it is necessary to perform larger scale classification tests. Suitable examples of procedures are given in the introductions to some test series and in Appendix 6. Examples which may be listed within various test procedures are for illustrative purposes and are provided for guidance only.

1.1.3 In situations where the proper classification of substances and articles of certain Hazard Classes or Divisions for transport is the responsibility of the Competent Authority, it is normal and accepted practice that due consideration will be given to testing or classification results of other Competent Authorities when provided.

1.2 Layout

1.2.1 The classification procedures, test methods and criteria are divided into three parts:

Part I: those relating to assignment of explosives to Class 1;

Part II:those relating to assignment of self-reactive substances to Division 4.1 and of organic peroxides to Division 5.2;

Part III:those relating to assignment of substances or articles to Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Division 5.1, Class 8 or Class 9.

Part III contains some classification procedures, test methods and criteria which are also given in the Model Regulations. There are also a number of appendices which give information common to a number of different types of tests, on the National Contacts for Test Details, on an example method for emergency relief vent sizing of portable tanks for the transport of organic peroxides and self-reactive substances and on screening procedures.

1.2.2 The methods of test identification are given in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: TEST IDENTIFICATION CODES

a If only one test is given for a test type, the Roman numerals are not used.

1.2.3 Each test is given a unique identification code and is edited as follows:

x.1 Introduction

x.2 Apparatus and materials

x.3 Procedure (including observations to be made and data to be collected)

x.4 Test criteria and method of assessing results

x.5 Examples of results

NOTE: Examples of results are not normally given for tests on articles as these are too specific to the article tested and do not allow validation of the test procedure. Results on substances may vary from those given in the "Examples of results" if the physical form, composition, purity etc. of the substance is different. The results given should not be regarded as standard values.

Figures x.1, x.2, x.3 etc. (i.e. diagrams of apparatus etc.)

NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, the dimensions given on the diagrams are in millimetres.

1.3 Precedence of hazard characteristics

1.3.1 The table in 2.0.3.3 of Chapter 2.0 of the Model Regulations may be used as a guide in determining the class of a substance, mixture or solution having more than one risk, when it is not named in the Dangerous Goods List in Chapter 3.2 of the Model Regulations. For goods having multiple risks, which are not specifically listed by name in Chapter 3.2 of the Model Regulations, the most stringent packing group denoted to the respective hazard of the goods takes precedence over other packing groups, irrespective of the precedence of hazard table in 2.0.3.3 of Chapter 2.0 of the Model Regulations.

1.3.2 The precedence of hazard characteristics of the following are not dealt with in the Precedence of Hazard Table in Chapter 2.0 of the Model Regulations, since these primary characteristics always take precedence:

Substances and articles of Class 1;

Gases of Class 2;

Liquid desensitized explosives of Class 3;

Self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives of Division 4.1; Pyrophoric substances of Division 4.2;

Substances of Division 5.2;

Substances of Division 6.1 with a packing group I inhalation toxicity; Substances of Division 6.2; and

Material of Class 7.

1.3.3 Self-reactive substances, except for type G, giving a positive result in the self-heating test for Division 4.2, should not be classified in Division 4.2 but in Division 4.1 (see paragraph 2.4.2.3.1.1 of the Model Regulations). Organic peroxides of type G having properties of another class or division (e.g. UN 3149) should be classified according to the requirements of that class or division.

1.4 Safety

1.4.1 For the safety of laboratory personnel, the producer or other applicant for classification of a new product should provide all available safety data on the product e.g. the toxicity data.

1.4.2 Particularly when explosive properties are suspected, it is essential for the safety of workers that small scale preliminary tests are carried out before attempting to handle larger quantities. This involves tests for determining the sensitiveness of the substance to mechanical stimuli (impact and friction), and to heat and flame.

1.4.3 In tests involving initiation of potentially explosive substances or articles, a safe waiting period, prescribed by the test agency, should be observed after initiation.

1.4.4 Extra care should be taken when handling samples which have been tested since changes may have occurred rendering the substance more sensitive or unstable. Tested samples should be destroyed as soon as possible after the test.

1.5 General conditions for testing

1.5.1 The conditions given in the test prescriptions should be followed as closely as possible. If a parameter is not specified in the test prescription then the conditions given here should be applied. Where tolerances are not specified in the test prescription, it is implied that the accuracy is according to the number of decimal places given in any dimension e.g. 1.1 implies 1.05 to 1.15. In cases where conditions during a test deviate from those prescribed, the reason for the deviation shou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• NOTE
• Copyright
• FOREWORD
• GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
• 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION (Introduction, Layout, Precedence of hazard characteristics, Safety, General conditions for testing, Recommended tests and Reporting)
• PART I: CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, TEST METHODS AND CRITERIA RELATING TO EXPLOSIVES OF CLASS
• PART II: CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, TEST METHODS AND CRITERIA RELATING TO SELF-REACTIVE SUBSTANCES OF DIVISION 4.1 AND ORGANIC PEROXIDES OF DIVISION 5
• PART III: CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, TEST METHODS AND CRITERIA RELATING TO CLASS 2, CLASS 3, CLASS 4, DIVISION 5.1, CLASS 8 AND CLASS
• PART IV: TEST METHODS CONCERNING TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
• PART V: CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES, TEST METHODS AND CRITERIA RELATING TO SECTORS OTHER THAN TRANSPORT
• APPENDICES