Spontaneously combustible labels (Class 4.2 labels) are used for marking and identifying spontaneously combustible materials and substances during transportation.
What Are Spontaneously combustible goods?
Division 4.2 goods are either solids or liquids. They will ignite spontaneously in contact with oxygen. They must be kept in airtight packages or as liquids under an inert gas or liquid blanket. Pyrophoric materials will ignite within five minutes of coming into contact with air and are always assigned to packing group I. Other materials will ignite only when in large amounts and after longer periods of time. These are in Packing Group II or III, depending on classification tests.
Examples of commonly transported 4.2 goods include:
- Hay / Straw
- Peat
- Sugar
- Metal powders
- Phosphorus
- Celluloid
- Soybean products
SPECIFICATIONS FOR Spontaneously combustible labels FOR PACKAGES
The ADR (European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road) regulations, state that all packages containing dangerous goods should have a warning label and that the label shall be in the form of a square at an angle of 45° (diamond shaped).
Class 4.2, spontaneously combustible labels for packages must be at least 100 x 100mm, from edge to edge, and set at an angle of 45°. The label must show a black flame in the top corner and have a half red and half white background. A dotted outer boundary must indicate the edges of the labels (unless it is being applied on a background of contrasting colour). The labels must show a 1mm inner border that is 5mm away from the edge of the labels. The class number ‘4’ must be shown in the bottom corner and be in text at least 12mm high.
If the size of the package is too small to fit a 100mmx100mm warning label, then the dimensions may be reduced provided the symbols and other elements remain clearly visible.
Class 4.2 PLACARDS
The Class 4.2 placard is used for cargo transport units such as freight containers and road/rail tanker vehicles.
Spontaneously combustible placards must be at least 250mm x 250mm, from edge to edge, and set at an angle of 45°. The placard must show a dotted outer boundary line (unless it is being applied on a background of contrasting colour). The class number ‘4’ must be shown in the bottom corner and be in text at least 25mm high.
There is no specification for the thickness of the inner line, as yet, but there must be a gap of 12.5mm between this and the outer dotted border or the outer edge of the label. The upper half of the label must show the flammable symbol and the number 4 must be shown in the bottom corner.
This article should not be used in substitute for checking the exact requirements in the applicable modal regulations.
We manufacture Class 4.2 labels at 101mm x 101mm on rolls of 250, and our Class 4 placards, for use in international transportation, are supplied at 250x250mm. All labels are fully compatibe with IATA/ ICAO, UN ADR/RID and IMDG/IMO requirements.