CLASS 3 – FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

 

Class 3 consists of flammable liquids and liquid desensitised explosives.

 

Class 3 substances can be in UN Packing Groups I, II, or III.

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Flammable liquids are liquids which are capable of being ignited and burned. Specifically:

  • liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour (have a flash point) at temperatures of not more than 60-65°C. (for example, paints, varnishes, lacquers, etc., but not including substances otherwise classified on account of their dangerous characteristics.)

  • liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their flash point or substances transported at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a flammable vapour at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.

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Per the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) a flammable liquid is classified in one of four categories:

  1. Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C  (examples: carbon disulphide, isopropylamine.)

  2. Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point >35°C  (examples: petrol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone.)

  3. Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C  (examples: kerosene, tea tree oil.)

  4. Flash point > 60°C and ≤ 93°C  (examples: diesel fuel, fuel oil.)

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Liquid desensitised explosives are explosive substances which are dissolved or suspended in water or other liquid substances, to form an homogeneous liquid mixture to suppress their explosives properties. Entries in the Dangerous Goods List for liquid desensitised explosives are:

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  • UN 1204 (nitroglycerin, solution in alcohol);

  • UN 2059 (nitrocellulose, solution, flammable);

  • UN 3064 (nitroglycerin, solution in alcohol);

  • UN 3343 (nitroglycerin mixture, desensitised, liquid, flammable, n.o.s);

  • UN 3357 (nitroglycerin mixture, desensitized, liquid, n.o.s); and

  • UN 3379 (desensitised explosive, liquid, n.o.s.)

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Sub-Divisions

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There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids

 

PACKING GROUPS

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  • Packing group I: Assigned to flammable liquids with an initial boiling point less-than-or-equal-to 35°C.

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  • Packing group II: assigned to flammable liquids with a flash point less-than-or-equal-to 23°C and an initial boiling point of greater than 35°C.

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  • Packing group III: Assigned to flammable liquids with a flash point greater-than-or-equal-to 23°C but less-than-or-equal-to 60.5°C and an initial boiling point of greater than 35°C.

 

Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids:

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  1. Acetone

  2. Acetone oils

  3. Adhesives

  4. Alcohols

  5. Aviation fuel

  6. Benzene

  7. Butanols

  8. Carbamate insecticides

  9. Coal tar / coal tar distillates

  10. Copper based pesticides

  11. Diesel fuel

  12. Diethyl ether

  13. Dioxane

  14. Esters

  15. Ethers

  16. Ethanol

  17. Ethyl Mercaptan (LPG odourants)

  18. Gas oil

  19. Gasoline / Petrol

  20. Heating oil

  21. Isobutanols

  22. Isopropyls

  23. Kerosene

  24. Liquid bio-fuels

  25. Methanol

  26. Nitrocellulose solution

  27. Nitroglycerin mixture, desensitized

  28. Nitroglycerin solution in alcohol

  29. Octanes

  30. Organochlorine pesticides

  31. Organophosphorus pesticides

  32. Paints / lacquers / varnishes

  33. Perfumery products

  34. Petroleum crude oil

  35. Petroleum distillates (naphtha, Shellite/Recosol R55, white spirits, paint thinners, etc.)

  36. Polyester Resin Kits (fibreglass repair kit liquid hardener)

  37. Rosalina Oil (Lavender Tea Oil)

  38. Resins

  39. Shale oil (fuel oil, marine fuel)

  40. Tars

  41. Terpene Hydrocarbon (Tea Tree oil)

  42. Turpentine

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