6.1

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
(IMDG Code)

The IMDG Code (Ref. 40) contains information on several thousands of substances, materials and articles. Figure 6 - 1 reviews the main properties for each of the IMDG Code classes that should be considered when assessing risks to man and to the environment. When responding to accidents involving packaged dangerous goods it is crucial to identify and recognize the IMDG Code Labels, Marks and Signs on the packages (cf. Annex 6). Reference is made to the IMDG Code regarding their exact meanings.

Class	Types of substances and articles	Properties to be considered	Examples
1	Explosives	Risk for explosion en masse, hazardous gases or projection, sensitivity to water or impact	ammonium nitrate detonators
2	Gases compressed, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure	Flammability, toxicity, oxidizing effects, corrosiveness	oxygen LPG acetylene
3	Flammable liquids	Flash point, toxicity, corrosiveness, solubility in water	ethyl alcohol kerosene
4	Flammable solids	Sensitivity to drying, carbon dioxide or water	sulphur calcium carbide
5	Oxidizing substances	Risk for explosion, type of packaging	hydrogen peroxide sodium chlorate
6	Poisonous substances, repugnant and infectious substances	Type of toxicity, flammability, sensitivity to water	phenol, TML, TEL dung dead animals
7	Radioactive substances and articles	Level of activity, package design	tritium radium
8	Corrosives	Level of corrosiveness, flammability, flash point	sulphuric acid sodium hydroxide
9	Miscellaneous substances and articles		asbestos, PCB transformers containing PCB
Figure 6 - 1

All packagings for transport of dangerous goods must be type approved. This is also applies to outer packagings (e.g. salvage drums) for containment and transport of damaged drums or similar containers.

Testing and type approval of packagings for dangerous goods are performed by authorized institutes in each country and the approvals are valid internationally.

Type approved packagings are always marked according to a template system. For a tight head steel drum the marking is shown in Figure 6 - 2 and for a removable head steel salvage drum the marking is shown in Figure 6 - 5.

Figure 6 - 2
Template for a type approved steel drum.

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)

Properties to be considered

Examples

Figure 6 - 1

6.1.1 The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
(IMDG Code)