DOT Placards
Department of Transportation (DOT ) placards are displayed on vehicles carrying hazardous materials to indicate the hazard class and division of the material being transported. (Labels are very similar to placards in design; however, they are smaller and placed on individual containers rather than vehicles.)
CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ' chemical datasheets and UN/NA datasheets include placard and label information from the Hazmat Table (49 CFR 172.101). Note that these are just representative placards, and that there are variations in the placards that may be displayed on vehicles. For instance, the chemical's UN/NA number is often shown on the placard along with the hazard class /division symbols and numbers.
Some representative placards are shown below for each hazard class and division. This information comes from the 2024Â Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).
Class 1: Explosives
Divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3
Division 1.1 - Explosives which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2 - Explosives which have a projection hazard (but NOT a mass explosion hazard)
Division 1.3 - Explosives which have a fire hazard AND either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both (but NOT a mass explosion hazard)
Division 1.4:
Explosives which present no significant blast hazard
Division 1.5:
Very insensitive explosives with a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.6:
Extremely insensitive articles which do NOT have a mass explosion hazard
Class 2: Gases
Division 2.1: Flammable gas
Division 2.2: Nonflammable, non-poisonous gas
Division 2.3: Poisonous gas
Class 3: Flammable Liquids (and Combustible Liquids [U.S.])
Fuel Oil and Elevated Temperature Materials
Class 4: Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible Substances, and Substances that Emit Flammable Gases on Contact with Water
Division 4.1: Flammable solid
Division 4.2: Spontaneously combustible
Division 4.3: Dangerous when wet
Class 5: Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
Division 5.1: Oxidizer
Division 5.2: Organic Peroxide
Class 6: Poisonous and Infectious Substances
Division 6.1: Poison
Division 6.2: Infectious substance
Class 7: Radioactive Materials
Class 7: Radioactive
Class 8: Corrosive Materials
Class 8: Corrosive
Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials
Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials
Mixed Load of Hazardous Materials
These placards indicate containers or vehicles carrying two or more categories of hazardous materials, all in amounts less than the threshold specified in 49 CFR 172.504. Check labels on containers or shipping papers to identify the materials.
Limited Quantities
These markings indicate packages that contain hazardous materials in only limited quantities. The placard with the Y is for air transport, the other placard is for all other modes of transport.
Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities
These markings indicate packages that contain dangerous goods in excepted quantities. The * on the marking is where the hazard class or division goes, and the ** is where the name of the shipper or consignee goes (if not shown elsewhere on the package).
Marine Pollutant
This placard indicates a container or vehicle carrying one or more materials listed as marine pollutant(s) (49 CFR 172.101 Appendix B), at concentration (s) high enough to be harmful to marine life.
Lithium Batteries
The ERG initial response guide number for lithium metal batteries (UN3090, UN3091) is 138. The ERG initial response guide number for lithium ion batteries (UN3480, UN3481) is 147.