Class 8: Corrosives
Hazard class 8: Corrosive substances
The dangerous goods regulations define corrosive substances as a substance that by a chemical action, causes irreversible damage to the skin, or in the case of a leakage, will materially damage or even destroy other goods or the means of transport. Corrosive substances can be both a solid and liquid form.
Class 8 hazardous materials do not have any divisions but could be an acid or an alkali. Acidshave a pH less than 7, and Alkalishave a pH greater than 7 while neutral substances have a pH equal to 7.
Packing groups
Although Class 8 dangerous goods do not have any other divisions, corrosive substances have been assigned a packing group which indicates the degree of danger.
Packing Group I: Substances presenting high danger
Packing Group II: Substances presenting medium danger
Packing Group III: Substances presenting low danger
Packing group
|
Exposure time
|
Observation period
|
Effect
|
I |
≤ 3 min |
≤ 60 min |
Full thickness destruction of intact skin |
II |
> 3 min ≤ 1h |
≤ 14 d |
Full thickness destruction of intact skin
|
III |
> 1 h ≤ 4h |
≤ 14 d |
Full thickness destruction of intact skin |
III |
- |
- |
Corrosion rate on either steel or aluminium surfaces exceeding 6.25 mm a year at a test temperature of 55 ºC when tested on both materials |
Examples of commonly transported explosives
Class 8 dangerous goods examples are acid batteries fluid, alkali batteries fluid, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, iodine, methacrylic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid.
