Health and Safety Executive

Classification for transport

Explosives are dangerous goods.

All explosives must have been assigned a classification by the Competent Authority of a Contracting Party to the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

Chapter 2.2 of ADR describes the requirements for the classification of explosives, as interpreted by regulation 3 of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (as amended) (CDG).

This section describes the role of HSE as Competent Authority, and explains the responsibilities of anybody, eg importer or manufacturer, wanting to transport explosives in Great Britain, and the additional duties under Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP4) and the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH).

Who are the Contracting Parties to ADR?

The Contracting Parties are published on page ‘v’ in the Foreword section of ADR.

What is classification?

‘Classification’ identifies the hazards posed by explosive substances and articles as packaged for transport.

The Competent Authority of a Contracting Party to ADR must assign the classification of explosive materials before they can be transported. This involves assessing an explosive to determine whether it is assigned to – or excluded from – Class 1 of the UN classification scheme for the transportation of dangerous goods. An explosive assigned to Class 1 is given an appropriate UN Serial Number, hazard code and compatibility group, depending on its composition, type, and hazard.

A Competent Authority is a body designated or recognised to carry out duties under transport of dangerous goods regulations. In Great Britain:

  • HSE is the Competent Authority for the classification of non-military explosives
  • Military explosives, ie explosives under the control of and/or in connection with the execution of contracts for the Secretary of State for Defence are classified by the Explosives Storage and Transport Committee (ESTC) of the Ministry of Defence

Once the Competent Authority has agreed the classification, it issues a Competent Authority Document (CAD).

For further detail see the Industry Guide and Code of Practice on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (as amended) (CDG).

What is HSE’s role in classification?

As Competent Authority, HSE:

  • assigns classification of non-military explosives where a CAD does not exist
  • recognises the classification of explosives whose classification has been assigned by the Competent Authority of a country that is not a Contracting Party to ADR
  • issues a CAD, which records the classification granted, and any appropriate conditions

HSE lists all GB-classified explosives on the LOCEF database, which can be found on the Explosives Web Community. You need to register to access the community pages, but access is free.

How are explosives classified?

Explosives may be assigned a classification by one of the following methods:

  • on the basis of UN test results and information supplied
  • by analogy with a similar explosive previously classified by HSE or the Explosives Storage and Transport Committee (ESTC)
  • technical argument through documentary evidence
  • by recognising the classification assigned by the Competent Authority of a country that is not a Contracting Party to ADR.
  • for fireworks that are manufactured in Great Britain or a country that does not have a Competent Authority – UN default classification scheme

What does the importer / manufacturer have to do?

The importer / manufacturer is responsible for either:

  • holding a valid CAD from Competent Authority of a Contracting Party to ADR. A copy of the original CAD, that clearly identifies the item, should be kept and be available on demand
  • completing the appropriate application form and submitting it to HSE with the required documentation, and supporting evidence for a proposed classification. This must clearly identify the hazards associated with the explosives as packaged for transport

CHIP and REACH

Explosive substances must also be classified under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP4).

CHIP4 requires manufacturers and suppliers to provide their customers with information about the hazards associated with their products and to package them safely.

The European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) requires safety data sheets (SDSs) to be provided. REACH is a European system for regulating chemicals imported into the EU in quantities greater than 1 tonne.

The detailed CHIP4 and REACH requirements are separate to the explosives classification process.

Regulations

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Updated 07.03.12