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USDOT HazMat Placards

Class 4 Flammable Solids (pg 2 of 2)
49CFR 173.124

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

Assignment of packing group.
49CFR 173.125(a)

1. The packing group of a Class 4 material is assigned in Column (5) of the 49CFR 172.101 Table. When the 49CFR 172.101 Table provides more than one packing group for a hazardous material, the packing group shall be determined on the basis of test results following test methods given in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and by applying the appropriate criteria given in this section.
2. Packing group criteria for readily combustible materials of Division 4.1 are as follows:
   1. Powdered, granular or pasty materials must be classified in Division 4.1 when the time of burning of one or more of the test runs, in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, is less than 45 seconds or the rate of burning is more than 2.2 mm/s. Powders of metals or metal alloys must be classified in Division 4.1 when they can be ignited and the reaction spreads over the whole length of the sample in 10 minutes or less.
   2. Packing group criteria for readily combustible materials of Division 4.1 are assigned as follows:
      1. For readily combustible solids (other than metal powders), Packing Group II if the burning time is less than 45 seconds and the flame passes the wetted zone. Packing Group II must be assigned to powders of metal or metal alloys if the zone of reaction spreads over the whole length of the sample in 5 minutes or less.
      2. For readily combustible solids (other than metal powders), Packing Group III must be assigned if the burning rate time is less than 45 seconds and the wetted zone stops the flame propagation for at least 4 minutes. Packing Group III must be assigned to metal powders if the reaction spreads over the whole length of the sample in more than 5 minutes but not more than 10 minutes.
3. Packing group criteria for Division 4.2 materials is as follows:
   1. Pyrophoric liquids and solids of Division 4.2 are assigned to Packing Group I.
   2. A self-heating material is assigned to-
      1. Packing Group II, if the material gives a positive test result when tested with a 25 mm cube size sample at 140°C; or
      2. Packing Group III, if -
         1. A positive test result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 140°C and a negative test result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm sample cube at 140°C and the substance is transported in packagings with a volume of more than 3 cubic meters; or
         2. A positive test result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 120°C and a negative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm sample cube at 140°C and the substance is transported in packagings with a volume of more than 450 liters; or
         3. A positive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 100°C and a negative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm sample cube at 140°C and the substance is transported in packagings with a volume of less than 450 liters.
4. A Division 4.3 dangerous when wet material is assigned to-
   1. Packing Group I, if the material reacts vigorously with water at ambient temperatures and demonstrates a tendency for the gas produced to ignite spontaneously, or which reacts readily with water at ambient temperatures such that the rate of evolution of flammable gases is equal or greater than 10 liters per kilogram of material over any one minute;
   2. Packing Group II, if the material reacts readily with water at ambient temperatures such that the maximum rate of evolution of flammable gases is equal to or greater than 20 liters per kilogram of material per hour, and which does not meet the criteria for Packing Group I; or
   3. Packing Group III, if the material reacts slowly with water at ambient temperatures such that the maximum rate of evolution of flammable gases is greater than 1 liter per kilogram of material per hour, and which does not meet the criteria for Packing Group I or II.

Last updated: Feb 2007

Related Resources

• Guide for Handling Household Chemicals
  Things you can do to make your home safer.
• USDOT Hazardous Materials Table 49 CFR 172.101
  An online version of the USDOT hazardous materials table from 49CFR 172.101. This table can be sorted by proper shipping name, UN/NA ID and/or by primary hazard class/division.
• ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook)
  Have you ever wondered what those four digit numbers on the placards on the side of trucks and rail cars mean? Our online 2004ERG will give you your answer. This is an online version of the guidebook produced by the USDOT for first responders during the initial phase of a Dangerous goods/HazMat incident.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

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