Dangerous Goods by Road
Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Criteria
The heading of Class 9 covers substances and articles which, during carriage, present a danger not
covered by the heading of other classes.
The substances and articles of Class 9 are subdivided as follows:
M1 Substances which, on inhalation as fine dust, may endanger health;
M2 Substances and articles which, in the event of fire, may form dioxins;
M3 Substances evolving flammable vapour;
M4 Lithium batteries;
M5 Life-saving appliances;
M6-M8 Environmentally hazardous substances:
M6 Pollutant to the aquatic environment, liquid;
M7 Pollutant to the aquatic environment, solid;
M8 Genetically modified microorganisms and organisms;
M9-M10 Elevated temperature substances:
M9 Liquid;
M10 Solid;
M11 Other substances and articles presenting a danger during carriage, but not meeting the
definitions of another class.
Definitions and classification
Substances and articles classified in Class 9 are listed in Table A of Chapter 3.2. The assignment of
substances and articles not mentioned by name in Table A of Chapter 3.2 to the relevant entry of that
Table or of sub-section 2.2.9.3 shall be done in accordance with 2.2.9.1.4 to 2.2.9.1.14 below.
Substances which, on inhalation as fine dust, may endanger health
Substances which, on inhalation as fine dust, may endanger health include asbestos and mixtures
containing asbestos.
Substances and articles which, in the event of fire, may form dioxins
Substances and articles which, in the event of fire, may form dioxins include polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and terphenyls (PCTs) and polyhalogenated biphenyls and terphenyls and mixtures
containing these substances, as well as articles such as transformers, condensers and articles
containing those substances or mixtures.
NOTE: Mixtures with a PCB or PCT content of not more than 50 mg/kg are not subject to the
provisions of ADR.
Substances evolving flammable vapour
Substances evolving flammable vapour include polymers containing flammable liquids with a flashpoint
not exceeding 55 °C.
Lithium batteries
Lithium batteries shall meet the following requirements, except when otherwise provided for in ADR
(e.g. for prototype batteries and small production runs under special provision 310 or damaged
batteries under special provision 376).
Cells and batteries, cells and batteries contained in equipment, or cells and batteries packed with
equipment, containing lithium in any form shall be assigned to UN Nos. 3090, 3091, 3480 or 3481 as
appropriate. They may be carried under these entries if they meet the following provisions:
(a) Each cell or battery is of the type proved to meet the requirements of each test of the
Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.3;
NOTE: Batteries shall be of a type proved to meet the testing requirements of the
Manual of Tests and Criteria, part III, sub-section 38.3, irrespective of whether the cells of
which they are composed are of a tested type.
(b) Each cell and battery incorporates a safety venting device or is designed to preclude a
violent rupture under normal conditions of carriage;
(c) Each cell and battery is equipped with an effective means of preventing external short
circuits;
(d) Each battery containing cells or series of cells connected in parallel is equipped with
effective means as necessary to prevent dangerous reverse current flow (e.g., diodes, fuses,
etc.);
(e) Cells and batteries shall be manufactured under a quality management programme that
includes:
(i) A description of the organizational structure and responsibilities of personnel with
regard to design and product quality;
(ii) The relevant inspection and test, quality control, quality assurance, and process
operation instructions that will be used;
(iii) Process controls that should include relevant activities to prevent and detect internal
short circuit failure during manufacture of cells;
(iv) Quality records, such as inspection reports, test data, calibration data and certificates.
Test data shall be kept and made available to the competent authority upon request;
(v) Management reviews to ensure the effective operation of the quality management
programme;
(vi) A process for control of documents and their revision;
(vii) A means for control of cells or batteries that are not conforming to the type tested as
mentioned in (a) above;
(viii) Training programmes and qualification procedures for relevant personnel; and
(ix) Procedures to ensure that there is no damage to the final product.
NOTE: In house quality management programmes may be accepted. Third party
certification is not required, but the procedures listed in (i) to (ix) above shall be properly
recorded and traceable. A copy of the quality management programme shall be made
available to the competent authority upon request.
Lithium batteries are not subject to the provisions of ADR if they meet the requirements of special
provision 188 of Chapter 3.3.
Life-saving appliances
Life-saving appliances include life-saving appliances and motor vehicle components which meet the
descriptions of special provisions 235 or 296 of Chapter 3.3.
Environmentally hazardous substances
(Deleted)
Pollutants to the aquatic environment
Environmentally hazardous substances (aquatic environment)
General definitions
Environmentally hazardous substances include, inter alia, liquid or solid substances pollutant to the
aquatic environment and solutions and mixtures of such substances (such as preparations and wastes).
For the purposes of 2.2.9.1.10, "substance" means chemical elements and their compounds in the
natural state or obtained by any production process, including any additive necessary to preserve the
stability of the product and any impurities deriving from the process used, but excluding any solvent
which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition.
The aquatic environment may be considered in terms of the aquatic organisms that live in the water,
and the aquatic ecosystem of which they are part9. The basis, therefore, of the identification of hazard
is the aquatic toxicity of the substance or mixture, although this may be modified by further
information on the degradation and bioaccumulation behaviour.