The heading of Class 3 covers substances and articles containing substances of this Class which:

-    are liquids according to subparagraph (a) of the definition for "liquid" in 1.2.1;

-    have at 50 °C a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar) and are not completely gaseous at 20 °C and at standard pressure of 101.3 kPa; and

-    have a flash-point of not more than 60 °C (see 2.3.3.1 for the relevant test).

The heading of Class 3 also covers liquid substances and molten solid substances with a flash-point of more than 60°C and which are carried or handed over for carriage whilst heated at temperatures equal to or higher than their flash-point. These substances are assigned to UN No. 3256.

The heading of Class 3 also covers liquid desensitized explosives. Liquid desensitized explosives are explosive substances which are dissolved or suspended in water or other liquid substances, to form an homogeneous liquid mixture to suppress their explosive properties. Such entries in Table  A  of Chapter 3.2 are UN Nos. 1204, 2059, 3064, 3343, 3357 and 3379.

NOTE 1: Substances having a flash-point above 35 °C, which do not sustain combustion according to the criteria of sub-section 32.2.5 of Part III of the Manual of Tests and Criteria, are not substances of Class 3; if, however, these substances are handed over for carriage and carried whilst heated at temperatures equal to or higher than their flash-point, they are substances of Class 3.

NOTE 2: By derogation from paragraph 2.2.3.1.1 above, diesel fuel, gasoil, heating oil (light) including synthetically manufactured products having a flash-point above 60 °C and not more than 100 °C shall be deemed substances of Class 3, UN No. 1202.
NOTE 3: Flammable liquids which are highly toxic by inhalation, as defined in 2.2.61.1.4 to 2.2.61.1.9, and toxic substances having a flash-point of 23 °C or above are substances of Class 6.1 (see 2.2.61.1). Liquids which are highly toxic by inhalation are indicated as “toxic by inhalation” in their proper shipping name in Column (2) or by special provision 354 in Column (6) of Table A of Chapter 3.2.

NOTE 4: Flammable liquid substances and preparations used as pesticides, which are highly toxic, toxic or slightly toxic and have a flash-point of 23 °C or above are substances of Class 6.1 (see 2.2.61.1).
 

The substances and articles of Class 3 are subdivided as follows:
F    Flammable liquids, without subsidiary hazard and articles containing such substances: F1    Flammable liquids having a flash-point of or below 60 °C;

F2    Flammable liquids having a flash-point above 60 °C which are carried or    handed over for carriage at or above their flash-point (elevated temperature substances);

F3    Articles containing flammable liquids;

FT    Flammable liquids, toxic:

FT1    Flammable liquids, toxic;

FT2    Pesticides;

FC      Flammable liquids, corrosive;

FTC  Flammable liquids, toxic, corrosive;

D    Liquid desensitized explosives.
 

Substances and articles classified in Class 3 are listed in Table A of Chapter 3.2. Substances not mentioned by name in Table A of Chapter 3.2 shall be assigned to the relevant entry of 2.2.3.3 and the relevant packing group in accordance with the provisions of this section. Flammable liquids shall be assigned to one of the following packing groups according to the degree of danger they present for carriage:

a                 See also 2.2.3.1.4.

For a liquid with (a) subsidiary hazard(s), the packing group determined in accordance with the table above and the packing group based on the severity of the subsidiary hazard(s) shall be considered; the classification and packing group shall then be determined in accordance with the table of precedence of hazards in 2.1.3.10.

1. Viscous flammable liquids such as paints, enamels, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives and polishes having a flash-point of less than 23 °C may be assigned to packing group III in conformity with the procedures prescribed in the Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 32.3, provided that:
2.  
3. a. the viscosity2 and flash-point are in accordance with the following table:

1. 1. b. Less than 3% of the clear solvent layer separates in the solvent separation test;
   2. c. The mixture or any separated solvent does not meet the criteria for Class 6.1 or Class 8;
2. 1. d. The substances are packed in receptacles of not more than 450 litre capacity.

NOTE: These provisions also apply to mixtures containing no more than 20% nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content not exceeding 12.6% by dry mass. Mixtures containing more than 20% but not more than 55% nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content not exceeding 12.6% by dry mass are substances assigned to UN No. 2059.

Mixtures having a flash-point below 23 °C and containing:

• more than 55% nitrocellulose, whatever their nitrogen content; or

• not more than 55% nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content above 12.6% by dry mass,

are substances of Class 1 (UN Nos. 0340 or 0342) or of Class 4.1 (UN Nos. 2555, 2556 or2557).

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²          Viscosity determination: Where the substance concerned  is  non-Newtonian,  or  where  a  flow  cup  method  of viscosity determination is otherwise unsuitable, a variable shear-rate viscometer shall be used to  determine  the dynamic viscosity coefficient of the substance, at 23 °C, at a number of shear rates. The values obtained are plotted against shear rate and then extrapolated to zero shear rate. The dynamic viscosity thus obtained, divided by the density, gives the apparent kinematic viscosity at near-zero shear rate.

Except as provided for in 2.2.3.1.5.2, viscous liquids which:

-    have a flash-point of 23 °C or above and less than or equal to 60 °C;

-    are not toxic, corrosive or environmentally hazardous;

-    contain not more than 20% nitrocellulose  provided  the  nitrocellulose  contains  not  more  than 12.6% nitrogen by dry mass; and

-    are packed in receptacles of not more than 450 litre capacity; are not subject to ADR, if:
(a)    in the solvent separation test (see Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 32.5.1), the height of the separated layer of solvent is less than 3% of the total height; and

(b)    the flowtime in  the  viscosity  test  (see  Manual  of  Tests  and  Criteria,  Part  III, sub-  section 32.4.3), with a jet diameter of 6 mm is equal to or greater than:

(i)    60 seconds; or
(ii)    40 seconds if the viscous liquid contains not more than 60% of Class 3 substances. 

Viscous liquids which are also environmentally hazardous, but meet all other criteria in 2.2.3.1.5.1,
are not subject to any other provisions of ADR when they are carried in single or combination packagings containing a net quantity per single or inner packaging of 5 litres or less, provided the packagings meet the general provisions of 4.1.1.1, 4.1.1.2 and 4.1.1.4 to 4.1.1.8.
 

If substances of Class 3, as a result of admixtures, come into categories of hazard different from those to which the substances mentioned by name in Table A of Chapter 3.2 belong, these mixtures or solutions shall be assigned to the entries to which they belong on the basis of their actual degree of danger.

NOTE: For the classification of solutions and mixtures (such as preparations and wastes) see also 2.1.3.
 

On the basis of the test procedures in accordance with 2.3.3.1 and 2.3.4, and the criteria set out in 2.2.3.1.1, it may also be determined whether the nature of a solution or a mixture mentioned by name or containing a substance mentioned by name is such that the solution or mixture is not subject to the provisions for this Class (see also 2.1.3).

Substances of Class 3 which are liable to form peroxides easily (as happens with ethers or with certain heterocyclic oxygenated substances) shall not be accepted for carriage if their peroxide content, calculated as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), exceeds 0.3%. The peroxide content shall be determined as indicated in 2.3.3.3.

Chemically unstable substances of Class 3 shall not be accepted for carriage unless the necessary precautions have been taken to prevent the possibility of a dangerous decomposition  or polymerization under normal conditions of carriage. For the precautions necessary to prevent polymerization, see special provision 386 of Chapter 3.3. To this end particular care shall be taken to ensure that receptacles and tanks do not contain any substances liable to promote these reactions.

Liquid desensitized explosives other than those listed in Table A of Chapter 3.2 shall not be accepted for carriage as substances of Class 3.