Hazardous goods are all substances, mixtures or goods that can be dangerous to people and the environment during transport due to their physical or chemical properties. Hazardous substances are, for example, irritant, toxic, explosive, carcinogenic or can cause a fire if handled incorrectly. It is therefore very important, especially in intralogistics, to comply with all regulations for hazardous goods – both during transport and storage.

In Germany, individual dangerous goods regulations govern national and international transport. There are dangerous goods regulations for transport by sea (GGVSee), road (GGVS), rail (GGVE) and inland waterway (GGVBinSch). In addition to other laws, such as the Chemicals Act, the dangerous goods regulations precisely define which goods are to be categorised as dangerous. The dangerous goods regulations contain the dangerous goods, the transport designation and a corresponding identification number.

Dangerous goods classes

In national and international dangerous goods legislation, a distinction is made between nine dangerous goods classes.

Class 1: Explosive substances
Class 2: Gases and gaseous substances
Class 3: Flammable liquids
Class 4: Flammable solids
Class 5: Flammable (oxidising) substances
Class 6: Toxic substances
Class 7: Radioactive substances
Class 8: Corrosive substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

The goods are labelled with hazard labels. Hazard labels are squares measuring 10cm x 10cm standing on a point. The colours and pictograms are specified in each case.

Regulations for lorry transport

The transport of hazardous goods must be labelled with warning signs on the lorry or with enlarged hazard labels. The warning signs are attached to the transport vehicle in the format 40 cm x 30 cm and the enlarged hazard labels, so-called placards, are 25 cm x 25 cm or 30 cm x 30 cm in size.

Regulations for dangerous goods in the warehouse

If hazardous goods have to be stored, there are special hazardous goods warehouses for this purpose. These warehouses are subject to certain rules. In principle, warning or prohibition signs should be displayed at entrances and the floors should not be permeable to liquids. In addition, hazardous goods warehouses must be categorised into zones. Depending on the categorisation in a particular zone, lighting must be explosion-proof. Further regulations for hazardous goods warehouses are contained in the following laws, for example:

• Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG)
• Hazardous goods ordinances
• Water Resources Act (WHG)
• German Committee for Reinforced Concrete (DAfStb)

You can find more information under Transport network.