Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Tests and Criteria

The Manual of Tests and Criteria contains criteria, test methods and procedures to be used for classification of dangerous goods according to the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, as well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). As a consequence, it supplements also national or international regulations which are derived from the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods or the GHS.

The Manual of Tests and Criteria contains criteria, test methods and procedures to be used for classification of dangerous goods according to the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, as well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Originally developed by the Economic and Social Council’s Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods which adopted a first version in 1984, it has been regularly updated and amended every two years. The amendments listed in this publication include: amendments to the procedure for assignment to a Division of Class 1; amendments to test series 7 for the classification as extremely insensitive explosive article; a test method for the classification of gases and gas mixtures as chemically unstable (new section 35); amendments to the procedures to be followed for the classification of lithium metal and lithium ion cells and batteries; amendments to the variations permitted for MEGCs design without additional testing; and a new appendix 8 detailing the response descriptors to be used for the purposes of Test series 7.

This document is adopted from the Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria publication. It is the first amendment of the third revised edition concerning new provisions for the classification criteria and testing procedures for lithium batteries.