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Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Identifier

This tool will help you determine if a material is designated by the DOT as a Hazardous Material for shipping.

Click any labels below that may describe your material.

Gas: Flammable (Gasses that burn in the air)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition

Boiling Point < 68 degrees F. AND Ignitability Limit < 13% in Air.

Flammable Range (LFL-UFL) < 12% difference
Examples

Oxygen, Hydrogen, Most Aerosol Cans
NOTES Oxygen is specifically defined as a Flammable Gas
DOT Class 2.1
Gas: Non-Flammable, Non-Toxic (Gasses that can suffocate, but pose no other hazard)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition Pressure @ 68 degrees F. > 41 PSIA
Examples

Carbon Dioxide (Gas), Freon
NOTES  
DOT Class 2.2
Gas: Toxic/Poisonous (Gasses that can kill you)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition LC50 (rat-inhal) < 5000 ppm
Examples

Hydrogen Sulfide, Insecticides, Chlorine
NOTES  
DOT Class 2.3
Liquid: Flammable (Liquids that ignite easily and burn hot)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition Flash Point <141 deg. F
Examples

Acetone (nail polish remover)

Alcohols, Hexane

Many other solvents
NOTES  
DOT Class 3
Liquid: Combustible (Liquids that burn, but require a flame or elevated temperature plus a spark to start them)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition Flash Point 141 - 200 deg. F
Examples

Diesel Fuel

Oils
NOTES  
DOT Class 3
Solid: Flammable (Solids that burn easily and are hard to extinguish)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Readily Combustible Materials
  • Metal Pellets
  • Self-Reactive Materials
  • Wetted Class/Explosives
In plain English: Solids that burn easily and are hard to extinguish.
DOT Definition Burn Rate > 2.2 mm/sec
Examples

Carbon, matches
NOTES "Strike Anywhere" matches are forbidden on airplanes.
DOT Class 4.1
In plain English: Finely divided metals that burn easily in air.
DOT Definition Metal shavings or pellets which can be ignited and react over a sample in less than 10 minutes.
Examples

Magnesium, Aluminum
NOTES POWDERED metals are categorized as "Dangerous When Wet", DOT class 4.3
DOT Class 4.1
In plain English: Solids that get very hot or explode easily.
DOT Definition

Capable of strong exothermic reaction at transportation temperatures, and undergoes various types of reactions (From rapid detonation through "gets warm").

Heat of Decomposition > 300 J/g

Self-accelerating decomposition temperature is < 167 deg. F.
Examples

AZO/DIAZO compounds, Lithium Azide, 4-nitrosophenol
NOTES  
DOT Class 4.1
In plain English: Material that can detonate if not kept wet.
DOT Definition Specifically Listed
Examples

Picric acid
NOTES  
DOT Class 4.1

 

Solid: Spontaneously Combustible

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Pyrophoric
  • Self Heating in Air
In plain English: Materials that spontaneously ignite when exposed to air.
DOT Definition Self ignition in air in < 5 minutes
Examples

Organometallic Compounds

Zirconium Powder

Alkyl Hydrides
NOTES  
DOT Class 4.2
In plain English: Materials that get hot when exposed to air and can ignite.
DOT Definition Ignites within 24 hours without a heat source
Examples

Activated Carbon

Celluloid Scrap
NOTES  
DOT Class 4.2
Solid: Dangerous When Wet (Materials that become very dangerous when they get wet)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition Emits flammable gasses when wetted > 1 liter/kg/hr.
Examples

Sodium, silanes
NOTES  
DOT Class 4.3
Liquid or Solid: Oxidizer (Material that makes other things burn easily)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Liquid or Solid
  • Solid: Burn Rate
  • Liquid OR Solid Burn Rate
DOT Definition "Which can enhance combustion"
Examples

Hydrogen Peroxide
NOTES  
DOT Class 5.1
DOT Definition Burn rate equals the rate of ammonium persulfate.
Examples

Ammonium persulfate, Potassium Permanganate
NOTES  
DOT Class 5.1
DOT Definition Burn rate equals the rate of Potassium Bromate
Examples

Potassium Bromate, Ammonium Perchlorate
NOTES  
DOT Class 5.1
Liquid or Solid: Organic Peroxide (Very reactive materials that must be kept cold or they can explode)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

DOT Definition Ability to detonate, deflagrate or explode if not kept cold
Examples

Benzyl peroxide, Peracetic Acid
NOTES  
DOT Class 5.2
Liquid or Solid:Poison (Toxic)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Oral LD50, Liquids
  • Oral LD50, Solids
  • Dermal
  • Inhalation LC50, Dusts and Mists
In plain English: Material that can kill you or make you very sick if swallowed.
DOT Definition < 500 mg/kg
Examples

Cyanides
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.1
In plain English: Material that can kill you or make you very sick if swallowed.
DOT Definition < 200 mg/kg
Examples

Arsenic and Compounds
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.1
In plain English: Material that can kill you or make you very sick if it gets on your skin.
DOT Definition < 10,000 mg/kg
Examples

Aniline
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.1
In plain English: Material that can kill you or make you very sick if you inhale it.
DOT Definition < 10 mg/L
Examples

Methyl Isocyanate
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.1
Liquid or Solid: Infectious Materials

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Infectious to humans or animals
  • Biological Substance, Category B
In plain English: Material that can cause an infection to humans or animals.
DOT Definition Known or suspected to contain a pathogen
Examples

Viruses, Bacteria
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.2
In plain English: Material that is not infectious, but is biological in origin.
DOT Definition Used in prevention, diagnosis or treatment
Examples

Blood, vaccine, anti-toxin
NOTES  
DOT Class 6.2
Liquid or Solid: Corrosive

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Skin
  • Steel/Metal
In plain English: Material that burns your skin.
DOT Definition Causes visible destruction or irreversible alteration in human skin on contact site. Visible skin necrosis in < 4 hours
Examples

All Acids and Bases
NOTES  
DOT Class 8
In plain English: Material that eats up metal.
DOT Definition

Has a severe corrosion rate on steel or metal.

Steel/aluminum corrosion rate > 0.25 inches/year at 131 deg. F
Examples

Amines
NOTES  
DOT Class 8
Gas, Liquid or Solid (Other Materials That Present a Transportation Hazard, but Not Included in Above Categories)

Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.

If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.

  • Noxious or Anesthetic Materials
  • Specifically Listed
  • Genetically Modified Organisms
  • Magnetized
  • Environmentally Hazardous Substances
In plain English: Material that are very smelly or numbing.
DOT Definition Noxious or Anesthetic Materials
Examples

Dilute Formaldehyde Solutions (non-flammable)
NOTES If shipped by air, the Proper Shipping Name is “Aviation Regulated Liquid"
DOT Class 9
In plain English: Items listed by DOT in the table.
DOT Definition Items listed by DOT in Table 172.101
Examples

Dry Ice, PCBs, Plastic Moulding Compounds, Zinc, Hydrosulfite, Asbestos, Engines, Polymer Beads (evolving vapors)
NOTES  
DOT Class 9
In plain English: Organisms that have been genetically altered and which can do harm.
DOT Definition Genetically modified organisms (GMO) or microorganisms (GMMO) are organisms that have been genetically altered through genetic engineering in a way that does not occur naturally. GMOs and GMMOs that are not infectious but that can alter animals, plants or microorganisms in a way that is not normally the result of natural reproduction are considered a miscellaneous hazard. Note: if the GMO/GMMO is infectious, it must be shipped under Category 6.2.
Examples

E. coli with a plasmid inserted, transformed tissue culture cells

NOTES  
DOT Class 9
In plain English: Items with enough magnetism to stick to or attract steel
DOT Definition Has a magnetic field strength at any point 7 feet (2.1m) from the surface exceeding 0.002 gauss.
Examples

Large permanent magnet

NOTES If you have several small magnets in one box, this may be regulated.
DOT Class 9
In plain English: Liquids or solids that are known pollutants or contain pollutants.
DOT Definition Liquid or solid substances that will pollute the aquatic environment.
Examples

Soluble Copper salts
NOTES Consider whether it could harm fish.
DOT Class 9