Placards and Labels Guide

Use this reference guide to decode four kinds of placards and labels that are commonly used to mark hazardous materials containers or vehicles.

Topic Example Description
DOT Placards A sample DOT placard for gasoline. Placards that must be displayed on vehicles and freight containers transporting hazardous materials in amounts of 1,001 pounds or more, and on vehicles transporting any amount of explosives (divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3), poison gases, poisonous liquids that pose an inhalationA route of chemical exposure in which a toxic material is brought into the bloodstream as particles or volatile compounds breathed into the lungs and nasal passages. hazard, water-reactiveCan react vigorously when mixed with water or steam or when spilled into water; the reaction may generate hazardous gas or overpressurize a container. substances, and certain radioactiveSpontaneously and continuously emitting ions or ionizing radiation. Radioactivity isn't a chemical property, but an additional hazard apart from other properties of a material. materials. Also displayed on cargo tanks. See also Hazard Classes.
GHS Pictograms A sample GHS hazard label pictogram. The United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHSThe Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS) is a set of guidelines developed by the United Nations. The GHS is designed to provide a common international system for communicating hazards associated with chemicals. The GHS is not a law itself, but instead is a set of suggestions to provide a common framework that countries may use to develop their own laws.) recommendations are being adopted (or partially adopted) by many countries. The GHS includes recommendations for pictograms for hazard labels and transport. Note that this guide provides summary information on the recommendations themselves, and it does not cover the specific details for how those recommendations are being implemented in the United States or other countries.
Intermodal Panel A sample intermodal panel placard for gasoline. Intermodal tanks and containers may be placarded with an orange panel that contains an international hazard identification code in the top section and the chemical's UN/NA numberUnited Nations-North American number. (Also UN number or DOT number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards. The four-digit number is often preceded by UN (such as UN1219). in the bottom section.
NFPA Diamond The NFPA diamond for gasoline. Placards used to identify the level of chemical hazard at fixed locations (such as production facilities and storage tanks) and on some transported containers. It's sometimes called the "fire diamond."