When someone says UN number, what are they referring to?
The United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods creates UN IDs.
In a global society, the uniformity of these markings enables a clear and concise way to understand the risks associated with the materials enclosed and transported. One standard applies to all, whether down the street or around the globe.
UN numbers help identify cargo as hazardous materials, dangerous/toxic goods, explosives, or flammable liquids.
Viewers learn more as a Greif expert breaks down the different components of UN Markings. These UN markings are applicable throughout the industrial packaging industry for the transport of dangerous goods, so they serve as an important focal point in the development of products for transportation.
More about UN numbers and markings
UN numbers are four-digit numbers assigned by the United Nations (UN) to identify hazardous materials that are being shipped, stored, or handled. The UN numbers are used to help make sure that hazardous materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked, and labeled, and that they are handled correctly. The numbers also help emergency responders identify what substances they are dealing with in the event of an accident or spill.
To make sense of UN numbers, it is important to understand what the first two digits represent. The first digit indicates the class of the hazardous material, and the second digit indicates the division within the class. For example, UN 1203 is an explosive material, and UN 1993 is a flammable liquid. Knowing the class and division of the material can help you to understand the potential risks associated with the substance.
It is also important to note that the last two digits of the UN number are assigned sequentially and can be used to identify different versions of the same hazardous material.
