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Dangerous Goods Classes & Segregation Levels Guide

Learn the 9 dangerous goods classes with their divisions, labels and UN number examples, then understand the four segregation levels and how planners apply them.

The 9 dangerous goods classes

Class 3 · Flammable liquids

Main hazard: Liquids with a flash point up to 60 °C; packing group I–III by flash and boiling point.

  • 3

    3 · Flammable liquid

    UN number examples

    • UN1203Gasoline / motor spirit
    • UN1263Paint
    • UN1170Ethanol

Class 3

Flammable liquids

Liquids with a flash point up to 60 °C; packing group I–III by flash and boiling point.

1 divisions3
UN number examplesUN1203, UN1263, UN1170

The four segregation levels

From lightest to strictest

Level 1 of 4

“Away from”

What it means

The lightest level. Both goods may sit in the same cargo space, as long as there is enough distance that a leak or fire in one does not immediately reach the other.

How a planner applies it

The planner looks for slots that are not next to each other and checks the minimum distance that applies; on a container ship this often means simply not stowing them side by side.

1

Schematic of level 1: the higher the level, the greater the separation between two goods. Not to scale and not an official distance.

  1. Level 1 of 4

    Away from

    Kept apart

  2. Level 2 of 4

    Separated from

    Separated

  3. Level 3 of 4

    Separated by a complete compartment or hold from

    A whole compartment between

  4. Level 4 of 4

    Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from

    A whole compartment between, fore-and-aft

The planner's workflow

  1. Collect the data for each dangerous good: UN number, class, subsidiary risk, packing group, quantity and packaging from the dangerous goods declaration.

  2. Look up the requirement for every pair in the current edition of the IMDG Code, including the special provisions for that UN number, not only its class.

  3. Apply the strictest level when a good has a subsidiary risk or when several rules apply at once.

  4. Translate the level into real positions on the ship: closed or open containers, on or under deck, and the distance between bays, rows and holds.

  5. Also check other stowage rules (away from living quarters, heat sources or foodstuffs) and the carrier and terminal rules.

  6. Get approval from a competent DG officer and the carrier before the plan is final.

This page deliberately has no segregation table or class-versus-class answers: IMDG Code text and tables are IMO copyright, and the requirement depends on the UN number, subsidiary risks and special provisions.
The actual requirement must be checked in the current IMDG Code or with a competent DG officer. The Stowage.id vessel planner reads licensed or customer-supplied rule sets for detailed segregation checks.

About this calculator

Dangerous goods (DG) are articles or substances that can harm people, ships or the environment in transport: from paint and perfume to lithium batteries and fertiliser. Every mode uses the same UN system of 9 classes, and each substance or article has a four-digit UN number. For sea transport the detailed rules are in the IMDG Code, mandatory under SOLAS; air transport follows the IATA DGR.

The first part of this guide summarises every class and division: explosives (1), gases (2), flammable liquids (3), flammable solids (4), oxidizers and organic peroxides (5), toxic and infectious substances (6), radioactive material (7), corrosives (8) and miscellaneous dangerous goods (9). Each division comes with a sketch of its diamond-shaped label in its typical colours and a few UN numbers exporters often meet.

The second part explains in plain words the four segregation levels used in shipping, from the lightest, "away from", up to longitudinal separation by a whole compartment, and how a planner turns them into real positions on board. This page deliberately does not contain a segregation table or class-versus-class answers: IMDG Code text and tables are IMO copyright, and the requirement that applies depends on the UN number, subsidiary risks and special provisions. The actual requirement must be checked in the current IMDG Code or with a competent DG officer; the Stowage.id vessel planner reads licensed or customer-supplied rule sets.

Worked example

An exporter of paint and batteries wants to understand the cargo before booking:

  • Paint (UN1263) is class 3, flammable liquid, with a red label.
  • Lithium ion batteries (UN3480) are class 9, miscellaneous dangerous goods.
  • The guide shows the four segregation levels in order: 1 away from, 2 separated from, 3 a whole compartment between, 4 a whole compartment between fore-and-aft.
  • The level that applies to this pair is not answered on this page: the exporter sends the DGD and SDS to the carrier, which checks the requirement in the current IMDG Code, and the planner turns it into container positions on board.

How to use it

  1. Pick a class

    Click one of the 9 classes to see its divisions, labels, main hazard and UN number examples.

  2. Understand the levels

    Read the four segregation levels from lightest to strictest and what each means for where cargo can sit on board.

  3. Follow the planner's workflow

    Use the planner's steps as a checklist, then confirm each pair's requirement in the current IMDG Code or with a DG officer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between "away from" and "separated from"?
They are different segregation levels. "Away from" is the lightest: the goods may share a cargo space as long as there is distance between them. "Separated from" requires real separation, usually different holds or compartments under deck, and a larger distance on deck.
Why is there no segregation table on this page?
IMDG Code text and tables are IMO copyright, and the right answer depends on the UN number, subsidiary risks and special provisions, not just the class. Detailed segregation checks are available in the Stowage.id vessel planner, which reads licensed or customer rule sets.
Are lithium batteries dangerous goods?
Yes. Lithium ion batteries (UN3480) and those packed with or contained in equipment (UN3481) are class 9 with a dedicated lithium battery label. Small quantities have exceptions, but packaging and document rules still apply.
What is a packing group?
The packing group shows the degree of danger: I high, II medium, III low. It sets the UN packaging standard required and the limited quantity thresholds.
Which documents are needed to ship dangerous goods?
At least a dangerous goods declaration (DGD), a safety data sheet (SDS), UN-certified packaging, labels and placards, and a container packing certificate for sea transport. The carrier must also approve the DG booking first.

Related tools

UN Number Lookup for Dangerous Goods (Name & Class)

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Dangerous Goods Classes & Segregation Explained (On Board)

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Indonesia Export-Import Document Checklist

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