Dangerous goods warning signs: What do the numbers on the orange signs mean?
Created: 09/27/2022, 09:30 am
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
Dangerous goods transporters are marked with orange warning signs - these are extremely important for rescue workers.
But what do the numbers mean?
There are jobs where you have a lot of responsibility - not only for yourself, but also for others.
The drivers of dangerous goods transporters can certainly also be included in this category.
If the driver makes a mistake here, the consequences can be dramatic: human lives are at risk, but serious environmental damage can also result.
That's why the drivers have to get a special driver's license - and to do so, they have to take a so-called ADR test.
The vehicles are marked accordingly so that other road users know that dangerous goods are being transported.
Above all, however, a so-called dangerous goods warning sign is appropriate for rescue workers - the numbers reveal which substances are loaded.
Dangerous goods warning signs: What do the numbers on the orange signs mean?
The orange dangerous goods warning sign is divided into an upper and a lower half.
The number above is the so-called hazard number (also known as the Kemler number) - it consists of two to three digits.
The first digit indicates some type of basic hazard posed by the cargo.
For example, a 3 indicates a flammable liquid, a 4 indicates a flammable solid, or a 7 indicates a radioactive hazard.
If the substance does not pose any further danger, the second digit is a zero, which only serves as a placeholder.
If the same number appears twice in a row - this means an increase in the corresponding danger.
Just recently, the police stopped a dangerous goods truck with unsecured explosives.
The warning signs on dangerous goods transporters are extremely important for rescuers: 1203, for example, stands for petrol or petrol.
(Iconic image) © UJ Alexander/Imago
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Dangerous goods warning signs: diesel fuel is marked with 30, petrol with 33
For example, diesel fuel is marked with 30, petrol with 33 - the latter means it is a highly flammable liquid substance.
The number 333 would indicate a self-igniting liquid substance.
Of course, the numbers can also differ: 236, for example, would be a gas (2), which is combustible (3) and also toxic (6).
Dangerous goods transporters are not allowed to drive on certain routes - a prohibition sign with an orange truck indicates this.
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Dangerous goods warning signs: The lower sequence of digits is the UN number
The lower sequence of digits on the dangerous goods warning board is the so-called UN number - the four-digit number reveals which substance is specifically loaded on the transporter.
As a rule, each of these UN numbers has exactly one hazard number.
Here are a few examples that are relatively common:
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1202: diesel fuel or heating oil
1203: Gasoline or petrol
1965: LPG
An overview of the UN numbers, which was determined by an expert committee of the United Nations, can be found here.
The danger warning signs are so important for rescuers because they have to adjust their measures after an accident according to the content.
On the one hand, of course, they have to protect themselves, on the other hand, the wrong approach could make the situation much worse - for example, there are substances that react with water and form flammable gases.
