Class 8 — corrosive substances
Substances that, by chemical action, cause severe damage to living tissue, or that materially damage other goods or the means of transport on contact.
- Packing groups
- I–III
- UN entries
- 368
What belongs in this class?
Class 8 covers corrosive substances — those that, by chemical action, cause irreversible damage to the skin, or that in the event of leakage will materially damage or destroy other goods or the means of transport. (ADR 2.2.8.1.1)
The class also reaches substances that only become corrosive in the presence of water, or that produce corrosive vapour or mist in the natural moisture of the air. Skin corrosion here means visible necrosis through the epidermis and into the dermis after exposure. (ADR 2.2.8.1.1) (ADR 2.2.8.1.2)
Classification rules
- ADR 2.2.8.1.4.1
The classification code is built on the letter C — C1–C11 for corrosives without a subsidiary hazard (acids C1–C4, bases C5–C8 and others C9–C11), plus CF flammable, CS self-heating, CW water-reactive, CO oxidizing, CT toxic, and the CFT and COT combinations.
- ADR 2.2.8.1.5.2
Where a test shows a substance is corrosive but cannot separate packing groups II and III, it is treated as packing group II. Where it cannot discriminate between groups at all, it is assigned to packing group I unless other results indicate otherwise.
- ADR 2.2.8.1.3
A liquid (or a solid that may liquefy in carriage) judged not to be skin-corrosive must still be assessed for its potential to corrode metal surfaces.
- ADR 2.2.8.2.1
Chemically unstable Class 8 substances are not accepted for carriage unless the necessary precautions have been taken to prevent dangerous decomposition or polymerization under normal conditions of carriage.
Packing groups in this class
How many UN numbers in this class fall under each packing group.
Corrosive substances are assigned to three packing groups by how quickly they cause irreversible skin damage — the shorter the exposure needed, the higher the danger. (ADR 2.2.8.1.5.3)
- PG I — irreversible skin damage after an exposure time of three minutes or less (observed up to 60 minutes). (ADR 2.2.8.1.5.3)
- PG II — irreversible skin damage after an exposure of more than three minutes but not more than 60 minutes (observed up to 14 days). (ADR 2.2.8.1.5.3)
- PG III — irreversible skin damage after an exposure of more than one hour but not more than four hours, or a substance that does not damage skin but corrodes steel or aluminium at a rate exceeding 6.25 mm per year at 55 °C. (ADR 2.2.8.1.5.3)
Class 8 in Table A
Transport categories, tunnel codes and quantity reliefs across the 368 Table A entries of this class.
Transport categories
The category feeds the 1.1.3.6 calculation — the lower the number, the stricter the limit.
Tunnel codes
The column 15 code decides which tunnel categories the load may pass.
Limited quantities (LQ)
entries allow LQ
of 368 in the class
For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.
Excepted quantities (EQ)
entries allow EQ
of 368 in the class
For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.
Marking and signs for Class 8
What must be on every package — and what the transport unit carries on the road.
On the package
Every package carries the danger label of its Table A entry and the UN number with the letters "UN" (ADR 5.2.1, 5.2.2).
On the transport unit
Orange plates at the front and rear — and for tanks and bulk also enlarged placards 250 × 250 mm on the sides and rear (ADR 5.3.1, 5.3.2).
Limited quantities
Goods packed under Chapter 3.4 carry the LQ mark instead of the danger label and UN number (ADR 3.4.1, 3.4.7).
Class 8 specifics
- ADR 5.2.1.10.1
Combination packagings having inner packagings containing liquids must be legibly marked with package orientation arrows on two opposite vertical sides.
Transport document
What must be written in the transport document when you ship Class 8 goods.
- ADR 5.4.1.1.1
The transport document entry shows the packing group, which may be preceded by the letters PG — for example, UN 1830, SULPHURIC ACID, 8, PG II, (E).
- ADR 5.4.1.1.6.2.1
For empty packagings, uncleaned, the information of the goods last loaded may be replaced by "WITH RESIDUES OF " — for example, "EMPTY PACKAGINGS, WITH RESIDUES OF 3, 6.1, 8".
- ADR 5.4.1.1.3.1
For wastes classified under 2.1.3.5.5, the words "WASTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2.1.3.5.5" are added to the description — for example, "UN 3264, CORROSIVE LIQUID, ACIDIC, INORGANIC, N.O.S., 8, PG II, (E), WASTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2.1.3.5.5".
Reliefs and restrictions
How much may travel under lighter regimes — and where tunnels restrict the route — is set per UN entry in Table A.
Limited quantities (LQ)
Column 7a caps each inner packaging. Within Chapter 3.4 most ADR requirements fall away, including the driver certificate.
ReadExcepted quantities (EQ)
E codes in column 7b let very small inner receptacles travel with almost no ADR overhead (Chapter 3.5).
ReadTunnel restrictions
Column 15 assigns the tunnel restriction code — it decides which tunnel categories the load may pass.
ReadLook up a Class 8 UN number
Get the full ADR profile for any UN number in this class.
Typical UN numbers
All 368 entries
Help with Class 8 shipments
Not sure this class applies to you?
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