You are here: Home > Hazardous materials > Dangerous goods > Placard loads

Placard loads

The term placard load is used in dangerous goods transport legislation and the ADG Code. It indicates a quantity of dangerous goods being transported that requires placards to be displayed on the transport unit (a transport unit may be a portable tank, a bulk container, a freight container or a vehicle).

A placard load quantity is the trigger for other dangerous goods controls such as placarding, safety equipment, stowage and segregation requirements (see Summary of controls).

Placard load amounts

A placard load of dangerous goods is when any of the following apply.

1. In the case of smaller receptacles (receptacles up to 500 L capacity and containing up to 500 kg of dangerous goods):
• if there are any category A, division 6.2 dangerous goods (infectious substances) in a load
• if there are 10 L/kg or more of category B, division 6.2 dangerous goods (infectious substances) in a load
• if there are any division 2.1 (flammable gases except aerosols), division 2.3 (toxic gases) or packing group I substances in a load and the total quantity of all dangerous goods is 250 L/kg or more
• if none of the above apply, if there are more than 1,000 L/kg of dangerous goods in a load.

This replaces the previous 'packaged' dangerous goods transport provisions.

 

2. In the case of larger receptacles (any receptacle > 500 L capacity or containing > 500 kg of dangerous goods):
   • when one or more are transported.

   This replaces the previous 'bulk' dangerous goods transport provisions.

Exceptions

The above does not apply to:

• retail distribution loads complying with the ADG Code 7. 3
• fumigated units that do not contain other dangerous goods.

Return to summary of controls.