This tool will help you determine if a material is designated by the DOT as a hazardous material for shipping.
Click any labels below that may describe your material.
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Boiling Point < 68 degrees F. AND Ignitability Limit < 13% in Air. Flammable Range (LFL-UFL) < 12% difference |
| Examples | Oxygen, Hydrogen, Most Aerosol Cans |
| Notes | Oxygen is specifically defined as a Flammable Gas |
| DOT Class | 2.1 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Pressure @ 68 degrees F. > 41 PSIA |
| Examples | Carbon Dioxide (Gas), Freon |
| Notes | Oxygen is specifically defined as a Flammable Gas |
| DOT Class | 2.2 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | LC50 (rat-inhal) < 5000 ppm |
| Examples | Hydrogen Sulfide, Insecticides, Chlorine |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 2.3 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Flash Point < 141 deg. F |
| Examples | Acetone (nail polish remover) Alcohols, Hexane Many other solvents |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 3 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Flash Point 141 - 200 deg. F |
| Examples | Diesel Fuel Oils |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 3 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Solids that burn easily and are hard to extinguish. |
| DOT Definition | Burn Rate > 2.2 mm/sec |
| Examples | Carbon, matches |
| Notes | "Strike Anywhere" matches are forbidden on airplanes. |
| DOT Class | 4.1 |
| In Plain English | Finely divided metals that burn easily in air |
| DOT Definition | Metal shavings or pellets which can be ignited and react over a sample in less than 10 minutes |
| Examples | Magnesium, Aluminum |
| Notes | POWDERED metals are categorized as "Dangerous When Wet", DOT class 4.3 |
| DOT Class | 4.1 |
| In Plain English | Solids that get very hot or explode easily. |
| DOT Definition | Capable of strong exothermic reaction at transportation temperatures, and undergoes various types of reactions (From rapid detonation through "gets warm"). Heat of Decomposition > 300 J/g Self-accelerating decomposition temperature is < 167 deg. F. |
| Examples | AZO/DIAZO compounds, Lithium Azide, 4-nitrosophenol |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 4.1 |
| In Plain English | Material that can detonate if not kept wet. |
| DOT Definition | Specifically Listed |
| Examples | Picric acid |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 4.1 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Materials that spontaneously ignite when exposed to air. |
| DOT Definition | Self-ignition in air in < 5 minutes |
| Examples | Organometallic Compounds Zirconium Powder Alkyl Hydrides |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 4.2 |
| In Plain English | Materials that get hot when exposed to air and can ignite. |
| DOT Definition | Ignites within 24 hours without a heat source |
| Examples | Activated Carbon Celluloid Scrap |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 4.2 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Emits flammable gasses when wetted > 1 liter/kg/hr. |
| Examples | Sodium, silanes |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 4.3 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Materials that can enhance combustion |
| Examples | Hydrogen Peroxide |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 5.1 |
| DOT Definition | Burn rate equals the rate of ammonium persulfate. |
| Examples | Ammonium persulfate, Potassium Permanganate |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 5.1 |
| DOT Definition | Burn rate equals the rate of Potassium Bromate |
| Examples | Potassium Bromate, Ammonium Perchlorate |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 5.1 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| DOT Definition | Ability to detonate, deflagrate or explode if not kept cold |
| Examples | Benzyl peroxide, Peracetic Acid |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 5.2 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Material that can kill you or make you very sick if swallowed |
| DOT Definition | < 500 mg/kg |
| Examples | Cyanides |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.1 |
| In Plain English | Material that can kill you or make you very sick if swallowed. |
| DOT Definition | < 200 mg/kg |
| Examples | Arsenic and Compounds |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.1 |
| In Plain English | Material that can kill you or make you very sick if it gets on your skin. |
| DOT Definition | < 10,000 mg/kg |
| Examples | Aniline |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.1 |
| In Plain English | Material that can kill you or make you very sick if it gets on your skin. |
| DOT Definition | < 10 mg/L |
| Examples | Methyl Isocyanate |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.1 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Material that can cause an infection to humans or animals. |
| DOT Definition | Known or suspected to contain a pathogen |
| Examples | Viruses, Bacteria |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.2 |
| In Plain English | Material that is not infectious, but is biological in origin. |
| DOT Definition | Used in prevention, diagnosis or treatment |
| Examples | Blood, vaccine, anti-toxin |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 6.2 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Material that burns your skin. |
| DOT Definition | Causes visible destruction or irreversible alteration in human skin on contact site. Visible skin necrosis in < 4 hours |
| Examples | All Acids and Bases |
| Notes | |
| DOT Classes | 8 |
| In Plain English | Material that eats up metal. |
| DOT Definition | Has a severe corrosion rate on steel or metal. Steel/aluminum corrosion rate > 0.25 inches/year at 131 deg. F |
| Examples | Amines |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 8 |
Compare your material with the DOT Definition and examples, and read any notes.
If your material matches these criteria, it is catagorized by DOT as a hazardous material.
| In Plain English | Material that are very smelly or numbing. |
| DOT Definition | Noxious or Anesthetic Materials |
| Examples | Dilute Formaldehyde Solutions (non-flammable) |
| Notes | If shipped by air, the Proper Shipping Name is “Aviation Regulated Liquid" |
| DOT Class | 9 |
| In Plain English | Items listed by DOT in the table. |
| DOT Definition | Items listed by DOT in Table 172.101 |
| Examples | Dry Ice, PCBs, Plastic Moulding Compounds, Zinc, Hydrosulfite, Asbestos, Engines, Polymer Beads (evolving vapors) |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 9 |
| In Plain English | Organisms that have been genetically altered and which can do harm. |
| DOT Definition | Genetically modified organisms (GMO) or microorganisms (GMMO) are organisms that have been genetically altered through genetic engineering in a way that does not occur naturally. GMOs and GMMOs that are not infectious but that can alter animals, plants or microorganisms in a way that is not normally the result of natural reproduction are considered a miscellaneous hazard. Note: if the GMO/GMMO is infectious, it must be shipped under Category 6.2. |
| Examples | E. coli with a plasmid inserted, transformed tissue culture cells |
| Notes | |
| DOT Class | 9 |
| In Plain English | Items with enough magnetism to stick to or attract steel |
| DOT Definition | Has a magnetic field strength at any point 7 feet (2.1m) from the surface exceeding 0.002 gauss. |
| Examples | Large permanent magnet |
| Notes | If you have several small magnets in one box, this may be regulated. |
| DOT Class | 9 |
| In Plain English | Liquids or solids that are known pollutants or contain pollutants. |
| DOT Definition | Liquid or solid substances that will pollute the aquatic environment. |
| Examples | Soluble Copper salts |
| Notes | Consider whether it could harm fish. |
| DOT Class | 9 |