IATA DGR (Air) key terms

Articles or substances that are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment and that are shown in the list of dangerous goods or classified according to the Regulations.

A transport document completed and signed by the shipper that certifies the consignment has been prepared in accordance with the applicable regulations and identifies the goods, quantities, and packing.

A four-digit identification number assigned by the United Nations to a specific dangerous good or group of goods, used to link the entry in the dangerous goods list to its requirements.

The name shown in the dangerous goods list that must be used to describe a consignment in documentation and marking, chosen from the listed entries for the substance or article.

One of the numbered categories into which dangerous goods are grouped according to the type of danger they present, such as flammable liquid, toxic substance, or radioactive material.

A subdivision of a hazard class that separates goods within the same class according to differences in the degree or nature of the hazard they present.

A grouping applied to certain dangerous goods to indicate the degree of danger they present, ranging from high danger through medium to low danger, and used to select packing performance levels.

A numbered set of requirements in the Regulations specifying the packaging and quantity limits permitted for a particular dangerous good, with different instructions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

Packaging that has been tested and marked to demonstrate it meets the performance standards required for the dangerous goods it will contain, identified by a UN packaging mark.

A provision allowing small inner quantities of certain dangerous goods to be carried under relaxed packing, marking, and documentation requirements, subject to specified limits per package.

A provision permitting very small quantities of certain dangerous goods to be carried with minimal requirements, identified by a specific code shown in the dangerous goods list.

The central table in the Regulations that lists dangerous goods by proper shipping name and UN number and shows the requirements applicable to each entry, including class, packing group, and packing instructions.

A numbered requirement or relief shown against a dangerous goods list entry that modifies or supplements the standard requirements for that particular substance or article.

Differences published by individual countries that modify the Regulations for operations within or over their territory, which operators must apply when relevant to a flight.

Additional or more restrictive requirements published by an individual airline that apply to consignments carried on its services and that shippers and handlers must observe.

Dangerous goods contained in items that are not obviously hazardous, such as equipment, vehicles, or household goods, which must be identified and declared by the shipper.

The process by which an operator verifies that a dangerous goods consignment and its documents comply with the Regulations before the shipment is accepted for carriage.

The contract of carriage for an air consignment, which must indicate that dangerous goods are included and cross-refer to the associated shipper's declaration.

The document, commonly the shipper's declaration, that accompanies a dangerous goods consignment and provides the information needed by carriers and authorities to handle it safely.

A diamond-shaped label applied to a package that communicates the hazard class or division of the contents through its symbol, colour, and text.

A label with a rectangular shape that conveys handling requirements rather than hazard class, such as cargo aircraft only or magnetized material.

A restriction meaning the consignment may be carried only on aircraft used solely for cargo, because the quantity or nature of the goods is too dangerous for passenger aircraft.

An aircraft that carries passengers, for which the Regulations set more restrictive quantity limits for dangerous goods than for aircraft used solely for cargo.

A letter assigned to explosives within a division to identify which items may be stowed or packed together safely without creating an additional hazard.

The requirement to keep certain dangerous goods apart from other goods, or from each other, during packing, loading, or storage to prevent dangerous interaction.

The process of placing dangerous goods aboard an aircraft in accordance with requirements on position, accessibility, restraint, and separation from other cargo.

The planned location and arrangement of dangerous goods within an aircraft or storage area, chosen to satisfy accessibility, segregation, and safety requirements.

Instructions provided with a dangerous goods consignment that describe the actions to take in the event of a spill, fire, or other incident involving the goods.

A practice exercise in which personnel rehearse the actions required when a dangerous goods incident occurs, including notification, containment, and use of protective equipment.

An event involving dangerous goods that causes or could cause injury, property damage, or environmental harm, including spills, leaks, fires, and undeclared shipments.

The formal report that an operator must submit to the appropriate authority after a dangerous goods incident or undeclared shipment is discovered, within the required time.

Mandatory instruction that personnel involved in preparing, accepting, handling, or loading dangerous goods must complete and recurrently refresh to remain competent.

A substance known or reasonably expected to contain pathogens that can cause disease in humans or animals, assigned to a specific hazard class and division.

Material containing radionuclides whose activity and surface dose rates exceed defined limits, carried under a dedicated hazard class with specific packaging and labelling rules.

An item whose magnetic field strength at a specified distance exceeds the defined threshold, requiring it to be declared and labelled because it may affect aircraft instruments.

Solid carbon dioxide carried as a refrigerant or as a declared dangerous good, subject to quantity limits, venting requirements, and specific marking on the package.