HazMat Placards: Frequently Asked Questions

NFPA placard system uses a color-coded diamond with four quadrants:

Blue indicating Health Hazard

Red indicating Flammability Hazard

Yellow indicating Reactivity Hazard

White section is used to display other special hazards

Numbers are displayed in the upper three quadrants to signal the degree of the hazard.

No, placarding is not necessary for the following situations:

• Small quantities of certain hazard classes packaged in accordance with the small, excepted, or de minimis exceptions found at, respectively, 49 CFR 173.4, 49 CFR 173.4a, and 49 CFR 173.49
• Limited quantities (in combination packagings of 66 pounds (lb) or less that display the limited quantity mark)
• Materials of trade exception at 49 CFR 173.6
• Infectious substances
• Other regulated material (ORM-Ds)
• Combustible liquids in non-bulk packagings
• Hazardous materials hermetically sealed in packaging prepared in accordance with 49 CFR 173.13

Hazardous material placards warn firefighters who might have to handle or approach the cargo if there is an accident like a spill or a leak. Having your vehicle properly placarded ensures that first responders and emergency personnel can identify the hazardous materials and know exactly what they are dealing with. Placards are designed to provide information at a glance in time-restricted situations and help firefighters create the necessary action plan to control the damage.

Using a “Dangerous” placard is an option, not a requirement. 49 CFR section 172.504(b) permits a transport vehicle hauling non-bulk packages in two or more classes listed in Table 2 to be placarded with DANGEROUS placards. However, this is an option and may be used instead of separate placards for each of the materials in Table 2.

While using the Dangerous placard, it should be noted that:

1. The material must be NON-BULK. 
2. The aggregate gross weight of one hazard class onboard loaded at one facility can’t be more than 2,205 pounds. 

Remember to always consider basic placarding first and then figure out whether or not you want to use a Dangerous placard. This is because there is a loss of clarity about the hazards in the vehicle.

The requires displaying placards on each side and end of the freight container, unit load device, transport vehicle, or rail car carrying hazardous materials. Placards must be displayed on all 4 sides of a transport vehicle. Some carriers also place two extra signs on either side of the truck cab for additional visibility. 

Each placard on a motor vehicle and rail car must be clearly visible from the direction it faces, except the direction of another transport vehicle or rail car to which it is coupled. Placards must be located clear of appurtenances and devices such as ladders, pipes, doors, and tarpaulins and away from any marking (such as advertising) that could substantially reduce its effectiveness, and in any case, at least 3 inches (76.0 mm.) away from such marking. DOT placards must be located where dirt or water from the wheels is not directed.

Any lettering or numbers on the placard (when required) must read horizontally, left to right. DOT placards have to be on the background to contrast the color or must have a dotted line or solid line border. 

Proper classification may be obtained through a variety of sources. These include, but are not limited to, the manufacturer of the material, laboratory testing, and Safety Data Sheets. SDS of products includes a transportation hazard classification for the product. This classification provides a four-digit ID number, a proper shipping name, the hazard class, and the packing group for the product. Use this information to identify the correct entry on the Hazardous Materials Table.

The Hazardous Materials Table contains label codes and basic descriptions for the hazmat, references to the appropriate packaging sections, certain quantity limitations, and any special provisions or exceptions.

For inhalation hazard load, a Class 6 placard (Division 6.1) must be used. 

Material can either be poisonous by inhalation or toxic by inhalation. Such materials can be:

(1) A gas meeting the defining criteria in § 173.115(c) 

(2) A liquid (other than as a mist) meeting the defining criteria in § 173.132(a)(1)(iii)

(3) Any material identified as an inhalation hazard by a special provision in column 7 of the § 172.101 table.