Class 1. Explosives and ammunition, explained.
Ammunition is Class 1 dangerous goods: explosives. Division and compatibility group decide how it is packed, how it travels and on which vehicles.
The six divisions.
Every Class 1 article or substance has a division, from 1.1 to 1.6, and a compatibility letter, from A to S. 1.4S is the most common for sporting and hunting ammunition: for example UN 0012, cartridges for weapons with inert projectile.
Division 1.1
Substances and articles with a mass explosion hazard, affecting almost the entire load instantaneously.
Division 1.2
Projection hazard, without a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.3
Fire hazard with minor blast or projection effects, without a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.4
Minor hazard: effects are largely confined to the package. With the letter S they stay inside the packaging: this is the case of 1.4S ammunition.
Division 1.5
Very insensitive substances that still have a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.6
Extremely insensitive articles with no mass explosion hazard.
See also: Firearms · Dangerous goods · ADR by road · IATA DGR by air · Charter flights · 1.4S in the glossary
Shipping 1.4S ammunition.
The same four steps by road, sea and air.
Classification
UN number, division and compatibility group from the manufacturer's documentation.
Packaging
Approved packaging, Class 1 marks and labels compliant with the mode.
Documents
Transport document or dangerous goods declaration, plus the industry licences.
Transport
ADR by road, IMDG Code by sea, IATA DGR by air, with trained staff.
Questions about Class 1.
What does 1.4S mean?
It is division 1.4 with compatibility group S: the effects of any incident are confined within the packaging. It is the typical classification of cartridges for sporting and hunting weapons, which therefore have less restrictive transport rules than the other divisions.
Can 1.4S ammunition travel by air?
Yes, it is the only part of Class 1 generally accepted on passenger aircraft too, with packaging, labels and declaration compliant with the IATA DGR. The other divisions require cargo aircraft, exemptions or a charter flight.
Are dangerous goods rules enough to ship ammunition?
No. Besides the transport rules (ADR, IMDG, IATA DGR) you need public security licences and authorisations or, for military materials, UAMA authorisations. We check them before departure.
Does Dalè have a warehouse for ammunition?
Yes. At our Brescia hub we have licensed storage for firearms and dedicated areas for dangerous goods, with trained staff to prepare them for shipment.
