Trade and customs
UN number
Definition
A four digit number assigned by the UN to identify a dangerous substance or article in transport, for example UN1090 for acetone.
UN numbers come from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Each number has a proper shipping name, class and, for most substances, a packing group. Examples are UN1090 acetone, UN1230 methanol, UN1170 ethanol, UN1789 hydrochloric acid and UN1824 sodium hydroxide solution.
Generic entries such as UN1993 flammable liquid, n.o.s. or UN3082 environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. cover products without a specific entry. The UN number appears in section 14 of the SDS and on packages and transport documents.
Related terms
- Dangerous goods classOne of nine UN transport hazard classes, from class 1 explosives to class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods.
- Packing groupThe degree of danger of a dangerous good in transport: I high, II medium, III low.
- IMDG CodeThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the mandatory rules for carrying dangerous goods by sea.
- IATA DGRThe IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations airlines follow for carrying dangerous goods by air, based on the ICAO Technical Instructions.