Hazard Class 9 — Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised material and environmentally hazardous substances.
Overview
Class 9 is the 'catch-all' class for substances and articles that present a transport hazard but do not fit any other class. It is the most common class in modern air freight because it includes lithium batteries (UN3480 / UN3481 / UN3090 / UN3091), dry ice (UN1845), magnetised material (UN2807) and environmentally hazardous substances (UN3077 / UN3082).
Aviation context
Class 9 dominates aviation MRO shipping because virtually every modern avionics LRU, tool, ELT and emergency light contains a lithium cell. Each lithium UN entry has its own dedicated packing instruction with strict net-quantity and state-of-charge limits.
Dry ice (UN1845) is a frequent companion of cold-chain shipments — including some MRO biological reagents and certain pharmaceuticals carried as cabin cargo. Carriers require the net dry-ice quantity to be marked on the package and the airway bill.
Typical UN numbers in aviation MRO
| UN Number | Proper Shipping Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UN3480 | Lithium ion batteries (9) | Stand-alone — cargo aircraft only, restrictive PI |
| UN3481 | Lithium ion batteries packed with / contained in equipment (9) | Most avionics LRUs |
| UN3090 | Lithium metal batteries (9) | Stand-alone — cargo aircraft only |
| UN3091 | Lithium metal batteries packed with / contained in equipment (9) | ELTs, emergency lighting |
| UN1845 | Carbon dioxide, solid (Dry ice) (9) | Cold-chain shipments |
| UN2807 | Magnetised material (9) | Some sensors and instruments |
| UN3077 | Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (9) | Marine pollutants |
| UN3082 | Environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s. (9) | Marine pollutants |
Packaging and marking essentials
- Lithium battery PIs (PI965–PI970) are the most frequently revised section of IATA DGR — always verify the edition before shipping.
- Dry ice shipments require packaging that allows CO2 venting; sealed packagings can rupture as the dry ice sublimates.
- Magnetised material has a specific 0.418 A/m field-strength limit measured at 4.6 m from the package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many things in Class 9?
Class 9 was created to cover substances and articles that pose a real transport hazard but don't fit the chemical-hazard definitions of classes 1–8. Lithium batteries, dry ice and magnetised material are clear examples — they are dangerous in transport for very different reasons.
Is every lithium battery Class 9?
Yes. All four primary lithium UN entries (UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091) sit in Class 9, but their packing instructions and passenger / cargo restrictions differ significantly. See our dedicated lithium battery guide for the full picture.
Does dry ice always require a DGD?
Dry ice (UN1845) is regulated but benefits from simplified documentation when shipped under PI954. The shipment must still carry the Class 9 label, the net quantity of dry ice and the words 'Carbon dioxide, solid' or 'Dry ice' — and quantities above the passenger-aircraft limit fall under stricter rules.
Need to classify a specific part?
DG Copilot identifies the UN number, hazard class and air transport status from a part number — in seconds.
Other hazard classes
This information is provided for guidance only. Always verify against the current IATA DGR edition. Final classification and DGD must be validated by a certified DG specialist.