What to Know About Aircraft Hazmat Signs

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Our Aircraft Hazmat Signs Compliance – Resource Bulletin will help you understand some of the rules and regulations regarding sign requirements for the transportation of hazardous materials in the United States via aircraft.

Topics include:

  • Hazmat signs for cargo facilities
  • Hazmat labels for cargo packages
  • Hazmat signs for passenger facilities
  • Hazard classifications
  • Label shapes and elements
  • Links to relevant regulations

Click the image to open this bulletin as a pdf file.

Bulletin Overview

The Department of Transportation (DOT) defines a hazardous material as any substance or material that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. The DOT administers the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) that specifies requirements for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in the United States via aircraft, rail car, marine vessels, and motor vehicles. The HMR are found in Title 49, Parts 171-180 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The HMR classifies an exhaustive list of hazmat as to the hazard risk they pose, and defines the communication standards used to convey that risk through required package labeling and placarding. The enforcement agency for the transport of cargo hazmat by air is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Hazmat also may be present in commercial passenger aircraft. Regulations for this sector of air commerce are administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the FAA.TSA regulations for civil aviation security are found in Title 49, Parts 1540-1550.