Dangerous goods labels in Australia are governed by the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, known as the ADG Code, which sets out how dangerous goods are classified, packed, marked and labelled for transport by road and rail. The class labels themselves, the diamond signs, are specified in the Australian Standard AS 1216, Class labels for dangerous goods. Both are revised over time, so always work from the current edition before you print.
This is a class-by-class reference to what a dangerous goods label has to show. It’s here to help you understand the requirements, not to replace the standards, and the published documents are always the authority. If a requirement matters to your job, check it against the current ADG Code and AS 1216.
How dangerous goods are labelled
Every dangerous good is assigned to one of nine classes based on its main hazard. The class is shown on a label shaped like a square set on a point, a diamond, split into an upper half for the pictogram and a lower half for the class number. The colours and symbols aren’t decorative. Each one’s defined by AS 1216 and carries a fixed meaning, so a label is only correct when the colour, symbol and number all match the assigned class.
The nine dangerous goods classes
Here is each class as a quick question and answer. Every label description comes from AS 1216.
Class 1 explosives: What must the label show?
Class 1 covers explosives, from fireworks and ammunition to detonators and blasting agents. AS 1216 specifies an orange diamond with an exploding bomb symbol, the division number, and where required the compatibility group. The six divisions run from a mass explosion hazard, 1.1, down to very insensitive articles, 1.6.
Class 2 gases: What must the label show?
Class 2 covers compressed, liquefied and dissolved gases, and it has three divisions. AS 1216 gives each its own label: 2.1 flammable gases carry a red label with a flame, 2.2 non-flammable non-toxic gases a green label with a gas cylinder, and 2.3 toxic gases a white label with a skull and crossbones. Propane, oxygen and chlorine are common examples.
Class 3 flammable liquids: What must the label show?
Class 3 covers flammable liquids like petrol, many solvents and some paints. AS 1216 specifies a red diamond with a flame and the number 3. The class is defined by flashpoint, the temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite.
Class 4 flammable solids: What must the label show?
Class 4 covers flammable solids and related hazards in three divisions. Under AS 1216, 4.1 flammable solids carry red and white vertical stripes with a flame, 4.2 substances liable to spontaneous combustion carry a label that’s white on top and red below with a flame, and 4.3 substances that give off flammable gas in contact with water carry a blue label with a flame. Certain metal powders and calcium carbide are examples.
Class 5 oxidisers and organic peroxides: What must the label show?
Class 5 has two divisions. AS 1216 specifies a yellow label with a flame over a circle for 5.1 oxidising substances, and a red and yellow label with a flame for 5.2 organic peroxides. Ammonium nitrate and concentrated hydrogen peroxide are typical.
Class 6 toxic and infectious substances: What must the label show?
Class 6 covers 6.1 toxic substances, which carry a white label with a skull and crossbones, and 6.2 infectious substances, which carry a white label with the biohazard symbol, both under AS 1216. Pesticides and some medical and laboratory samples fall here.
Class 7 radioactive material: What must the label show?
Class 7 covers radioactive material. AS 1216 and the ADG Code set three label categories, I, II and III, based on the radiation level at the surface of the package. Each label carries the radiation trefoil symbol along with the contents and activity, and categories II and III also show the transport index. Medical isotopes and industrial sources are examples.
Class 8 corrosive substances: What must the label show?
Class 8 covers corrosives such as strong acids and alkalis. AS 1216 specifies a diamond that’s white on top and black below, showing liquid attacking a hand and a metal surface, with the number 8.
Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods: What must the label show?
Class 9 covers miscellaneous dangerous goods that don’t fit the other classes, including lithium batteries, dry ice and environmentally hazardous substances. AS 1216 specifies a white diamond with seven black vertical stripes across the top half and an underlined 9 below.
The classes and their labels, at a glance:
| Class | What it covers | Label (per AS 1216) |
| 1 | Explosives | Orange diamond, exploding bomb, division number 1.1 to 1.6 |
| 2 | Gases | 2.1 red with flame, 2.2 green with gas cylinder, 2.3 white with skull and crossbones |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Red diamond, flame, number 3 |
| 4 | Flammable solids | 4.1 red and white stripes, 4.2 white over red, 4.3 blue, each with a flame |
| 5 | Oxidisers and organic peroxides | 5.1 yellow with flame over circle, 5.2 red and yellow with flame |
| 6 | Toxic and infectious | 6.1 white with skull and crossbones, 6.2 white with biohazard symbol |
| 7 | Radioactive | White or yellow with the trefoil symbol, categories I to III |
| 8 | Corrosives | White over black, liquid on a hand and metal, number 8 |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | White with black vertical stripes, underlined number 9 |
What size does a dangerous goods label have to be?
The ADG Code sets minimum sizes for class labels. On packages, class labels are generally at least 100mm by 100mm. On bulk containers and vehicles, placards are at least 250mm by 250mm. Smaller labels are allowed on small packages where a full-size one won’t fit. Because the exact rule depends on the package and the mode of transport, confirm the size for your packaging against the current ADG Code.
Durability: Why a label that fails is no longer compliant
A compliant label isn’t just correct, it has to stay correct. The ADG Code requires labels to be durable and to withstand open weather exposure without a significant reduction in effectiveness. A label that fades in the sun, lifts at the edges or smears when it meets a chemical splash has stopped doing its job, and a faded or missing label can hold up a load or fail an inspection.
That’s why the stock and the print method matter as much as the artwork, and why the material is a real decision rather than a default. Our label material guide comparing vinyl, polypropylene and paper shows where each one holds up, which is the same choice that decides whether a DG label survives a drum, an IBC or a mining site. ACS Swan prints dangerous goods labels on a four-colour UV label press using non-fading UV inks on vinyl and paper stock suitable for indoor and outdoor use. For fixed hazard warnings on plant and around a site, safety tags in durable indoor and outdoor materials do the same job in signage form.
If your packaging is a non-standard size or shape, which is common across these sectors, ask about a custom label run and request a sample so you can check the stock and adhesive hold up before you commit to the full quantity. If the run is urgent, ask about a fast turnaround.
Who needs dangerous goods labels
Dangerous goods labels are a daily requirement across mining and resources, chemical supply, agriculture, and transport and logistics, anywhere hazardous materials are packed, stored or moved. ACS Swan has supplied local industry since 1899, and today produces dangerous goods labels and safety signage for these sectors, shipping specialist labels nationally rather than just around Perth.
Getting a dangerous goods label right
Getting a dangerous goods label right comes down to matching the class to the correct label, at the correct size, on a stock that survives the job. Those requirements live in the ADG Code and AS 1216, and both change over time, so the safest habit is to work from the current edition rather than an old print file. Check the class, check the label against AS 1216, and check the size against the ADG Code, and the label will do what it’s there to do.
Frequently asked questions
What standard governs dangerous goods labels in Australia?
Dangerous goods labelling for transport is governed by the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, the ADG Code, and the design of the class labels is specified in AS 1216, Class labels for dangerous goods. Both are updated periodically, so check the current edition.
How many classes of dangerous goods are there?
There are nine, from Class 1 explosives to Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods. Several classes are split into divisions, such as 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 for gases.
What size does a dangerous goods label have to be?
Under the ADG Code, class labels on packages are generally at least 100mm by 100mm, and placards on bulk containers and vehicles are at least 250mm by 250mm. Smaller labels are allowed on small packages where a full-size one won’t fit. Confirm the requirement for your packaging against the current ADG Code.
What colour is each dangerous goods class label?
The colours are fixed by AS 1216. In brief: orange for explosives, red for flammable gases and liquids, green for non-flammable gases, yellow for oxidisers, white with a skull and crossbones for toxic and infectious substances, white over black for corrosives, and white with black stripes for miscellaneous goods. Radioactive labels are white or yellow with the trefoil symbol.