Class 3 flammable liquids courier
Class 3 covers liquids that give off flammable vapour — paint, thinners, solvents, printing ink, many adhesives and alcohol-based products. It is the class a courier meets most often, and a large share of it moves legally under Limited Quantity because it is packed in retail-sized containers inside outer cartons.
Packing group decides how it travels
Class 3 substances sit in packing group I, II or III according to their flash point and boiling point. Packing group III — the least hazardous band, where most decorative paint and many cleaning products sit — has the most room under the quantity thresholds, which is why a pallet of trade paint often moves on an ordinary van while a drum of solvent does not.
The flash point on the safety data sheet is the number that drives this. Section 14 of the SDS carries the transport classification and is the fastest way to answer the question.
Typical Class 3 courier work
The jobs that come up most are paint and coatings to site, printing ink between plants, solvent and cleaning chemicals to manufacturing, adhesives to fabricators, and alcohol-based products for the drinks and cosmetics trade.
This page explains the framework; it is not a compliance opinion on your consignment. Send us the UN number, the packing group and the weight or volume per package and we will tell you in writing which route it travels under.
- Paint, varnish and thinners
- Printing and industrial inks
- Solvents and degreasers
- Adhesives and sealants
- Alcohol-based liquids including sanitiser and extracts
What X-Eagle will carry
We carry dangerous goods that fall under Limited Quantity, Excepted Quantity or the ADR 1.1.3.6 threshold today. For a placarded full-ADR load we will tell you so and help you find a carrier who holds the certificate, rather than take the job and work it out later.
Common questions
Is paint classed as dangerous goods?
Solvent-based paint usually is, as Class 3 flammable liquid, and the packing group depends on its flash point. Water-based emulsion generally is not. Section 14 of the safety data sheet gives the transport classification.
Can a van carry solvents legally?
Yes, within limits. Solvents packed and marked as Limited Quantity, or carried below the 1.1.3.6 threshold, do not require a placarded ADR vehicle. Larger quantities and drums do.
What is the flash point and why does it matter?
The flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite. It determines the packing group for a Class 3 substance, which in turn determines how much can be carried before full ADR applies.
Send us the UN number and we will tell you how it travels
The UN number, the packing group and the quantity per package settle it in one call. We will put the answer in writing before anything is collected.