Please summarize regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials, for example flammable chemicals under the Fire Service Law.
Also, are packagings that meet the standards recommended by the UN acceptable under the Fire Service Law?
1. The Fire Service Law and its ordinances designate certain materials which pose high fire risk, which are highly flammable and therefore have high risk of spreading fire, and are very difficult to extinguish once burning, etc. as hazardous materials and regulates their handling in order to prevent fire. The following standards are set for packagings, in terms of loading, and transportation of hazardous materials.
(1) Packagings
Their materials, structure, and maximum capacity. Packagings must comply, in principle, with certain performance standards and pass designated tests.
(2) Loading
In principle, hazardous materials must be carrieed in the designated packagings and loaded in accordance with the technical standards. The name of the contained hazardous materials, its quantity and cautions thereof must be indicated on the surface of the packagings. The packagings must be loaded in a manner preventing their tumbling or damage, and preventing hazardous materials from falling.
(3) Transportation
Hazardous materials must be transported in a manner that prevents significant friction or shaking. In particular, when transporting more than certain amounts of hazardous materials, certain mark must be displayed at readily visible locations on the front and rear of the vehicle. The appropriate fire extinguishers must also be carried.
2. Packaging bearing the UN markings certifying compliance withthe standards recommended by the UN are deemed to be compliant with the packaging standards set under the Fire Service Law in principle.