Could any of you helpful chaps on here, tell me what product this might be to have a classification as above and if you need ADR to move it?
The fact I’m asking probably tells me I should leave well alone, If it was a sample of 100kg would this be classed as limited qty?
Thanks in advance
Dave
It’s organic peroxides.class 5.
Risk ofexothermic decomposition at elevated tempetures.
Contact with other substances(such as acids,heaven metal compounds or amines)
Friction or shock.
This may result in the evolution of harmful and flammable gases or vapour.
Avoid mixing it with flammable or combustible
Substances or materials
Eg, sawdust!
Thanks for your quick response, why would it need to kept between +5 c and +10?
What are organic peroxides? This
An organic peroxide is any organic (carbon-containing) compound having two oxygen atoms joined together (-O-O-). This chemical group is called a “peroxy” group. Organic peroxides can be severe fire and explosion hazards. This question-and-answer document summarizes these and other hazards; another document provides information on how to work safely with organic peroxides.
The plastics and rubber industries are the heaviest users of organic peroxides. Organic peroxides and mixtures containing an organic peroxide are used as accelerators, activators, catalysts, cross-linking agents, curing agents, hardeners, initiators and promoters. Organic peroxides and mixtures containing an organic peroxide are often referred to by these terms. However, using terms like accelerator, activator, etc. to mean “organic peroxide” can be misleading since they can also refer to materials that do not contain organic peroxides. This can cause confusion and a serious accident could result if these substances were mixed with organic peroxides.
Organic peroxides are available as solids (usually fine powders), liquids or pastes. Some materials, such as water, odourless mineral spirits, and some phthalate esters do not react with organic peroxides and are often used to dilute them. The diluted mixtures or formulations are less likely to explode when exposed to heat or physical shock than the undiluted organic peroxide. Dilution makes the unstable peroxides safer to produce, handle, and use. We use the term “organic peroxide” to refer to both undiluted and diluted organic peroxides, unless otherwise specified. Check the supplier labels on chemical product containers.
The Canadian WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) classifies organic peroxides as oxidizing materials. WHMIS also classifies many other materials that are not organic peroxides as oxidizing materials. Other hazard symbols may also be present, depending on the particular material.
It is wise to treat any unknown material as very hazardous until it is positively identified.
How are organic peroxides hazardous?
The main hazard related to organic peroxides are their fire and explosion hazards. Organic peroxides may also be toxic or corrosive. Depending on the material, route of exposure (inhalation, eye or skin contact, or swallowing) and dose or amount of exposure, they could harm the body. Corrosive organic peroxides can also attack and destroy metals.
It is the double oxygen of the “peroxy” group that makes organic peroxides both useful and hazardous. The peroxy group is chemically unstable. It can easily decompose, giving off heat at a rate that increases as the temperature rises. Many organic peroxides give off flammable vapours when they decompose. These vapours can easily catch fire.
Most undiluted organic peroxides can catch fire easily and burn very rapidly and intensely. This is because they combine both fuel (carbon) and oxygen in the same compound. Some organic peroxides are dangerously reactive. They can decompose very rapidly or explosively if they are exposed to only slight heat, friction, mechanical shock or contamination with incompatible materials.
Organic peroxides can also be strong oxidizing agents. Combustible materials contaminated with most organic peroxides can catch fire very easily and burn very intensely (i.e., deflagrate). This means that the burn rate is very fast: it can vary from 1 m/sec to hundreds of metres per second. Also the combustion rate increases as the pressure increases and the combustion (or reaction) zone can travel through air or a gaseous medium faster than the speed of sound. However, the speed of combustion in a solid medium does not exceed the speed of sound.
This is one characteristic that distinguishes deflagration from detonation. We mention these two terms because they are used in classifying organic peroxide formulations (see next question). Deflagrations and detonations are similar chemical reactions except that in detonations the burn rate in a solid medium is faster than the speed of sound. This supersonic speed results in a shock wave being produced. They can transmit the shock wave at speeds of about 2,000 to 9,000 m/sec and is not dependent on the surrounding pressure. This is another difference between detonation and deflagration: deflagration rates increase as the pressure becomes greater.
Explosive decomposition is a rapid chemical reaction resulting in almost instantaneous release of energy. This term includes both deflagration and detonation.
Organic peroxides may also have a self accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT). SADT represents the lowest temperature in which that particular organic peroxide formulation in its commercial packaging will undergo self-accelerating decomposition (begin the chemical process that leads to explosion). The SADT value will vary with each organic peroxide formulation and the size and shape of its packaging. Storage requirements will generally be 10 to 20 degrees below the SADT.
Why is it important to have an MSDS for organic peroxides?
The MSDSs and the container labels should explain all of the hazards of the organic peroxides with which you work. For example, the MSDS should describe the conditions that cause an organic peroxide formulation to undergo dangerous chemical reactions and cause explosions. They also should state if there are any special storage requirements. Some should be stored in a refrigerator to reduce the possibility of fire and the refrigerator should meet the electrical code requirements for the products being stored (e.g., should be “explosion-proof”). The MSDS should say if there is a minimum temperature under which the product should not be stored. If the temperature is too low, crystals of the peroxide may form. These crystals could be an explosion hazard since they can be very sensitive to shock.
What is an example of an organic peroxide?
An example of an organic peroxide is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (also known as 2-butanone peroxide, ethyl methyl ketone peroxide, or MEKP). It is used as a polymerization catalyst in the manufacture of polyester and acrylic resins and as a hardening agent for fiberglass reinforced plastics. It is a colourless liquid with a characteristic odour. It is considered a combustible liquid and vapour. There is an extreme risk of an explosion from exposure to shock, friction, flame, or other sources of ignition. It is dangerously reactive and may decompose violently. Contact with water or moist air liberates irritating gases. Contents may develop pressure if exposed to water. It is also very toxic. It may be fatal if inhaled, absorbed through the skin or swallowed and it is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. It may cause lung injury although the effects may be delayed.
Can organic peroxides form spontaneously?
Yes, some chemicals can form explosive peroxides when they are stored (e.g., isopropyl ether, vinylidene chloride). Exposure to light and heat can increase the rate of peroxide formation. Others form peroxides that become hazardous when concentrated (e.g., by distillation). Some examples include ethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran (THF), p-dioxane, some secondary alcohols like 2-propanol and 2-butanol, and some unsaturated hydrocarbons like propyne (an acetylene compound), cyclohexene, and tetra-and deca-hydronaphthalenes.
Another kind of peroxide-forming compound are unsaturated monomers that, in the presence of a peroxide, can polymerize exothermically (i.e., produces heat when it reacts). For example, uninhibited styrene can form a peroxide that can cause the styrene to polymerize. It can occur explosively under certain conditions. Other examples of some unsaturated monomeric compounds are acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, butadiene, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl chloride.
To generalize, the kinds of chemicals that can form peroxides include aldehydes, ethers, and numerous unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds (i.e. hydrocarbon compounds having double or triple bonds). Examples in this group include allyl compounds, haloalkenes, dienes, monomeric vinyl compounds, vinylacetylenes, unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons like tetrahydronaphthalene or dicyclopentadiene.
This is not a comprehensive list. The intention of mentioning these examples is to point out the importance of learning about the hazards of the chemicals you handle by reading the MSDSs and any relevant safety bulletins that the chemical producers provide. They should recommend how frequently they should be tested for the presence of peroxides (e.g., once every 3 months for diisopropyl ether or vinylidene chloride; once every 12 months for ethyl ether). Follow their directions regarding the safe disposal or repurifications procedures (if recommended).
So if, for example, you see crystals inside a bottle of a “pure” ether, suspect the presence of an ether peroxide. Do not handle the container. Do call your emergency response group. They should contact the local bomb squad after assessing the situation. Ether peroxides, like other peroxides, are very sensitive to shock and could explode if handled improperly - just like a bomb.
What is the classification system used for organic peroxides by the US National Fire Protection Association?
The U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed a hazard classification system for typical organic peroxide formulations. The NFPA classification system describes the fire and explosion hazards of these formulations in their normal shipping and storage containers that have been approved by the Transport Canada or the U.S. Department of Transport (DOT).
If a formulation is transferred to a different container, the given hazard classification may no longer apply. See the NFPA 432 “Code for the Storage of Organic Peroxide Formulations” (2002) for details. In general:
Class I formulations are capable of deflagration but not detonation.
Class II formulations burn very rapidly and are a severe reactivity hazard.
Class III formulations burn rapidly and have a moderate reactivity hazard.
Class IV formulations burn in the same manner as ordinary combustibles and have a minimal reactivity hazard.
Class V formulations burn with less intensity than ordinary combustibles or they do not support combustion and present no reactivity hazard.
Want more information?
You may be interested in these related products and services from CCOHS:
Databases
MSDS
CHEMpendiumâ„¢
OH&S Programs and Management Systems
MSDS Management Service
Courses
WHMIS for Workers
Why not just say, it’s a bit nasty! 
olds’kool:
Could any of you helpful chaps on here, tell me what product this might be to have a classification as above and if you need ADR to move it?
The fact I’m asking probably tells me I should leave well alone, If it was a sample of 100kg would this be classed as limited qty?Thanks in advance
Dave
Hi Dave,
Please forget all about Limited Quantity (LQ) when dealing with UN 3113. 
LQs are all about stuff that’s not very dangerous and when it’s packaged in small packages, such as can be bought over the counter in a retail shop. LQ exemptions will NEVER apply to UN 3113, so we can forget that idea.
UN 3113 can be carried by somebody who doesn’t hold an ADR certificate, but I’ll need to know how much of it they want you to carry AND how it’s packaged (type and size) please.
For now and in the absence of the answers to the questions I’ve asked, the maximum you can carry without an ADR certificate is probably 20 liters (nothing to do with LQs, ) but I’ll need those answers before I can be more definite please.
UN 3113, is quite dangerous stuff, so there are some very complicated requirements that must be complied with in order to carry it correctly.
Organic peroxides, like Benzol Peroxide have short shelf lives. Pressure can build up from spontaneous decomposition inside the container, and shock can accelerate that rate of decomposition to the point of explosion. It will form explosive mixtures with just about anything either finely divided (powder,sawdust etc) or combustible (wood, paper, small bits of metal!)
Personally, I reckon this stuff is more dangerous to transport than nitroglycerin, but is too useful a chemical to be done away with alas.
handle with extreme caution, and never agree to transport the “out of date” stuff unless you’re very heavily life-insured! 
olds’kool:
Thanks for your quick response, why would it need to kept between +5 c and +10?
Hi olds’kool,
My guess is that you will probably have been given three temperatures in an ascending order called:
Control
Emergency
SADT (Self Accelerating Decomposition Temperature)
The control temperature is the one to set your 'fridge to.
If you see the Emergency temperature on your temp gauge, you should stop and phone 999 for the fire-brigade.
The SADT temperature is the temperature at which the whole lot goes up in a puff of smoke.
As a rough rule of thumb, the Control temp is usually 5deg cooler than the Emergency temp, and the SADT is usually 15deg warmer than the Control temp.
Without the info I asked you for earlier, an educated guess tells me that you have something like this:
Control temp = 10deg.
Emergency temp = 15deg.
SADT = 25deg.
This means that the temp in an average house is hot enough to initiate an unstoppable decomposition of the ‘stuff,’ which would then go up rather quickly in a puff of smoke, sometimes with almost explosive force. That’s why they want it carried in a 'fridge.
When I was a fibreglass laminator we used organic peroxide as a catalyst. We also used an accelerator ( can’t remember what type) the instructions said if you mixed the two together that it would decompose rapidly. So to find out how fast “rapidly” was we mixed some 
, We decided rapidly was something of an understatement 
. It was a demonstration I repeated several times over the years. Only in the interest of safety you understand 
When I was doing ADR many years ago, I was given a run to do in this order. Dartford 0700 - Grays 0800 - Ashford for about dinner time, I kicked off about having to go back and forth the crossing (no tag) 
but was told that was the trip order get on with it, anyway as the Ashford was ADR I went to tunnel control to go to my 2nd drop, the ADR was about 10 IBC’s of whatever it was, but the geezer there reckoned that even a 200 lt drum of that substance wouldnt be allowed through, not even under ■■■■■■, that stuff had one these SADT ratings on it 
probably class 5 but cant remember that much detail now . The traffic monkey was beside himself thought i’d cooked it up, not helped by me laughing at him 
, 3rd time in a week Grays was late sorry very late , Ashford wouldnt tip til dinner time Grays about 230pm
My contribution is that is some dodgy gear mate
eddie snax:
… that stuff had one these SADT ratings on it
Hi eddie snax,
The SADT malarkey can apply to UN Classes 4.1 and 5.2, so the stuff you were carrying could have been either of those Classes.
eddie snax:
My contribution is that is some dodgy gear mate
You’re not wrong there mate.
will keep you on your toes alright. Fine if its winter, not so fine in summer. A bit like Acetylene, if theres a problem, be somewhere else, that can have a decomposition started by a shock.