Complete Guide to Dangerous Goods Placards (NZ & AU)

Complete Guide to Dangerous Goods Placards (NZ & AU)

Sizes, materials & placement for vehicles, tanks, and sites

Key points

  • Transport placards (vehicles/containers): diamond shape, min 250 mm per NZS 5433; common larger options 400, 600, 800 mm for better distance legibility.

  • Package labels (GHS/UN): small diamonds for drums, cartons, inner packs — common sizes 50 mm & 100 mm.

  • Best materials: laminated adhesive vinyl, ACM panel, or magnetic (for swap-out fleets).

  • Where to mount: each exposed side of a vehicle/ISO tank/container + rear. Fixed installations may need larger sizes.

  • Need a class sign? Quick links below to Class 1–9 products.

What is a DG placard (and how it differs from a GHS label)?

  • DG placards identify the hazard class of goods under transport rules (e.g., NZS 5433 / UN Recommendations). They’re the big diamonds you see on vehicles, tankers, and freight containers.

  • GHS labels are package/warehouse diamonds for bottles, drums and cartons. They’re smaller (50–100 mm common), sit on the product or outer, and can include signal words, pictograms and extra information.

Quick rule of thumb: Placards = transport / big & visible. GHS labels = packaging / small & close-up.

The nine DG classes (quick links)

  1. Class 1 Explosives – Explosives Placard

  2. Class 2 Gases – Flammable Gas 2 · Non-Flammable Gas 2 · Toxic Gas 2

  3. Class 3 Flammable Liquids – Flammable Liquid 3

  4. Class 4 Flammable Solids – 4.1 Flammable Solid · 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible · Class 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Sign.

  5. Class 5 Oxidisers/Organic Peroxides – 5.1 Oxidiser · 5.1 Oxidising Agent · 5.1 Oxygen Hazard · 5.2 Organic Peroxide

  6. Class 6 Toxic & Infectious – 6.1 Poison · 6.1 Toxic · 6.2 Infectious Substance

  7. Class 7 Radioactive – Radioactive (no index) · Radioactive I · Radioactive II · Radioactive III · Fissile

  8. Class 8 Corrosive – Corrosive 8 Placard · GHS Corrosive Label

  9. Class 9 Miscellaneous – Class 9 Placard (text) · Class 9 Placard (blank lower)

Recommended placard sizes (NZ & AU)

Standards call for minimum 250 mm diamond for transport placards. Larger sizes improve long-distance visibility, fixed-site recognition and camera readability.

Use case Good Better Best
Road vehicles, small tanks, swap bodies 250 mm 400 mm 800 mm
ISO tanks, freight containers, yard gates 400 mm 600 mm 800 mm
Fixed fencing/compound entries 400 mm 800 mm 1000 mm+ (on request)

GHS labels (packages): stock 50 mm and 100 mm diamonds. (These sit on the package, not the vehicle.)

Tip: when a placard sits behind guards or on dark paint, go up one size for contrast and viewing distance.

Materials & build quality

  • Laminated adhesive vinyl (long-term) – UV-stable film + protective laminate; ideal for vehicle doors, smooth tanks and containers.

  • ACM panel (aluminium composite) – rivet/screw to cages, walls, bollards, posts. Tough, flat and professional.

  • Magnetic placards – perfect for hire/trades vehicles or multi-hazard fleets that change classes. Stick on/off clean steel, then store flat when not in use.

  • Corflute (temporary) – handy for short-term worksites; swap to PVC orACM  for permanent installs.

Mounting & placement (at a glance)

  • Vehicles & trailers: display on each exposed side and rear. For tractor–trailer combos, placard the trailer(s); placard the prime mover only if it also carries DG.

  • ISO tanks & containers: both sides + both ends.

  • Sites/facilities: install at entrances and storage areas; use larger sizes (400–800 mm) so responders can see them from the road.

  • Height: mount so the diamond isn’t obstructed by rails, doors, chains or platform decks.

When to choose which Class 7 radioactive placard

  • Radioactive (no index) – very low radiation levels; no transport index box.

  • Radioactive I / II / III – increasing radiation with Transport Index panel for activity/dose info.

  • Fissile – specifically for fissile materials (e.g., certain uranium/plutonium forms); highlights criticality risk rather than dose.

Buying checklist

  • ✅ The correct class (and variant) for the load.

  • ✅ Size: 250/400/800 mm for placards; 50/120 mm for GHS labels.

  • ✅ Substrate: laminated vinyl, ACM panel, or magnetic.

  • ✅ Quantity: enough for each side and rear, plus a spare.

  • ✅ Contrast: dark truck? Choose a panel for a clean white field.

  • ✅ Mounting: adhesive-safe area, or bolts/rivets approved by your fleet manager.

Popular bundles & add-ons

  • Magnetic “placard boards” so drivers can swap classes without tools.

  • No Smoking/No Ignition Sources signs for Class 2 & 3 bays.

  • Site entry boards: your logo + hazard diamonds + emergency numbers.

Internal links

External Links

FAQs

Q1: What size DG placard do I need?
Most road movements are compliant at 250 mm diamonds. For ISO tanks, yard gates or high-speed roads, step up to 400–600 mm (or 800 mm for long sightlines). Package labels use 50 mm or 100 mm GHS diamonds.

Q2: Do I need placards as well as GHS labels?
Yes—placards go on the vehicle/container/site for transport recognition; GHS labels go on the package (drum, carton, bottle). They serve different audiences and are usually required together.

Q3: Can I use magnetic placards?
Absolutely. Magnetic placards are great for multi-use fleets: stick to clean steel, remove when the vehicle isn’t carrying DG, and store flat. They’re not for aluminium or plastic bodies—use ACM panels instead.

“Keen to keep your load legit? Pair these big diamonds with our No Smoking / No Ignition Sources sign — because nothing ruins a smoko like an unexpected whoosh. Get the full kit and your crew will thank you (and so will their eyebrows).”

Kiwi tip: slapping a GHS label on a drum but no placard on the ute is like wearing jandals to a concrete pour — brave, but not bright. Grab the right DG placard here and keep the boss, the carrier, and the clipboard warrior happy.

The Small print

This guide simplifies common requirements in NZ/AU. Always follow your consignor documentation and local law (e.g., NZS 5433 and applicable regulations). When in doubt, check with your safety advisor or regulator.

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