UNszám

UNszám, short for United Nations number, is the four-digit code used to identify dangerous goods during international transport. Each UNszám is assigned to a specific substance or article by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and published in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The UNszám, together with the proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group, forms the core identifier for safe handling, documentation, and regulatory compliance.

Used worldwide, UNszám is a standard across major transport regulations, including ADR (road), RID (rail), ADN (inland waterways), IMDG Code (marine), IATA DGR and ICAO Technical Instructions (air). It appears on shipping papers, dangerous goods declarations, safety labels, packaging instructions, and emergency response guides.

Each UNszám relates to a substance or article. Some UNszám entries cover more than one form or variant; the hazard is indicated by the associated hazard class and packing group. Not all hazardous goods have a UNszám, and some items are exempt from dangerous goods regulations.

Common examples include UN 1090 Acetone, UN 1203 Gasoline, and UN 1993 Flammable liquids, n.o.s.

In Hungarian and some other languages, UN-number is rendered as UN-szám.