Just a little curious here, petro-diesel carries a hazmat classification (1987 I think?). But biodiesel doesn't seem to carry a hazmat UN classification? At work we handle B99 & B100 in large (15k+ gallons) quantities...but there is no hazmat paperwork attached to the shipments. Anyone know why? My unconventional wisdom says it will burn just like D100...thus it's a HazMat...but I guess there is something else I'm missing??

 

It's a flamable material, but non-toxic chemically, so no hazmat label required. At least thats what the state of Oregon says.....

 

Plus it has a greatly higher flash point than pump diesel.

 

That maybe the ticket right there...higher flash point. I asked one of our managers about it one day and his response was "ADM says they're not HazMat". It didn't make any since then, but now I think it does. Still trying to figure out what I would do with 23k gallons of B100 if we happened to "misplace" a load of it.

 

As long as air doesn't get to it, it should last you at least a few years...

 

The diesel UN number is 1202. Gasoline is 1203. Tankers that haul either gasoline or diesel fuels need only be placarded with one number. In this case the "higher" classification or UN1203.

First off. The State of Oregon has nothing to do with labeling of HAZMATs. Its a federal requirement, unless they have more strict requirements, but I dont think thats the case.

There are two kinds of HAZMAT placards. There are DOT placards and NFPA placards. DOT placards are required on vehicles, and NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) placards on stationary containers, such as a propane tank.

NFPA HAZMAT placards have much more information than just flammability. If you look at a NFPA Placard, it is a diamond, with 4 diamonds inside.

Each diamond is a different classification; Blue is health hazard, Red flammability, Yellow is radioactivity and white is other..

As far as DOT placards, pure biodiesel (B100) is not considered a hazardous material. However, it must adhear to strict guidelines. If it was improperly manufactured it will not meet these guidelines and probably contains methanol, in this case a 1203 DOT placard would be required.

 

I think the fact that B100 is bio degradable is the key in no hazmat classification.