Any material which is easily ignited and supports combustion is called as combustible material.
Example: Wood, Paper, Straw, Vegetable Fibres, products made from such materials, coal, lubricants and oils.
For the purpose of segregation, from combustible materials, packaging material or dunnage is not considered as combustible material as they are essential for containing and securing the cargo.
Combustible material may or may not be dangerous goods.
Definitions in SOLAS chapter II-2, Construction, fire protection, detection, extinction, (Regulation 3)
1. Combustible Material: is any material other than a non-combustible material.
2. Non-combustible material: is a material which neither burns nor gives off flammable vapours in sufficient quantity for self-ignition when heated to approximately 750 Deg C, being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code (FTP Code).
Carbon is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass.
All known form of life has carbon.
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances.
Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence ofoxygen. The resulting soft, brittle, lightweight, black, porous material resembles coal.
Activation/Oxidation: Raw material or carbonized material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres (carbon monoxide, oxygen, or steam) at temperatures above 250 °C, usually in the temperature range of 600–1200 °C.
Chemical activation: Prior to carbonization, the raw material is impregnated with certain chemicals. The chemical is typically an acid, strong base, or a salt (phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, zinc chloride, respectively).
Highlighted in BOLD are the assigned proper shipping names for Charcoal or Carbon vegetable or animal origin
Assigned to Division 4.2 – Spontaneous Combustion.
Self-heating substances, which are substances, which, in contact with air without energy supply, are liable to self-heating. These substances will ignite only when in large amounts (kilograms) and after long periods of time (hours or days). If the rate of heat production exceeds the rate of heat loss, then the temperature of the substance will rise which, after an induction time, may lead to self-ignition and combustion.
A substance shall be classified as a self-heating substance of class 4.2 as per tests performed in accordance with the test method given in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, part III, 33.3.1.6
CARBON animal or vegetable origin – 4.2 1361
CARBON, ACTIVATED – 4.2 1362
1361 PG II & III / SP 925 and 223 for PG III
1362 PG III / SP 223 & 925
SP 925 states
The provisions of this Code do not apply to:
– non-activated carbon blacks of mineral origin;
– a consignment of carbon if it passes the tests for self-heating substances as reflected in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (see 33.3.1.3.3), and is accompanied by a certificate from a laboratory accredited by the competent authority, stating that the product to be loaded has been correctly sampled by trained staff from that laboratory and that the sample was correctly tested and has passed the test; and
– carbons made by a steam activation process.
When Charcoal/ Carbon is considered as non Hazardous?
a) Either it is non-activated carbon blacks of mineral origin; or
b) Passed the UN test as per SP 925; or
c) carbons made by a steam activation process
MSDS must contain either of the information in ‘a’ or ‘b’
Or
Shipment must be supported/accompanied by test report in ‘b’
Shipping lines may have individual house rules with varying conditions for acceptance of hazardous and non-hazardous carbon.