Magnetic Material Shipping: Magnetized Objects IATA Class 9 Compliance Guide

Shipping Magnetized Materials Under IATA Regulations

Magnetized materials are a unique Class 9 (Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods) category that most shippers don’t anticipate. When a material or device generates a magnetic field strong enough to interfere with aircraft navigation instruments or onboard systems, it becomes a regulated dangerous good under IATA DGR requiring special packaging and handling for air transport.

When Magnetic Materials Are Regulated

A magnetized material (UN2807, Class 9) is regulated for air transport when it has a magnetic field strength of 0.00525 gauss or more at a distance of 4.6 meters (15 feet) from any surface of the package, or any magnetic field strength that could affect aircraft instruments. Products that commonly trigger this classification include large permanent magnets, MRI components, industrial magnetic assemblies, and some loudspeaker systems.

IATA DGR Requirements

IATA DGR Packing Instruction 953 governs magnetized material packaging for air transport. The key requirement is magnetic shielding that reduces the field strength at the package surface to below the threshold. Steel plate shielding, mu-metal liners, or distance-based field attenuation through package design can achieve compliance. Air freight forwarders must verify magnetic field measurements before accepting shipments.

Measurement and Testing

Magnetic field strength measurement using a gaussmeter at the package surface determines whether a shipment requires UN2807 classification. Testing must be performed on the completed, packed shipment because packaging materials and geometry affect the external field. Airlines may re-test at acceptance, and shipments exceeding the surface threshold will be rejected regardless of documentation claims.

Common Products Affected

Industrial sectors frequently shipping regulated magnetic materials include medical equipment (MRI magnets and components), automotive (electric motor assemblies), energy (wind turbine generator magnets), and electronics (large speaker magnets). Ocean and ground transport of these products under the IMDG Code generally does not regulate magnetized materials unless other hazards are present.

Packaging Solutions for Magnetic Cargo

Effective magnetic shielding solutions include concentric steel tube containers, sandwich-panel crating with ferromagnetic cores, and positioning magnets in opposing polarity pairs to cancel external fields. Ground transport and ocean shipping avoid the magnetized material classification entirely, making mode selection a cost-effective compliance strategy for qualifying shipments.

Go Freight’s Magnetic Cargo Solutions

Go Freight handles magnetized material shipping from South Florida. Our team advises on shielding solutions, mode selection, and IATA compliance for products with magnetic field concerns.