Typically marked or stamped onto a package, ORM-D signifies that a package contains certain hazardous materials. However, ORM-D materials don’t fall into the nine classes of hazardous materials the US Department of Transportation created. ORM-D stands for Other Regulated Materials for Domestic Transport Only. That’s basically just fancy shipping talk for “BE CAREFUL!” Packages bearing this particular mark contain materials that potentially pose a limited hazard during transportation due to their form, quantity, and packaging.
Examples of Products Containing ORM-D Materials
Technically, each hazard class includes certain products that contain ORM-D materials. These types of products are everywhere—just look around your house and you’ll spot some! Here’s a short list of some examples below:
- Aerosol cans
- Lighters
- Nitromethane fuel
- Perfumes
- Small arms ammunition
- Soldering flux
- Some photographic chemicals
- Lithium ion batteries
All of the items listed above contain flammable contents, or are highly pressure-sensitive. Therefore, it makes sense why they would be classified as hazardous.
How Can I Ship Products With ORM-D Materials?
No matter which carrier you choose, transporting ORM-D materials comes with certain restrictions you need to abide by. For example, you can’t ship them on an airplane. Instead, you’ll have to transport them via the ground. In the case of shipping with USPS, you’ll want to ship packages using USPS Parcel Select Ground. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, such as when you ship lithium ion batteries that are pre-installed inside equipment.
Keep in mind that most products with ORM-D Materials are also unable to be shipped internationally.
It All Comes Down to Packaging
Shipping out products with ORM-D and other hazardous materials can be nerve-racking. However, you should be fine if you follow your carrier’s requirements and package your items properly. We always recommend you use plenty of packing material to keep your items in place and safe from outside forces.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget the stickers! As seen in this article’s photo, you’ll need to slap the ORM-D sticker on the outside of your package before you ship it. You can pick up some ORM-D stickers for your packages here.
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