Summer Heat Raises the Risks of Dangerous Goods Transport
Rising summer temperatures are becoming an increasingly important consideration when transporting dangerous goods, placing greater emphasis on careful planning, regulatory compliance and operational control.
The issue has been particularly noticeable during the UK’s unusually hot summer. By mid-July, the country had already recorded more days above 30°C than during the whole summer of 1976, while 2026 became the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July.
For hazardous materials such as flammable liquids, aerosols, compressed gases and temperature-sensitive chemicals, prolonged exposure to heat can increase the risk of pressure build-up, leakage, product degradation, fire or explosion.
Packaging, vehicle selection, route planning and storage conditions must therefore all take account of higher ambient and in-vehicle temperatures. More vulnerable products may require temperature-controlled storage or climate-controlled vehicles, while shaded parking areas and continuous temperature monitoring can help maintain product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Suitable UN-certified packaging remains essential, providing protection against the increased internal pressure that may develop in hot conditions. Accurate hazard labels and complete transport documentation are equally important, ensuring that goods are handled correctly and enabling emergency services to respond quickly and safely should an incident occur.
As periods of extreme heat become more frequent, dangerous goods operators must build temperature-related risks into their procedures rather than treating them as exceptional circumstances.
Evolution provides dangerous goods logistics and packing services, alongside specialist training, DGSA support, consultancy and compliance services to help businesses manage hazardous materials safely and meet their regulatory responsibilities.
