UN 0186 — Rocket motors
Placard: Explosive 1.3C. ERG Guide 112. Training/quick-reference only — use current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident-specific actions.
UN 0186 Rocket Motors are metal cylindrical assemblies containing solid composite propellant fuel with an oxidizer and fuel binder matrix, classified as Explosive 1.3C. These devices present a fire, deflagration, and fragment projection hazard rather than a mass explosion risk.
Hazard overview: UN 0186 Rocket Motors present an intense fire and burning hazard with the potential for fragment projection during deflagration, but do not pose a mass explosion risk. Burning motors may deflagrate and initiate adjacent combustible or explosive materials.
Response guidance: Apply water spray to cool motor casings only and do not attempt to extinguish the burning solid propellant — allow it to burn out completely. Protect all surrounding materials from heat and ignition sources, and establish an initial isolation zone of 500 meters in all directions.
UN 0186 Quick Details
Common Hazards of UN 0186
- Fire and burning hazard — not mass explosion.
- Intense heat and possible fragment projection.
- May deflagrate and initiate other materials.
- Smoke and toxic combustion products.
Chemical Identity & Physical Properties
UN 0186 Rocket Motors are metal cylindrical assemblies containing solid composite propellant, typically gray or black in color, with an oxidizer and fuel binder bonded in a solid matrix.
| Also known as | Rocket motor assembliesSolid propellant rocket motorsRocket propulsion unitsRocket engines |
| Appearance | Metal cylindrical assemblies containing solid propellant fuel, typically gray or black in color. Contains composite propellant materials with oxidizer and fuel binder in a solid matrix. |
| Flash Point | Not applicable (solid propellant device) |
| Boiling Point | Not applicable (solid propellant device) |
| Vapor Density | Not applicable (solid device) |
| Water Reactivity | No significant reaction with water, though water cooling may be used on casings |
Fireground Response Guidance — UN 0186
Extinguishing Media
PPE Requirements
Responders should wear Level B protection minimum with SCBA and structural firefighting gear including a face shield, and must maintain standoff distance due to the risk of fragment projection from deflagrating motors.
Isolation & Evacuation
First Actions for a UN 0186 Incident
- CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper.
- Isolate area; stage upwind — fire and fragment hazard.
- Request Hazmat + law enforcement.
- Control ignition sources; deny entry.
- Consult current ERG Guide 112 and follow SOP/SOG.
📋 Copy & Share Field Card
UN 0186 — Rocket motorsUse for: Quick radio or face-to-face size-up. Short, structured, field-ready.
Use for: Incident command briefing, staging area whiteboard, or pre-entry team brief.
Use for: Quick text to command or incoming units. Fits in a single SMS.