What is ADR? – definition, responsibilities, designations, courses

What is ADR?

The ADR is an international convention on the carriage of dangerous goods and loads by road. The treaty was signed in 1957 in Geneva and ratified by Poland in 1975.  

The ADR sets out detailed rules for the carriage of dangerous goods by road, including requirements for vehicle equipment, packaging, marking and documentation. The agreement is updated every two years. ADR (fr. L'Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) already covers more than 50 countries worldwide.

What does the ADR agreement contain?

The ADR agreement contains the agreement proper and annexes A and B. The agreement properly defines the legal relations between the states that accept it. The annexes, on the other hand, contain provisions regulating the conditions of transport of individual hazardous materials by road.

Annex A divides all globally produced hazardous materials into 13 hazardous materials classes and contains their detailed classification:

• Class 1 — explosive substances and articles; 
• Class 2 — gases; 
• Class 3 — flammable liquids; 
• Class 4 — flammable solids, spontaneously combustible materials and those producing flammable gases in contact with water (three separate subclasses);
• Class 5 — oxidising materials and organic peroxides (two separate subclasses); 
• Class 6 — toxic substances and infectious materials (two separate subclasses); 
• Class 7 — radioactive materials; 
• Class 8 — corrosive materials; 
• Class 9 — miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

In addition, Annex A contains general and specific conditions for the ADR packaging and labelling of dangerous goods, the labelling of vehicles transporting dangerous goods, the loading of different loads in the same vehicle, and testing and labelling requirements for materials.

Annex B, on the other hand, sets out the conditions for the transport of individual hazardous materials, the technical requirements to be met by vehicles, the conditions for loading and unloading of individual materials, the requirements for persons involved in the transport, and the necessary documentation.

In which countries does ADR apply?

ADR is currently in force in 52 countries. These are:

• Albania, 
• Andorra, 
• Austria, 
• Azerbaijan, 
• Belgium, 
• Belarus, 
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
• Bulgaria, 
• Croatia, 
• Cyprus, 
• Czech Republic, 
• Denmark, 
• Estonia, 
• Finland, 
• France, 
• Germany,
  
• Greece, 
• Georgia,
• Hungary
  
• Iceland
  
• Ireland,
• Italy,
  
• Kazakhstan, 
• Latvia
  
• Liechtenstein, 
• Lithuania, 
• Luxembourg, 
• Macedonia, 
• Malta, 
• Montenegro,
  
• Moldova, 
• Morocco,
  
• Netherlands,
  
• Nigeria, 
• Norway, 
• Poland, 
• Portugal, 
• Romania, 
• Russia,
  
• San Marino, 
• Serbia,
• Slovakia, 
• Slovenia, 
• Spain,
• Sweden,
  
• Switzerland, 
• Tajikistan, 
• Tunisia, 
• Turkey, 
• Ukraine, 
• United Kingdom, 
• Uzbekistan.
  

As you can see, these are not only European countries, but also Asian and African.

What are the advantages of ADR?

The advantages of ADR are:

• Increased safety - The ADR agreement sets out strict rules for the packaging and transport of dangerous goods, which helps to minimise the risk of accidents and protect people and the environment.
• Financial benefits - Certain exemptions from the ADR agreement may result in financial benefits for transport companies, such as lower fees for the transport of certain types of dangerous goods. 
• Carriage standardisation - Thanks to the ADR agreement, the rules on the carriage of hazardous materials are the same in all countries that have joined it.
• Legal compliance - By complying with the ADR agreement, transport companies can ensure compliance with the legal requirements for the carriage of dangerous goods.

What are the responsibilities of ADR carriers?

The responsibilities of ADR carriers are:

• Making sure that the dangerous goods are authorised for carriage following the ADR; 
• Making sure that the documentation required by law is on board the transport unit;
• Visually checking the vehicles and cargo for obvious defects, leaks or cracks, missing equipment, etc.;
• Making sure that the deadline for the next examination of the vehicles has not passed;
• Checking that vehicles are not overloaded;
• Making sure that the vehicles have the required markings and warning stickers;
• Making sure that the required equipment is on board the vehicle.

If a carrier notices a breach of ADR requirements, it should not commence the transport until the identified breaches have been rectified.

What are the responsibilities of the shipper of hazardous materials?

The responsibilities of the shipper of hazardous materials are:

• Making sure that the dangerous goods are classified and authorised for transport in accordance with ADR; 
• Providing the driver with information, data and (if necessary) transport and accompanying documents; 
• Using only packaging, large packagings and large bulk containers (DPPLs) and tankers that are approved and suitable for the carriage of the materials concerned and carry the markings required by ADR; 
• Complying with the requirements for modes of shipment and shipping restrictions; 
• Ensuring that even empty, uncleaned, and ungassed tankers or vehicles and large or small bulk containers are properly labelled and fitted with the required warning stickers and that uncleaned tankers are as closed and sealed as when loaded.

If the shipper is acting on behalf of a third party, the third party should inform the shipper in writing that the transport concerns dangerous goods and provide him with all the information necessary to organise the transport properly.

What are the responsibilities of the consignee of hazardous materials?

The responsibility of the consignee of hazardous materials is, first of all, not to delay the receipt of the goods without good reason and to check after unloading that the requirements of the ADR belonging to him have been complied with.

His duties include:

• To carry out (where indicated in the ADR) the required cleaning and decontamination of vehicles and containers; 
• Ensuring that the unloaded, cleaned and decontaminated containers do not bear the markings required during transport.

If an inspection reveals a breach of ADR requirements, the consignee may only return the container to the shipper if the breach has been rectified.

Who must have an ADR?

ADRs must be held by those who carry out road transport of hazardous materials. In other words, any driver transporting fuels, chemicals, explosives and other dangerous goods needs an ADR certificate.

Furthermore, companies that transport hazardous materials are required to employ an ADR advisor.

Who can become an ADR driver?

To become an ADR driver, you need to turn 21 years of age, hold a driving licence of a relevant category, and compete an appropriate ADR course. In the case of ADR tanker drivers, this is usually a driving licence Cat. C (or C+E). However, in some cases a cat B is sufficient. ADR courses are organised by various institutions and driving schools. To become an ADR driver you need to pass the ADR test.

After passing the test, the driver will receive an ADR certificate, which entitles him to transport dangerous goods.

Who is an ADR adviser?

An ADR adviser is a person who assists a company in carrying out the transport of dangerous goods in accordance with the requirements stipulated and in the safest possible manner. It can be anyone who:

• Has a university degree; 
• Has completed a relevant course;
• Has no criminal record; 
• Has successfully passed an examination organised by the director of the Transport Technical Supervision (adviser qualifications are granted for a period of 5 years).

Preparation courses for adviser candidates are mandatory and must be conducted by a registered provider of this type of training. The scope of an ADR adviser course comprises three parts: general, specialised and practical.

It is worth mentioning that the entity carrying out the carriage of dangerous goods is obliged to employ an advisor on the basis of the Act of 19 August 2011 on the transport of dangerous goods and the ADR Agreement.

What are the training courses for ADR qualifications?

There are 4 ADR licence training courses for drivers:

• Basic for all classes of hazardous materials; 
• Specialised for tanker transport; 
• Specialised for Class 1 (explosives); 
• Specialised for class 7 (radioactive materials).

The ADR basic course is the absolute minimum required for those involved in the transport of hazardous materials. Its purpose is to impart basic knowledge of the regulations governing the transport of this type of goods.

In addition to this, there are also separate training courses for those working with hazardous materials, as well as for those filling and emptying tanks with chemical hoses and more.

What are the ADR designations?

There are two main ADR designations:

• ADR stickers with a graphic presentation of the class of hazardous material; 
• ADR orange boards (blank or with numbers indicating the type of goods being transported).

How a vehicle carrying hazardous materials is marked depends on the substances being transported and the type of means of transport itself (conventional truck, tanker, container, etc.).

How to read ADR plates?

To read ADR plates, you need to decipher the numbers on them. The top number is HIN, which consists of two or three digits. The first indicates the type of material according to the classification, while the second and third specify the type of hazard, the degree of danger and additional hazardous characteristics.

Sometimes an "X" may be added to the HIN to indicate that the material reacts dangerously with water.

As for the lower number (UN), you will decipher it using Table A present in the ADR Convention. It is composed of four digits that refer to a specific substance (e.g. 1557 means solid arsenic compound).

What is the impact of ADR on the economy?

The economic impact of ADR is significant as it regulates the transport of goods that are required for many industries (e.g. chemicals, pharmaceuticals and petroleum). The agreement also imposes obligations on all transport users (including drivers, carriers and shippers) to ensure compliance with safety regulations, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.

In general, the ADR ensures that the transport of hazardous materials is carried out in a controlled and efficient manner. This is essential for the smooth functioning of the economy.

What is included in ADR?

The ADR is composed of the agreement proper and Annexes A and B. The Convention covers many areas relating to the carriage of dangerous goods by road.

How many ADR classes are there?

There are 13 classes of ADR. They are, in order: explosives and explosive objects, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, spontaneously combustible materials, materials producing flammable gases in contact with water, oxidising materials, organic peroxides, poisonous materials, infectious materials, radioactive materials, corrosive materials, other hazardous materials and objects.

When are materials relevant for ADR?

Materials are relevant for ADR when their transport is either prohibited or only allowed under conditions specified by law. This mainly applies to materials that pose a risk to human life and health, property, or the environment.

Is coal an ADR?

Yes, coal is an ADR because it is susceptible to spontaneous combustion. However, it should be noted here that unground hard coal, coke and anthracite, which meet the classification criteria for Class 4.2 in Packing Group III (i.e. slightly hazardous), are not subject to ADR. The same applies to activated carbon.

Are lighters ADRs?

Yes, lighters are ADR. Lighters or lighter fillers containing flammable gas are classified as flammable material and are subject to the regulations on the transport and packaging of dangerous goods.

Is deodorant an ADR?

Yes, deodorant is ADR. It is classified as UN 1950 AEROSOLS, which means that it is a flammable material and may pose a hazard during transport.

Is vodka an ADR?

Yes, vodka is an ADR. All alcoholic solutions above 24% are covered by the hazardous materials transport regulations.

Summary

You already know what ADR is and what it obliges all those involved in the transport of hazardous materials by road to do. Thanks to the treaty, the transport of this type of goods is standardised across virtually the whole of Europe and in some countries beyond, making supply chains safer and more efficient.