ADR stands for Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
It is a European treaty that establishes regulations for transporting hazardous materials by road.
The purpose of ADR is to ensure the safety of people, the environment, and infrastructure during transport.
Hazardous materials are substances that can pose risks to:
- human health (toxic, corrosive)
- the environment (polluting)
- safety (flammable, explosive)
These substances are classified into nine ADR classes:
- Explosives
- Gases
- Flammable liquids
- Flammable solids
- Oxidizing substances
- Toxic substances
- Radioactive materials
- Corrosive substances
- Miscellaneous dangerous goods
Each substance has a unique UN number, for example:
Strict regulations apply when transporting hazardous materials.
¶ Packaging and labeling
- Use of approved packaging
- Hazard labels in diamond shape
- Display of the UN number
A transport document must include:
- UN number
- proper shipping name
- ADR class
- packing group
¶ Vehicle and equipment
- Vehicles must be equipped with ADR-compliant safety equipment
- Orange plates indicate that hazardous materials are being transported
- The driver must hold a valid ADR certificate
- Loading and unloading must follow specific rules
- Route restrictions may apply, for example in tunnels or urban areas