ADR - Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
This domain tests the driver's working knowledge of ADR as applied in Ireland: classification and documentation, vehicle marking and equipment, and the driver's duties before and during a journey. In Ireland, ADR is given effect through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Act 1998 and related regulations, with the Health and Safety Authority acting as competent authority. The exam is practical: can you read a transport document, identify the goods, and apply the correct operational rule?
Core rules and concepts
- ADR has Annex A (Parts 1–7) and Annex B (Parts 8–9). The Dangerous Goods List in Chapter 3.2, Table A, is the main lookup: UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, labels, special provisions, packing or tank instruction, transport category and tunnel restriction code.
- The transport document must show UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, number and kind of packages, total quantity, and consignor/consignee. Check it before loading; the driver is entitled to refuse a load that does not match.
- Orange plates are required at the front and rear for tank transport and for packaged goods above the ADR 1.1.3.6 threshold. Package labels/placards identify the hazard; orange plates do not replace them.
- The driver must carry a valid ADR training certificate covering the classes carried, instructions in writing, and the safety equipment required for the load.
- Tunnel restriction codes in column (16) are goods-specific. Check the code before planning a route through a restricted tunnel.
Worked example
A vehicle carries 200 kg of UN 1263 PAINT (Class 3, PG II, transport category 2) and 400 kg of UN 3082 (Class 9, PG III, transport category 3). Points = (200 × 3) + (400 × 1) = 1000. Because 1000 is the maximum under 1.1.3.6, the load is at the limit and the relaxations may still be used. Add one more package and the total exceeds 1000, so full documentation, orange plates and equipment requirements apply. The reasoning uses transport category, not packing group.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating packing group as transport category: PG II is not automatically category 2.
- Counting packages instead of calculating points.
- Assuming orange plates are needed only on tankers.
- Guessing a tunnel code from the class instead of reading column (16).
- Carrying an ADR certificate that does not cover the classes on the vehicle.