The ADR transport category is a value from 0 to 4 assigned to a dangerous substance according to its level of risk and shown in column 15 of Table A. Under the 1000-point rule, the quantity of each substance is multiplied by its category's multiplier (50 for category 1, 3 for category 2, 1 for category 3) and the results are added together. If the total does not exceed 1000, the vehicle benefits from the ADR 1.1.3.6 exemption.
What do transport categories indicate?
ADR assigns a transport category to each UN number and packing group. The category determines up to what quantity a substance can be treated as a “small load” on a vehicle. The categories and the limits per vehicle are as follows:
| Category | Multiplier | Exempt limit on its own | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | — | 0 (no exemption) | Category A infectious substances (UN 2814), hydrogen cyanide (UN 1051) |
| 1 | 50 | 20 kg or litres | Some PG I toxic substances, some explosives |
| 2 | 3 | 333 kg or litres | Petrol (UN 1203), LPG (UN 1965), PG II paints, lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480) |
| 3 | 1 | 1,000 kg or litres | Diesel (UN 1202), PG III paints, UN 3077 and UN 3082 |
| 4 | 0 | Unlimited | Uncleaned empty packagings (except those with category 0 contents) |
A substance's category is shown in column 15 of Table A, in the same cell as the tunnel restriction code.
How is the 1000-point rule calculated?
If a vehicle carries substances from different categories, ADR 1.1.3.6.4 requires the following total: category 1 quantity × 50 + category 2 quantity × 3 + category 3 quantity × 1. Category 4 counts as zero points. If the total does not exceed 1000, the exemption applies. The “quantity” used in the calculation depends on the type of substance:
- For liquids, the total litres in the packagings
- For solids, liquefied and dissolved gases, the net mass (kg)
- For compressed gases, the water capacity of the receptacle (litres)
- For articles, the gross mass (kg); for Class 1 articles, the net mass of explosive substance
Example calculation
A van is carrying the following load to a construction site: 200 litres of PG II paint (UN 1263, category 2), 300 litres of diesel in jerrycans (UN 1202, category 3) and 50 kg of UN 3077 environmentally hazardous solid (category 3).
- Paint: 200 × 3 = 600 points
- Diesel: 300 × 1 = 300 points
- UN 3077: 50 × 1 = 50 points
- Total: 950 points; since this is below 1000, the exemption applies.
If the paint increases to 220 litres, the total rises to 1010 points and the vehicle becomes subject to full ADR rules: orange plates, an ADR driver training certificate, instructions in writing and full equipment are required. Packages carried as limited quantities (LQ) are not included in this calculation; details are in the entry limited quantities.
Which rules still apply under the exemption?
The 1.1.3.6 exemption is not a “full exemption from ADR”. The obligations that are lifted are orange plates and placards, instructions in writing, the driver's ADR training certificate, vehicle approval and tunnel restrictions, together with the vehicle construction requirements in Part 9 of ADR. The following remain in force:
- Classification, UN-approved packaging, package markings and ADR danger labels
- A transport document showing the total quantity for each category
- At least one dry powder fire extinguisher with a capacity of at least 2 kg on the vehicle
- Training under ADR 1.3 for drivers and loading staff
- Mixed loading prohibitions and load securing
- Not opening packages, the smoking ban, stopping the engine during loading
Common mistakes
- Looking at the packing group instead of the category. Two substances in the same PG can be in different categories.
- Calculating litres from the outer volume of the packaging; what counts is the quantity of contents.
- Treating a vehicle carrying a category 0 substance as exempt because the quantity is small.
- Leaving out the fire extinguisher and transport document on an exempt vehicle; the exemption does not remove these two requirements.
If the points are calculated before the loading list is finalised, the vehicle type and driver can be selected accordingly; this step is part of planning dangerous goods (ADR) transport.