ADR regulates road transport of dangerous goods in Europe. Here is the basic structure: classes, UN numbers, hazard labels, documentation, equipment, tunnel restriction categories A–E — and what is new with ADR 2025 and the new Danish regulation BEK 915/2025.
Introduction
ADR (L'Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) is the European convention on road transport of hazardous goods. It is updated every other year; the current version is ADR 2025, which came into force on January 1, 2025 (with a transition period so ADR 2023 could in principle be used until June 30, 2025).
The classes in ADR
| Class | Type of goods | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosive substances and articles | Fireworks, ammunition |
| 2 | Gases | Propane, compressed air, aerosols |
| 3 | Flammable liquids | Petrol, diesel, ethanol |
| 4.1 / 4.2 / 4.3 | Flammable solids / self-igniting / water-reactive | Sulphur, white phosphorus |
| 5.1 / 5.2 | Oxidising substances / organic peroxides | Hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide |
| 6.1 / 6.2 | Toxic and contagious substances | Pesticides, clinical waste |
| 7 | Radioactive substances | Radiopharmaceutical material |
| 8 | Corrosive substances | Sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide |
| 9 | Various hazardous substances and items | Lithium batteries, dry ice |
UN number and hazard labels
Each dangerous substance has a UN number (UN XXXX) that uniquely identifies it. Hazard labels (orange plate with UN number + hazard class) are mounted visibly on the vehicle and packaging. Incorrect or missing hazard labels are serious violations.
Documentation and ADR certificate
- 01Transport document: sender issues document with UN number class quantity/amount and emergency procedures
- 02Written instructions (Safety Card): must be carried in the mother tongue for all countries involved.
- 03ADR certificate: the driver must have a valid ADR training certificate for the relevant types of goods.
- 04Safety advisor: companies with ADR shipments must have a certified advisor — notification is now only digital (Traffic Directorate's self-service ref. BEK 915/2025).
Transport categories and exempted quantities (ADR 1.1.3.6)
ADR has a system where small quantities can be transported without triggering the full requirements (orange plates, ADR certificate, full equipment) — this is called exempted packaging. Each substance has a transport category from 0 to 4, which determines how much can be carried per transport unit:
| Transport category | Free quantity per unit | Point factor |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 (not permitted below free amount) | — |
| 1 | 20 kg / litre | × 50 |
| 2 | 333 kg / liter | × 3 |
| 3 | 1000 kg / liter | × 1 |
| 4 | unlimited | × 0 |
Kører du blandet last fra flere kategorier, bruges 1000-points-reglen: gang mængden i hver kategori med pointfaktoren og læg sammen. Overstiger summen 1000, er frimængden overskredet, og de fulde ADR-krav gælder. Eksempel: 100 kg kategori 2 (100 × 3 = 300) + 300 kg kategori 3 (300 × 1 = 300) = 600 point < 1000 → stadig frimængde.
Orange hazard sign: hazard number and UN number
Full ADR transport must be marked with the orange label front and back (and on tanks per compartment). The label has two numbers: the hazard number (Kemler/HIN number) at the top, the UN number at the bottom.
- 01Farenummerets første ciffer angiver den primære fare (2 = gas, 3 = brandfarlig væske, 8 = ætsende osv.).
- 02A repeated digit (e.g. 33) means intensified/heightened hazard.
- 03An »X« at the beginning means the substance reacts dangerously with water — do not use water.
- 04At the bottom is the UN number (UN XXXX) that uniquely identifies the substance.
Hazard labels per class
In addition to the orange placard, packaging and vehicles carry hazard labels (labels/placards) — the diamond-shaped symbols that show the hazard class with colour, symbol and class number at the bottom (e.g. flame for class 3, skull for class 6.1, black/yellow for radioactive class 7). Incorrect or missing hazard labels are serious violations.
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