ADR
- What is a Dangerous or Hazardous Goods Vehicle?
- Presenting your vehicle for inspection
- ADR vehicle tests
- Booking procedure
- VTG15 completion and procedure
Dangerous Goods Vehicle Testing including ADR testing
Special HGV Annual Test procedures and documentation are required for all Dangerous or Hazardous Goods Vehicles.
What is a Dangerous or Hazardous Goods Vehicle?
This is a vehicle normally used for the carriage of such goods, classified as the following:
- Class 1 - Explosives
- Class 2 - Compressed gases
- Class 3 - Flammable liquids
- Class 4.1 - Flammable solids
- Class 4.2 - Spontaneously combustible
- Class 4.3 - Dangerous when wet
- Class 5.1 - Oxidising agents
- Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides
- Class 6.1 - Toxic
- Class 6.2 - Infectious substances
- Class 7 - Radioactive
- Class 8 - Corrosives
- Class 9 - Miscellaneous
There are a number of other products identified which may not be included in the above, which are classified as “Obnoxious”. These include: animal waste; refuse; hospital waste; and other such products such as pressurised gases, pressurised liquids, asbestos etc.
Presenting your vehicle for inspection
When presenting your dangerous goods lorry for inspection, the following steps should be followed:
- with appointed booking time. Failure to do so could cause delays due to special procedures and Health & Safety requirements.
- vehicle for inspection should ideally be rendered safe either by cleaning or purging.
- the vehicle is to be presented laden with a dangerous/hazardous substance or unladen but not cleaned, then a competent person must accompany the vehicle.
- competent person accompanying the vehicle will be the holder of a vocational training certificate and the holder of a Valid HazChem License appropriate to the Class of Dangerous/hazardous goods being carried. VOSA staff will check at the time of inspection the validity of the accompanying person’s Licence. The test may be refused if the accompanying person is not qualified.
- all cases a current VTG15 certificate must be completed and accompany the vehicle (see A guide to the inspection of Dangerous/Hazardous Goods Vehicles leaflet for breakdown of the certificate).
- carrying an Orange HazChem Plate (e.g. unfolded), will require a VTG15 to be completed. A VTG15 will not be required for an Articulated Tractor Unit when the orange HazChem plate is folded over, is presented unladen or is towing a non-hazardous trailer.
ADR vehicle tests
Certain Dangerous Goods Vehicles require an extra test and certificate over and above the normal HGV roadworthiness test. This is known as the “ADR” test after the initials of a French phrase meaning “International Agreement Concerning the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road”.
Vehicles which require the extra test are:
- commercial vehicle or trailer used to carry or to tow a trailer carrying explosives on international journeys
- commercial vehicle or trailer first used on or after 1 January 1997 and used to carry or to tow a trailer carrying explosives on British domestic journeys
- vehicle or trailer used on international transport operations carrying or towing a trailer carrying dangerous goods in bulk in a fixed tank or fixed battery of pressure vessels of over 1000 litres capacity
- vehicle or trailer used on international transport operations carrying or towing a trailer carrying dangerous goods in bulk in a container or demountable tank or battery of pressure vessels of over 3000 litres capacity
Additionally new vehicles (NOT existing vehicles) in category 3 or 4 above used on British domestic transport will soon be required to be ADR tested. The date of introduction of the regulations controlling this is not yet known.
The ADR test ensures that vehicles comply with special requirements contained in chapter 9 of the ADR accord document. The detail of this varies according to the exact nature of the dangerous goods carried. It can be accessed using
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2003/ContentsE.html.
Booking procedure
Dangerous Goods Vehicle tests are carried out at all Vehicle and Operator Services Agency test stations. See Vehicle Testing Stations and Garages.
The ADR test if required is most conveniently carried out at the same time as the Annual Test and all HGV test stations now have some staff trained to carry it out. An extra fee is payable for the ADR test. Additionally a special application form ADR III is required to be completed, including declarations in respect of some invisible aspects of vehicle construction. See Certificate For Carriage of Dangerous Goods (VTG 15)
Copies of insurance certificates for any fixed tanks or batteries of pressure vessels will also be requested at the time of application, with the originals needing to be seen at the time of test. Application should be made as early as possible and not less than 10 working days before the test. Please note the downloaded form needs to be completed manually and returned by post to Swansea, not direct to the testing station.
New trailers will also need a first test at the same time as the first ADR test.
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VTG15 completion and procedure
When booking your vehicle for annual test and/or ADR inspection, you must inform us using form VTG 15:
- If the vehicle is or has been used for the carriage of dangerous goods
- If you will render it safe for the test
- Of the type of dangerous/hazardous good the vehicle will be carrying or the last load carried.
The VTG15 should be completed in all cases where the vehicles subject to dangerous/hazardous loads are produced at a test station, whether for annual test or are accompanying another vehicle i.e. tractor/trailer combinations. The VTG15 should be filled in and signed by a competent person and produced at the test station at the time of inspection. Each time a vehicle is required to attend a test station, a new VTG15 must be completed. This includes retests.
The back of the VTG15 form includes guidance notes to help vehicle owners prepare for the test. These notes must be followed.
Further information
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods & Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004.
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods & Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No. 1573)
For more information on dangerous goods vehicle and ADR testing contact the ADR section at Swansea on 01792 454250 or 454986.
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Page last updated: 15/07/2008