Main exemptions

Introduction

Exemptions arise in three ways,

• ADR itself,
• from the "Dangerous Goods Directive" (DGD), as implemented by CDG Regs. There are direct exemptions and derogations
• Authorisations

ADR exemptions

1. ADR itself has exemptions set out in part 1.1.3. The main ones are:

• Private use of vehicles. There are now limits on the total quantity that may be carried under this exemption. Note that other legislation may limit carriage of petrol etc. The CDG Regulations introduce limits for private carriage of Class 1 goods (explosives). See Regulation 9.
• Carriage of machinery which happens to contain dangerous goods
• Carriage that is "ancillary" to main activity. Note the second part of this exemption which limits its scope. This is not easy to define. For the present the following guidance is offered.
  • A driver taking dangerous goods with him for use with some machine or process that will be operated on arrival will be exempt.
  • A journey taking dangerous goods to "re-supply" the above example will not be covered by this exemption (but other exemptions may apply).
• Carriage by or under the supervision of the emergency services. This is intended to allow the necessary emergency response to be completed, and not for wider purposes. See also "Frequently asked questions".
• Emergency transport intended to save life or protect the environment.
• Uncleaned empty static storage vessels that have contained certain gases, class 3 (flammable liquids – PG II and III only) or class 9 (miscellaneous). In this context "static" means not designed for transport of dangerous goods. For LPG there is an industry Code of Practice  (LPGA COP 26) dealing with their safe removal and carriage
• Some carriage of gases. (ADR 1.1.3.2).
• Some carriage of liquid fuels (ADR 1.1.3.3)
• Empty uncleaned packaging (ADR 1.1.3.5). This is not a clear exemption and not everything is exempt. Note that there are documentary requirements at ADR part 5.4.1.1.6. See also discussion in Frequently asked questions.

Exemption from duty to appoint a DGSA

2. This is a limited exemption permitted by ADR 1.8.3.2 which is discussed in ADR, CDG and DGSA . It has been implemented by Regulation 3(j)

Limited quantity (LQ) exemptions (ADR 3.4)

3. LQ refers to small receptacles (typically of the sort that go into the retail distribution chain) which are packed in boxes or on shrink-wrapped trays.

4. The principle behind LQ is that an acceptable level of safety is assured providing the receptacles are in a box or shrink-wrapped tray. Retail distribution of LQ packages that have been "broken down" is allowed, subject to certain conditions. Subject to those conditions being met, no other requirements of ADR apply. Note however that from 1 January 2011 there are requirements to mark certain transport units when carrying more than 8 tonnes of LQ packages. See ADR 3.4.10

5. Dangerous goods are assigned an LQ "maximum quantity per inner packaging" (Column 7a of Table A in ADR). For some substances this figure is 0, and in these cases there is no LQ exemption.

6. 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 specify the maximum gross mass of the package into which the inner receptacle is placed. This is 30kg  except for shrink wrapped trays  where the limit is 20 kg)

7. For limited quantity exemptions, the general requirements for packaging (to be of good quality and suitable etc) apply, but the packaging does not have to be "UN approved.3.4.4 has a particular requirement for certain Class 8 (corrosive) goods.  There are particular LQ marking requirements (see ADR 3.4.7 and 3.4.8. Subject to those conditions, ADR does not apply to "limited quantities".

8. The limited quantity mark is:

or if an air mode journey is involved

9. There is a requirement, under certain circumstances, for the marking of a transport unit which is carrying dangerous goods in "Limited Quantities". See ADR 2015 paragraphs 3.4.11 to 3.4.15.

Examples of limited quantity application

10. Hydrochloric acid, UN 1789,(Strong PG II). From column 7a of Table A the maximum receptacle (inner packaging) size is 1 litre. which means that as long as the individual "bottles" are not larger than 1 litre, and the box does not weigh more than 30 kg, then, subject to the conditions outlined above, ADR does not apply.

11. The same substance more diluted (PG III) has a maximum  "bottle" size of 5 litres. Again the maximum box weight is 30kg. For example, typical 2 ½ litre bottles, packed four to a box, are within the LQ limit. The detailed packaging requirements do not have to be met but the LQ marking requirements apply (see above)

12. Solid caustic soda drain cleaner (UN 1823) has a maximum inner receptacle size of 1 kg.  Again the maximum gross overall package is 30 kg.

13. Paint UN 1263 PG II. Cans up to 5 litres may be packed in a box not exceeding a gross weight of 30kg. Cans up to 1 litre may be on a shrink wrapped tray not exceeding a gross weight of 20 kg. Subject to the box or tray being marked as above ADR does not apply.

14. Orientation arrows have be applied to LQ packages when the conditions described at 5.2.1.10 apply.

15. ADR at 3.4.12 t requires information to be given to carriers in relation to consignments of "Limited Quantity (LQ) packages".  In certain circumstances (ADR 3.4.13), the vehicle has to be marked if carrying at least 8 tonnes of LQ packages.

Excepted quantity exemptions (ADR 3.5)

16. "Excepted quantities" (EQ) is a relatively new concept for land transport of dangerous goods. It has been commonly used in air transport and the new rules will facilitate the road (and rail) transport elements of a journey that includes air mode. It is, though, also a standalone provision, and gives consignors an alternative for many dangerous goods.

17. Like LQ it requires goods to be in combination packages (eg a bottle in a box)

18. A new code (E0 – E5) appears in column 7(b) of table A. This links to paragraph 3.5.1.2 where what is allowed by the codes is set out. For example code E0 means that no EQ provisions are applicable. Code E1 means that the substance may be carried in inner packagings up to 30g or 30ml in outer packagings with a maximum net contents of 1000g or 1000ml - and so on for the other codes.

19. Unlike for LQ there are more prescriptive rules about packaging testing and for documentation.

20. The packages have to be marked with the "EQ Symbol" and documents (where carried) must state  "dangerous goods in excepted quantities" and indicate the number of packages.

Small load exemptions (ADR 1.1.3.6)

21. Small load exemptions relate to the total quantity of dangerous goods carried in packages by the "transport unit" (usually the van or lorry, but also any trailer). It is the transport category (TC) that determines the load limits (thresholds). Many substances are assigned a packing group but these are not synonymous in all cases with TC. TC is given in column 15 of Table A in ADR (Chapter 3.2). If that is not available, the table at ADR part 1.1.3.6.3 needs to be consulted. Load limits for the different transport categories are given below. For convenience this has been amended in accordance with the derogation but it needs to be used with care.

22. Small load exemptions do not apply to tankers or bulk carriage.

23. If a vehicle is carrying under the small load threshold, many of the requirements of ADR are not applicable. The table below summarises the position. Some care needs to be taken, as "what is not exempted is still required".  In most cases the remaining obligations are:

• General training for driver (ADR 1.3.2). A record should be kept (ADR 1.3.3)
• Carry one 2 kg dry powder fire extinguisher or equivalent (ADR 8.1.4.2)
• Stow the dangerous goods properly (ADR 7.5.7)

24. Note that use of these exemptions is optional. For example, a carrier may choose to display the orange plates as long as the vehicle is carrying dangerous goods.

25. All vehicle marks (orange plates) must be removed when no dangerous goods are being carried.

Examples of small load application

26. LPG. This is in transport category 2. The "small load threshold" is 333 kg and there is no LQ provision.. The result is that all cylinders count towards the load limit, but if that is less than 333 kg, the "minimum" ADR requirements apply.

27. Hydrochloric acid. Depending on its strength this is in transport category 2 or 3. The "small load threshold" is 333 or 1000 litres respectively. For TC 3, one 1000 litre IBC or five 200 litre drums or forty 25 litre drums can be carried under the "minimum" ADR requirements if the carrier chooses to do so. Any packages that meet LQ criteria are not counted.

28. Methanol. This is in transport category 2. The "small load threshold" is 333 litres. Any combination of packages up to that amount can be carried under "minimum" ADR requirements if the carrier chooses to do so. Because methanol has all packages count towards this threshold.

29. Clinical waste (UN 3291). This is in transport category 2 and there is no LQ provision. Thus all packages have to be counted. It is now possible to use combination packaging consisting of an outer "flat pack" corrugated fibreboard box into which is placed a conventional clinical waste bag. Providing the outer box is properly certified this makes the carriage of small amounts of clinical waste possible as "packages". Sharps containers may also come into this category. Typical situations would be the collection of waste from GPs' surgeries or patients' homes. In these cases, as long as the total load is less than 333 kg (which would normally be the case) the small load exemptions will apply. . Bulk carriage of clinical waste (typical yellow bags loosely loaded into a vehicle) cannot be carried under the small load provisions.

30. It can be seen that depending on the substances and the package size, there will be differences in the way the regulations are applied. In each case, if there are mixed loads the aggregation rules in ADR at 1.1.3.6.4 must be applied.

Exemptions allowed by small load threshold

Exemptions arising from the Dangerous Goods Directive

31. Regulation 16 provides that the main parts of the regulations do not apply where carriage is "not undertaken by a vehicle". This links to the directive's definition of vehicle and the practical outcome is that the regulations do not apply to:

• Vehicles with a maximum design speed of 25 km/hour or less
• Vehicles that run on rails
• Mobile machinery (not defined). This could include vehicles specially equipped for road construction purposes, such as white lining vehicles. There is further discussion of mobile machinery in "Frequently asked questions."
• Agricultural or forestry tractors that do not travel at a speed exceeding 40 km/h when transporting dangerous goods; or any trailer being towed by such a vehicle. There is no definition of "agricultural or forestry tractor". Cases will have to be judged on their merits. There are certain tests that can be applied, including taxation class, legal use of "red diesel", and fittings common to tractors such as PTOs and three point linkages for attachment of agricultural implements. Subject to any Court decision, vehicles, such as Land-Rovers, Range Rovers and other 4x4 road vehicles are not regarded as agricultural or forestry tractors.

• Vehicles with fewer than four wheels
  Vehicles with fewer than four wheels were previously exempted from ADR under the definition of a vehicle in the Dangerous Goods Directive.  However, motorcycles are increasingly used to carry dangerous goods in GB, especially for time-critical consignments such as diagnostic specimens where the speed of delivery is vital for the diagnosis and ultimately the treatment of patients. In order to ensure that such consignments continue to be safely transported, GB has decided to extend the scope of the regulations to include motorcycles.

Movements within premises

32. Movement wholly within an enclosed area is exempt from the main parts of the regulations. See Regulation 15.

MoD vehicles

33. MoD vehicles will  operate in line with ADR but tankers will be placarded and plated to ADR practice rather then GB practice. Vehicles operated by commercial carriers on contract to MoD or simply delivering to MoD premises are treated conventionally. The Secretary of State for Defence may issue authorisations to allow MoD vehicles to work outside ADR but this will arise only in special cases (see regulation 12).

Documentation

34. For small loads (ADR 1.1.3.6) there is no need in GB to carry the documentation except for explosives and radioactive materials.

35. The need for the consignor to provide documentation to the carrier remains (ADR 1.4.2.1.1(b) and Regulation 5.

Retail distribution of LQ packages and combination packages (See also the relevant entry: Are there any exemptions from the regulations for retails distribution of goods?

• The UK has a "derogation" which relaxes the package labelling and marking requirements for the final stages of carriage in retail distribution.
• Some dangerous goods which have been packaged as "limited quantities" (ADR 3.4) or in "combination packaging (eg a bottle in a box) may be removed from their outer packaging and carried from distribution depot to retail outlet (and back if needed) without the packaging having to be marked with UN certification marks or the hazard symbols.
• Typical products are paints, varnishes, adhesives, drain cleaners, and aerosols. The derogation does not apply to:
  • Class 1 (explosives), Class 4.2 (substances liable to spontaneous combustion )
  • Class 6.2 (Infectious substances)
  • Class 7 (radioactive substances)
• There are conditions:
  • The journey must be part of the final distribution stages from depot to retailer or end user, or an equivalent return journey.
  • No type, colour, strength or inner package size of a substance or article (sometimes called "stock keeping unit") may be more than 30 litres (or kg) and the total of such goods may not be more than 333 litres (or kg).
• The details are in UK Road Derogation No 4 which may be found in the document "Carriage of Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions." DfT have issued Guidance Note 7 which explains this derogation in more detail.

Explosives

36.  A UK derogation (set out in "Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions") makes changes to transport categories and load thresholds for many explosives. In effect these changes maintain older arrangements for domestic transport only. See also amended table of transport categories.

Crossing public roads

37. A UK derogation provides that, except for explosives and radioactive materials, the regulations do not apply to the following movements

• Between private premises and a vehicle in the immediate vicinity (for example loading a vehicle just outside the premises)
• Between private premises (in the immediate vicinity) occupied by the same person, including where separated by a road.
• "Immediate vicinity" is not defined and there is scope for abuse. Subject to any Court decision, in the first case a journey of more than about 100 metres on the highway, and in the second case more than about 400 metres, should be regarded as not in the "immediate vicinity".

38.  There are related, but more restrictive exemptions for classes 1 and 7 goods. For details see "Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions".

Exemptions by "authorisation"

39.  For a variety of reasons it has been found necessary to issue authorisations to allow certain activities to take place outside the strict scope of ADR. These are added to and deleted as the need arises or recedes. They are all time limited (though in some cases the time is substantial). The up-to-date list may be found at authorisations.

40.  The authorisations are all in pdf files and can readily be downloaded. Some are somewhat esoteric, but those most likely to be encountered are:

No. 1 - bowsers used for diesel

Transport categories as amended in GB

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