1.2.1 Definitions - ADR 2017 - English (2023)

NOTE: This section contains all general or specific definitions.

For the purposes of ADR:

A

"ADN" means the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by

Inland Waterways;

"Aerosol or aerosol dispenser" means an article consisting of any non-refillable receptacle meeting

the requirements of 6.2.6, made of metal, glass or plastics and containing a gas, compressed, liquefied

or dissolved under pressure, with or without a liquid, paste or powder, and fitted with a release device

allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas, as a foam, paste

or powder or in a liquid state or in a gaseous state;

"Animal material" means animal carcasses, animal body parts, or animal foodstuffs;

"Applicant" means, in the case of conformity assessment, the manufacturer or its authorised

representative in a country Contracting Party. In the case of periodic inspections, intermediate

inspections and exceptional checks, applicant means the testing facility, the operator or their

authorised representative in a country Contracting Party;

NOTE: Exceptionally a third party (for instance a tank-container operator in accordance with the

definition of 1.2.1) may apply for the conformity assessment.

"Approval"

Multilateral approval, for the carriage of radioactive material, means approval by the relevant

competent authority of the country of origin of the design or shipment, as applicable, and by the

competent authority of each country through or into which the consignment is to be carried;

Unilateral approval, for the carriage of radioactive material, means an approval of a design which is

required to be given by the competent authority of the country of origin of the design only. If the

country of origin is not a Contracting Party to ADR, the approval shall require validation by the

competent authority of a Contracting Party to ADR (see 6.4.22.8);

"ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International, 100 Barr

Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959, United States of America);

B

"Bag" means a flexible packaging made of paper, plastics film, textiles, woven material or other

suitable material;

"Battery-vehicle" means a vehicle containing elements which are linked to each other by a manifold

and permanently fixed to this vehicle. The following elements are considered to be elements of a

battery-vehicle: cylinders, tubes, bundles of cylinders (also known as frames), pressure drums as well

as tanks destined for the carriage of gases as defined in 2.2.2.1.1 with a capacity of more than 450

litres;

"Body" (for all categories of IBC other than composite IBCs) means the receptacle proper, including

openings and closures, but does not include service equipment;

"Box" means a packaging with complete rectangular or polygonal faces, made of metal, wood,

plywood, reconstituted wood, fibreboard, plastics or other suitable material. Small holes for purposes

of ease of handling or opening or to meet classification requirements, are permitted as long as they do

not compromise the integrity of the packaging during carriage;

"Bulk container" means a containment system (including any liner or coating) intended for the

carriage of solid substances which are in direct contact with the containment system. Packagings,

intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), large packagings and tanks are not included.

A bulk container is:

- of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;

- specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more means of transport

without intermediate reloading;

- fitted with devices permitting its ready handling;

- of a capacity of not less than 1.0 m3;

Examples of bulk containers are containers, offshore bulk containers, skips, bulk bins, swap bodies,

trough-shaped containers, roller containers, load compartments of vehicles;

NOTE: This definition only applies to bulk containers meeting the requirements of Chapter 6.11.

"Closed bulk container" means a totally closed bulk container having a rigid roof, sidewalls,

end walls and floor (including hopper-type bottoms). The term includes bulk containers with

an opening roof, side or end wall that can be closed during carriage. Closed bulk containers

may be equipped with openings to allow for the exchange of vapours and gases with air and

which prevent under normal conditions of carriage the release of solid contents as well as the

penetration of rain and splash water;

"Flexible bulk container" means a flexible container with a capacity not exceeding 15 m3 and

includes liners and attached handling devices and service equipment;

"Sheeted bulk container" means an open top bulk container with rigid bottom (including

hopper-type bottom), side and end walls and a non-rigid covering;

"Bundle of cylinders" means an assembly of cylinders that are fastened together and which are

interconnected by a manifold and carried as a unit. The total water capacity shall not exceed 3 000

litres except that bundles intended for the carriage of toxic gases of Class 2 (groups starting with letter

T according to 2.2.2.1.3) shall be limited to 1 000 litres water capacity;

C

"Calculation pressure" means a theoretical pressure at least equal to the test pressure which,

according to the degree of danger exhibited by the substance being carried, may to a greater or lesser

degree exceed the working pressure. It is used solely to determine the thickness of the walls of the

shell, independently of any external or internal reinforcing device (see also "Discharge pressure",

"Filling pressure", "Maximum working pressure (gauge pressure)" and "Test pressure");

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Capacity of shell or shell compartment" for tanks, means the total inner volume of the shell or shell

compartment expressed in litres or cubic metres. When it is impossible to completely fill the shell or

the shell compartment because of its shape or construction, this reduced capacity shall be used for the

determination of the degree of filling and for the marking of the tank;

"Cargo transport unit" means a vehicle, a wagon, a container, a tank-container, a portable tank or an

MEGC;

"Carriage" means the change of place of dangerous goods, including stops made necessary by

transport conditions and including any period spent by the dangerous goods in vehicles, tanks and

containers made necessary by traffic conditions before, during and after the change of place.

This definition also covers the intermediate temporary storage of dangerous goods in order to change

the mode or means of transport (trans-shipment). This shall apply provided that transport documents

showing the place of dispatch and the place of reception are presented on request and provided that

packages and tanks are not opened during intermediate storage, except to be checked by the competent

authorities;

"Carriage in bulk" means the carriage of unpackaged solids or articles in vehicles, containers or bulk

containers. The term does not apply to packaged goods nor to substances carried in tanks;

"Carrier" means the enterprise which carries out the transport operation with or without a transport

contract;

"CGA" means the Compressed Gas Association (CGA, 14501 George Carter Way, Suite 103,

Chantilly, VA 20151, United States of America);

"CIM" means the Uniform Rules Concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail

(Appendix B to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF)), as amended;

"Closed bulk container", see "Bulk container";

"Closed container", see "Container";

"Closed vehicle" means a vehicle having a body capable of being closed;

"Closure" means a device which closes an opening in a receptacle;

"CMR" means the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road

(Geneva, 19 May 1956), as amended;

"Collective entry" means an entry for a defined group of substances or articles (see 2.1.1.2, B, C

and D);

"Combination packaging" means a combination of packagings for carriage purposes, consisting of one

or more inner packagings secured in an outer packaging in accordance with 4.1.1.5;

NOTE: The term "inner packaging" used for combination packagings shall not be confused with the

term "inner receptacle" used for composite packagings.

"Combustion heater" means a device directly using liquid or gaseous fuel and not using the waste heat

from the engine used for propulsion of the vehicle;

"Competent authority" means the authority or authorities or any other body or bodies designated as

such in each State and in each specific case in accordance with domestic law;

"Compliance assurance" (radioactive material) means a systematic programme of measures applied

by a competent authority which is aimed at ensuring that the requirements of ADR are met in practice;

"Composite IBC with plastics inner receptacle" means an IBC comprising structural equipment in the

form of a rigid outer casing encasing a plastics inner receptacle together with any service or other

structural equipment. It is so constructed that the inner receptacle and outer casing once assembled

form, and are used as, an integrated single unit to be filled, stored, transported or emptied as such;

NOTE: "Plastics material", when used in connection with inner receptacles for composite IBCs, is

taken to include other polymeric materials such as rubber.

"Composite packaging" means a packaging consisting of an outer packaging and an inner receptacle

so constructed that the inner receptacle and the outer packaging form an integral packaging. Once

assembled it remains thereafter an integrated single unit; it is filled, stored, carried and emptied as

such;

NOTE: The term "inner receptacle" used for composite packagings shall not be confused with the

term "inner packaging" used for combination packagings. For example, the inner of a 6HA1

composite packaging (plastics material) is such an inner receptacle since it is normally not designed

to perform a containment function without its outer packaging and is not therefore an inner

packaging.

Where a material is mentioned in brackets after the term "composite packaging", it refers

to the inner receptacle.

"Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)" means a compressed gas composed of natural gas with a high

methane content assigned to UN No. 1971;

"Confinement system", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the assembly of fissile material

and packaging components specified by the designer and agreed to by the competent authority as

intended to preserve criticality safety;

"Conformity assessment" means the process of verifying the conformity of a product according to the

provisions of sections 1.8.6 and 1.8.7 related to type approval, supervision of manufacture and initial

inspection and testing;

"Consignee" means the consignee according to the contract for carriage. If the consignee designates a

third party in accordance with the provisions applicable to the contract for carriage, this person shall

be deemed to be the consignee within the meaning of ADR. If the transport operation takes place

without a contract for carriage, the enterprise which takes charge of the dangerous goods on arrival

shall be deemed to be the consignee;

"Consignment" means any package or packages, or load of dangerous goods, presented by a consignor

for carriage;

"Consignor" means the enterprise which consigns dangerous goods either on its own behalf or for a

third party. If the transport operation is carried out under a contract for carriage, consignor means the

consignor according to the contract for carriage;

"Container" means an article of transport equipment (lift van or other similar structure):

- of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;

- specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods, by one or more means of transport,

without breakage of load;

- fitted with devices permitting its ready stowage and handling, particularly when being

transloaded from one means of transport to another;

- so designed as to be easy to fill and empty;

- having an internal volume of not less than 1 m3, except for containers for the carriage of

radioactive material.

In addition:

"Small container" means a container which has an internal volume of not more than 3 m3;

"Large container" means

(a) A container which does not meet the definition of a small container;

(b) In the meaning of the CSC, a container of a size such that the area enclosed by the four

outer bottom corners is either

(i) at least 14 m2 (150 square feet); or

(ii) at least 7 m2 (75 square feet) if fitted with top corner fittings;

"Closed container" means a totally enclosed container having a rigid roof, rigid side walls,

rigid end walls and a floor. The term includes containers with an opening roof where the roof

can be closed during transport;

"Open container" means an open top container or a platform based container;

"Sheeted container" means an open container equipped with a sheet to protect the goods

loaded;

A "swap body" is a container which, in accordance with EN 283:1991 has the following

characteristics:

- from the point of view of mechanical strength, it is only built for carriage on a wagon or

a vehicle on land or by roll-on roll-of ship;

- it cannot be stacked;

- it can be removed from vehicles by means of equipment on board the vehicle and on its

own supports, and can be reloaded;

NOTE: The term "container" does not cover conventional packagings, IBCs,

tank-containers or vehicles. Nevertheless, a container may be used as a packaging for the carriage of

radioactive material.

"Containment system", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the assembly of components of

the packaging specified by the designer as intended to retain the radioactive material during carriage;

"Control temperature" means the maximum temperature at which the organic peroxide or the selfreactive

substance can be safely carried;

"Conveyance" means, for carriage by road or by rail, a vehicle or a wagon;

"Criticality safety index (CSI) assigned to a package, overpack or container containing fissile

material", for the carriage of radioactive material, means a number which is used to provide control

over the accumulation of packages, overpacks or containers containing fissile material;

"CSC" means the International Convention for Safe Containers (Geneva, 1972) as amended and

published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), London;

"Crate" means an outer packaging with incomplete surfaces;

"Critical temperature" means the temperature above which the substance cannot exist in the liquid

state;

"Cryogenic receptacle" means a transportable thermally insulated pressure receptacle for refrigerated

liquefied gases of a water capacity of not more than 1 000 litres (see also "Open cryogenic

receptacle");

"Cylinder" means a transportable pressure receptacle of a water capacity not exceeding 150 litres (see

also "Bundle of cylinders");

D

"Dangerous goods" means those substances and articles the carriage of which is prohibited by ADR,

or authorized only under the conditions prescribed therein;

"Dangerous reaction" means:

(a) Combustion or evolution of considerable heat;

(b) Evolution of flammable, asphyxiant, oxidizing or toxic gases;

(c) The formation of corrosive substances;

(d) The formation of unstable substances; or

(e) Dangerous rise in pressure (for tanks only);

"Demountable tank" means a tank, other than a fixed tank, a portable tank, a tank-container or an

element of a battery-vehicle or a MEGC which has a capacity of more than 450 litres, is not designed

for the carriage of goods without breakage of load, and normally can only be handled when it is

empty;

"Design", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the description of fissile material excepted

under 2.2.7.2.3.5 (f), special form radioactive material, low dispersible radioactive material, package

or packaging which enables such an item to be fully identified. The description may include

specifications, engineering drawings, reports demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements,

and other relevant documentation;

"Design life", for composite cylinders and tubes, means the maximum life (in number of years) for

which the cylinder or tube is designed and approved in accordance with the applicable standard;

"Discharge pressure" means the maximum pressure actually built up in the tank when it is being

discharged under pressure (see also "Calculation pressure", "Filling pressure", "Maximum working

pressure (gauge pressure)" and "Test pressure");

"Drum" means a flat-ended or convex-ended cylindrical packaging made out of metal, fibreboard,

plastics, plywood or other suitable materials. This definition also includes packagings of other shapes,

e.g. round, taper-necked packagings or pail-shaped packagings. Wooden barrels and jerricans are not

covered by this definition;

E

"EC Directive" means provisions decided by the competent institutions of the European Community

and which are binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which it is

addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods;

"ECE Regulation" means a regulation annexed to the Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform

technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles equipment and parts which can be fitted and or used on

wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of

these prescriptions (1958 Agreement, as amended);

"Emergency temperature" means the temperature at which emergency procedures shall be

implemented in the event of loss of temperature control;

"EN" (standard) means a European standard published by the European Committee for

Standardization (CEN) (CEN, Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels);

"Enterprise" means any natural person, any legal person, whether profit-making or not, any

association or group of persons without legal personality, whether profit-making or not, or any official

body, whether it has legal personality itself or is dependent upon an authority that has such

personality;

"Exclusive use", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the sole use, by a single consignor, of

a vehicle or of a large container, in respect of which all initial, intermediate and final loading and

unloading and shipment are carried out in accordance with the directions of the consignor or

consignee, where so required by ADR;

F

"Fibreboard IBC" means a fibreboard body with or without separate top and bottom caps, if necessary

an inner liner (but no inner packagings), and appropriate service and structural equipment;

"Filler" means any enterprise which fills dangerous goods into a tank (tank-vehicle, demountable

tank, portable tank or tank-container) and/or into a vehicle, large container or small container for

carriage in bulk, or into a battery-vehicle or MEGC;

"Filling pressure" means the maximum pressure actually built up in the tank when it is being filled

under pressure (see also "Calculation pressure", "Discharge pressure", "Maximum working pressure

(gauge pressure)" and "Test pressure");

"Filling ratio" means the ratio of the mass of gas to the mass of water at 15 °C that would fill

completely a pressure receptacle fitted ready for use;

"Fixed tank" means a tank having a capacity of more than 1 000 litres which is permanently attached

to a vehicle (which then becomes a tank-vehicle) or is an integral part of the frame of such vehicle;

"Flammable component" (for aerosols) means flammable liquids, flammable solids or flammable

gases and gas mixtures as defined in Notes 1 to 3 of sub-section 31.1.3 of Part III of the Manual of

Tests and Criteria. This designation does not cover pyrophoric, self-heating or water-reactive

substances. The chemical heat of combustion shall be determined by one of the following methods

ASTM D 240, ISO/FDIS 13943:1999 (E/F) 86.1 to 86.3 or NFPA 30B;

"Flash-point" means the lowest temperature of a liquid at which its vapours form a flammable mixture

with air;

"Flexible bulk container", see "Bulk container";

"Flexible IBC" means a body constituted of film, woven fabric or any other flexible material or

combinations thereof, and if necessary, an inner coating or liner, together with any appropriate service

equipment and handling devices;

"Fuel cell" means an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel to electrical

energy, heat and reaction products;

"Fuel cell engine" means a device used to power equipment and which consists of a fuel cell and its

fuel supply, whether integrated with or separate from the fuel cell, and includes all appurtenances

necessary to fulfil its function;

"Full load" means any load originating from one consignor for which the use of a vehicle or of a large

container is exclusively reserved and all operations for the loading and unloading of which are carried

out in conformity with the instructions of the consignor or of the consignee;

NOTE: The corresponding term for radioactive material is "exclusive use".

G

"Gas" means a substance which:

(a) At 50 °C has a vapour pressure greater than 300 kPa (3 bar); or

(b) Is completely gaseous at 20 °C under standard pressure of 101.3 kPa;

"Gas cartridge", see "Small receptacle containing gas";

"GHS" means the sixth revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and

Labelling of Chemicals, published by the United Nations as document ST/SG/AC.10/30/Rev.6;

H

"Handling device" (for flexible IBCs) means any sling, loop, eye or frame attached to the body of the

IBC or formed from the continuation of the IBC body material;

"Hermetically closed tank" means a tank intended for the carriage of liquid substances with a

calculation pressure of at least 4 bar or intended for the carriage of solid substances (powdery or

granular) regardless of its calculation pressure, the openings of which are hermetically closed and

which:

- is not equipped with safety valves, bursting discs, other similar safety devices or vacuum

valves; or

- is not equipped with safety valves, bursting discs or other similar safety devices, but is

equipped with vacuum valves, in accordance with the requirements of 6.8.2.2.3; or

- is equipped with safety valves preceded by a bursting disc according to 6.8.2.2.10, but is not

equipped with vacuum valves; or

- is equipped with safety valves preceded by a bursting disc according to 6.8.2.2.10 and vacuum

valves, in accordance with the requirements of 6.8.2.2.3;

"Holding time" means the time that will elapse from the establishment of the initial filling condition

until the pressure has risen due to heat influx to the lowest set pressure of the pressure limiting devices

(s) of tanks intended for the carriage of refrigerated liquefied gases;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see 6.7.4.1.

I

"IAEA" means the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), (IAEA, P.O. Box 100 – A -1400

Vienna);

"IBC", see "Intermediate bulk container";

"ICAO" means the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal,

Quebec H3C 5H7, Canada);

"ICAO Technical Instructions" means the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous

Goods by Air, which complement Annex 18 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil

Aviation (Chicago 1944), published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in

Montreal;

"IMDG Code" means the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, for the implementation of

Chapter VII, Part A, of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS

Convention), published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), London;

"IMO" means the International Maritime Organization (IMO, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1

7SR, United Kingdom);

"Inner packaging" means a packaging for which an outer packaging is required for carriage;

"Inner receptacle" means a receptacle which requires an outer packaging in order to perform its

containment function;

"Inspection body" means an independent inspection and testing body approved by the competent

authority;

"Intermediate bulk container" (IBC) means a rigid, or flexible portable packaging, other than those

specified in Chapter 6.1, that:

(a) Has a capacity of:

(i) not more than 3 m3 for solids and liquids of packing groups II and III;

(ii) not more than 1.5 m3 for solids of packing group I when packed in flexible, rigid

plastics, composite, fibreboard and wooden IBCs;

(iii) not more than 3 m3 for solids of packing group I when packed in metal IBCs;

(iv) not more than 3 m3 for radioactive material of Class 7;

(b) Is designed for mechanical handling;

(c) Is resistant to the stresses produced in handling and transport as determined by the tests

specified in Chapter 6.5;

(see also "Composite IBC with plastics inner receptacle", "Fibreboard IBC", "Flexible IBC", "Metal

IBC", "Rigid plastics IBC" and "Wooden IBC").

NOTE 1: Portable tanks or tank-containers that meet the requirements of Chapter 6.7 or 6.8

respectively are not considered to be intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).

NOTE 2: Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) which meet the requirements of Chapter 6.5 are not

considered to be containers for the purposes of ADR.

"Remanufactured IBC" means a metal, rigid plastics or composite IBC that:

(a) Is produced as a UN type from a non-UN type; or

(b) Is converted from one UN design type to another UN design type.

Remanufactured IBCs are subject to the same requirements of ADR that apply to new IBCs of the

same type (see also design type definition in 6.5.6.1.1);

"Repaired IBC" means a metal, rigid plastics or composite IBC that, as a result of impact or for any

other cause (e.g. corrosion, embrittlement or other evidence of reduced strength as compared to the

design type) is restored so as to conform to the design type and to be able to withstand the design type

tests. For the purposes of ADR, the replacement of the rigid inner receptacle of a composite IBC with

a receptacle conforming to the original design type from the same manufacturer is considered repair.

However, routine maintenance of rigid IBCs is not considered repair. The bodies of rigid plastics

IBCs and the inner receptacles of composite IBCs are not repairable. Flexible IBCs are not repairable

unless approved by the competent authority;

"Routine maintenance of flexible IBCs" means the routine performance on plastics or textile flexible

IBCs of operations, such as:

(a) Cleaning; or

(b) Replacement of non-integral components, such as non-integral liners and closure ties, with

components conforming to the original manufacturer's specification;

provided that these operations do not adversely affect the containment function of the flexible IBC or

alter the design type.

"Routine maintenance of rigid IBCs" means the routine performance on metal, rigid plastics or

composite IBCs of operations such as:

(a) Cleaning;

(b) Removal and reinstallation or replacement of body closures (including associated gaskets), or

of service equipment, conforming to the original manufacturer’s specifications, provided that

the leaktightness of the IBC is verified; or

(c) Restoration of structural equipment not directly performing a dangerous goods containment or

discharge pressure retention function so as to conform to the design type (e.g. the straightening

of legs or lifting attachments) provided that the containment function of the IBC is not

affected;

"Intermediate packaging" means a packaging placed between inner packagings or articles, and an

outer packaging;

"ISO" (standard) means an international standard published by the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) (ISO - 1, rue de Varembé. CH-1204 Geneva 20);

J

"Jerrican" means a metal or plastics packaging of rectangular or polygonal cross-section with one or

more orifices;

L

"Large container ", see "Container";

"Large packaging" means a packaging consisting of an outer packaging which contains articles or

inner packagings and which

(a) Is designed for mechanical handling;

(b) Exceeds 400 kg net mass or 450 litres capacity but has a volume of not more than 3 m3;

"Large salvage packaging" means a special packaging which

(a) is designed for mechanical handling; and

(b) exceeds 400 kg net mass or 450 litres capacity but has a volume of not more than 3 m³;

into which damaged, defective, leaking or non-conforming dangerous goods packages, or dangerous

goods that have spilled or leaked are placed for purposes of carriage for recovery or disposal;

"Leakproofness test" means a test to determine the leakproofness of a tank, a packaging or an IBC and

of the equipment and closure devices;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Light-gauge metal packaging" means a packaging of circular, elliptical, rectangular or polygonal

cross-section (also conical) and taper-necked and pail-shaped packaging made of metal, having a wall

thickness of less than 0.5 mm (e.g. tinplate), flat or convex bottomed and with one or more orifices,

which is not covered by the definitions for drums or jerricans;

"Liner" means a tube or bag inserted into a packaging, including large packagings or IBCs, but not

forming an integral part of it, including the closures of its openings;

"Liquid" means a substance which at 50 °C has a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar),

which is not completely gaseous at 20 °C and 101.3 kPa, and which

(a) Has a melting point or initial melting point of 20 °C or less at a pressure of 101.3 kPa; or

(b) Is liquid according to the ASTM D 4359-90 test method; or

(c) Is not pasty according to the criteria applicable to the test for determining fluidity

(penetrometer test) described in 2.3.4;

NOTE: "Carriage in the liquid state", for the purpose of tank requirements, means:

- Carriage of liquids according to the above definition; or

- Solids handed over for carriage in the molten state.

"Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)" means a refrigerated liquefied gas composed of natural gas with a

high methane content assigned to UN No. 1972;

"Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)" means a low pressure liquefied gas composed of one or more light

hydrocarbons which are assigned to UN Nos. 1011, 1075, 1965, 1969 or 1978 only and which consists

mainly of propane, propene, butane, butane isomers, butene with traces of other hydrocarbon gases;

NOTE 1: Flammable gases assigned to other UN numbers shall not be regarded as LPG.

NOTE 2: For UN No. 1075 see NOTE 2 under 2F, UN No. 1965, in the table for Liquefied gases in

2.2.2.3.

"Loader" means any enterprise which:

(a) Loads packaged dangerous goods, small containers or portable tanks into or onto a vehicle or a

container; or

(b) Loads a container, bulk-container, MEGC, tank-container or portable tank onto a vehicle.

"Loading" means all actions carried out by the loader, in accordance with the definition of loader;

M

"Management system", for the carriage of radioactive material, means a set of interrelated or

interacting elements (system) for establishing policies and objectives and enabling the objectives to be

achieved in an efficient and effective manner;

"Manual of Tests and Criteria" means the sixth revised edition of the Recommendations on the

Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, published by the United Nations

(ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.6);

"Mass of package" means gross mass of the package unless otherwise stated. The mass of containers

and tanks used for the carriage of goods is not included in the gross mass;

"Maximum capacity" means the maximum inner volume of receptacles or packagings including

intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and large packagings expressed in cubic metres or litres;

"Maximum net mass" means the maximum net mass of contents in a single packaging or maximum

combined mass of inner packagings and the contents thereof expressed in kilograms;

"Maximum normal operating pressure", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the maximum

pressure above atmospheric pressure at mean sea-level that would develop in the containment system

in a period of one year under the conditions of temperature and solar radiation corresponding to

environmental conditions in the absence of venting, external cooling by an ancillary system, or

operational controls during carriage;

"Maximum permissible gross mass"

(a) (for IBCs) means the mass of the IBC and any service or structural equipment together with the

maximum net mass;

(b) (for tanks) means the tare of the tank and the heaviest load authorized for carriage;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Maximum working pressure (gauge pressure)" means the highest of the following three pressures

that may occur at the top of the tank in the operating position:

(a) The highest effective pressure allowed in the tank during filling (maximum filling pressure

allowed);

(b) The highest effective pressure allowed in the tank during discharge (maximum discharge

pressure allowed); and

(c) The effective gauge pressure to which the tank is subjected by its contents (including such

extraneous gases as it may contain) at the maximum working temperature.

Unless the special requirements prescribed in Chapter 4.3 provide otherwise, the numerical value of

this working pressure (gauge pressure) shall not be lower than the vapour pressure (absolute pressure)

of the filling substance at 50 °C.

For tanks equipped with safety valves (with or without bursting disc) other than tanks for the carriage

of compressed, liquefied or dissolved gases of Class 2, the maximum working pressure (gauge

pressure) shall however be equal to the prescribed opening pressure of such safety valves.

(See also "Calculation pressure", "Discharge pressure", "Filling pressure" and "Test pressure");

NOTE 1: Maximum working pressure is not applicable to gravity-discharge tanks according to

6.8.2.1.14 (a).

NOTE 2: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

NOTE 3: For closed cryogenic receptacles, see NOTE to 6.2.1.3.6.5.

"MEGC", see "Multiple-element gas container";

"Member of a vehicle crew" means a driver or any other person accompanying the driver for safety,

security, training or operational reasons;

"MEMU", see "Mobile explosives manufacturing unit";

"Metal hydride storage system" means a single complete hydrogen storage system, including a

receptacle, metal hydride, pressure relief device, shut-off valve, service equipment and internal

components used for the carriage of hydrogen only;

"Metal IBC" means a metal body together with appropriate service and structural equipment;

"Mild steel" means a steel having a minimum tensile strength between 360 N/mm2 and 440 N/mm2;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Mobile explosives manufacturing unit" (MEMU) means a unit, or a vehicle mounted with a unit, for

manufacturing and charging explosives from dangerous goods that are not explosives. The unit

consists of various tanks and bulk containers and process equipment as well as pumps and related

equipment. The MEMU may have special compartments for packaged explosives;

NOTE: Even though the definition of MEMU includes the expression "manufacturing and charging

explosives" the requirements for MEMUs apply only to carriage and not to manufacturing and

charging of explosives.

"Multiple-element gas container" (MEGC) means a unit containing elements which are linked to each

other by a manifold and mounted on a frame. The following elements are considered to be elements of

a multiple-element gas container: cylinders, tubes, pressure drums or bundles of cylinders as well as

tanks for the carriage of gases as defined in 2.2.2.1.1 having a capacity of more than 450 litres;

NOTE: For UN MEGCs, see Chapter 6.7.

N

"Net explosive mass (NEM)" means the total mass of the explosive substances, without the

packagings, casings, etc. (Net explosive quantity (NEQ), net explosive contents (NEC), net explosive

weight (NEW) or net mass of explosive contents are often used to convey the same meaning;

"Neutron radiation detector" means a device that detects neutron radiation. In such a device, a gas

may be contained in a hermetically sealed electron tube transducer that converts neutron radiation into

a measureable electric signal;

"N.O.S. entry (not otherwise specified entry)" means a collective entry to which substances, mixtures,

solutions or articles may be assigned if they:

(a) Are not mentioned by name in Table A of Chapter 3.2; and

(b) Exhibit chemical, physical and/or dangerous properties corresponding to the Class,

classification code, packing group and the name and description of the n.o.s. entry;

O

"Offshore bulk container" means a bulk container specially designed for repeated use for carriage to,

from and between offshore facilities. An offshore bulk container is designed and constructed in

accordance with the guidelines for the approval of offshore containers handled in open seas specified

by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in document MSC/Circ.860;

"Open container", see "Container";

"Open cryogenic receptacle" means a transportable thermally insulated receptacle for refrigerated

liquefied gases maintained at atmospheric pressure by continuous venting of the refrigerated liquefied

gas;

"Open vehicle" means a vehicle the platform of which has no superstructure or is merely provided

with side boards and a tailboard;

"Outer packaging" means the outer protection of the composite or combination packaging together

with any absorbent materials, cushioning and any other components necessary to contain and protect

inner receptacles or inner packagings;

"Overpack" means an enclosure used (by a single consignor in the case of radioactive material) to

contain one or more packages, consolidated into a single unit easier to handle and stow during

carriage;

Examples of overpacks:

(a) A loading tray such as a pallet, on which several packages are placed or stacked and secured by

a plastics strip, shrink or stretch wrapping or other appropriate means; or

(b) An outer protective packaging such as a box or a crate;

P

"Package" means the complete product of the packing operation, consisting of the packaging or large

packaging or IBC and its contents prepared for dispatch. The term includes receptacles for gases as

defined in this section as well as articles which, because of their size, mass or configuration may be

carried unpackaged or carried in cradles, crates or handling devices. Except for the carriage of

radioactive material, the term does not apply to goods which are carried in bulk, nor to substances

carried in tanks;

NOTE: For radioactive material, see 2.2.7.2, 4.1.9.1.1 and Chapter 6.4.

"Packaging" means one or more receptacles and any other components or materials necessary for the

receptacles to perform their containment and other safety functions (see also "Combination

packaging", "Composite packaging", "Inner packaging", "Intermediate bulk container (IBC)",

"Intermediate packaging", "Large packaging", "Light-gauge metal packaging", "Outer packaging",

"Reconditioned packaging", "Remanufactured packaging", "Reused packaging", "Salvage packaging"

and "Sift-proof packaging");

"Packer" means any enterprise which puts dangerous goods into packagings, including large

packagings and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and, where necessary, prepares packages for

carriage;

"Packing group" means a group to which, for packing purposes, certain substances may be assigned in

accordance with their degree of danger. The packing groups have the following meanings which are

explained more fully in Part 2:

Packing group I: Substances presenting high danger;

Packing group II: Substances presenting medium danger; and

Packing group III: Substances presenting low danger;

NOTE: Certain articles containing dangerous goods are assigned to a packing group.

"Portable tank" means a multimodal tank having, when used for the carriage of gases as defined in

2.2.2.1.1, a capacity of more than 450 litres in accordance with the definitions in Chapter 6.7 or the

IMDG Code and indicated by a portable tank instruction (T-Code) in Column (10) of Table A of

Chapter 3.2;

"Portable tank operator", see "Tank-container/portable tank operator";

"Pressure drum" means a welded transportable pressure receptacle of a water capacity exceeding 150

litres and of not more than1 000 litres, (e.g. cylindrical receptacles equipped with rolling hoops,

spheres on skids);"

"Pressure receptacle" means a collective term that includes cylinders, tubes, pressure drums, closed

cryogenic receptacles, metal hydride storage systems, bundles of cylinders and salvage pressure

receptacles;

"Pressurized gas cartridge", see "Aerosol or aerosol dispenser";

"Protected IBC" (for metal IBCs) means an IBC provided with additional protection against impact,

the protection taking the form of, for example, a multi-layer (sandwich) or double-wall construction,

or a frame with a metal lattice-work casing;

Q

"Quality assurance" means a systematic programme of controls and inspections applied by any

organization or body which is aimed at providing confidence that the safety prescriptions in ADR are

met in practice;

R

"Radiation detection system" means an apparatus that contains radiation detectors as components;

"Radiation level", for the carriage of radioactive material, means the corresponding dose rate

expressed in millisieverts per hour or microsieverts per hour;

"Radioactive contents", for the carriage of radioactive material, mean the radioactive material together

with any contaminated or activated solids, liquids, and gases within the packaging;

"Receptacle" (Class 1) includes boxes, bottles, cans, drums, jars and tubes, including any means of

closure used in the inner or intermediate packaging;

"Receptacle" means a containment vessel for receiving and holding substances or articles, including

any means of closing. This definition does not apply to shells (see also "Cryogenic receptacle", "Inner

receptacle", "Pressure receptacle", "Rigid inner receptacle" and "Gas cartridge");

"Reconditioned packaging" means in particular

(a) Metal drums that are:

(i) cleaned to original materials of construction, with all former contents, internal and

external corrosion, and external coatings and labels removed;

(ii) restored to original shape and contour, with chimes (if any) straightened and sealed and

all non-integral gaskets replaced; and

(iii) inspected after cleaning but before painting, with rejection of packagings with visible

pitting, significant reduction in the material thickness, metal fatigue, damaged threads

or closures or other significant defects;

(b) Plastics drums and jerricans that:

(i) are cleaned to original materials of construction, with all former contents, external

coatings and labels removed;

(ii) have all non-integral gaskets replaced; and

(iii) are inspected after cleaning with rejection of packagings with visible damage such as

tears, creases or cracks, or damaged threads or closures or other significant defects;

"Recycled plastics material" means material recovered from used industrial packagings that has been

cleaned and prepared for processing into new packagings;

"Reel" (Class 1) means a device made of plastics, wood, fibreboard, metal or other suitable material

comprising a central spindle with, or without, side walls at each end of the spindle. Articles and

substances can be wound onto the spindle and may be retained by side walls;

"Reference steel" means a steel with a tensile strength of 370 N/mm2 and an elongation at fracture of

27%;

"Remanufactured IBC", see "Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC)";

"Remanufactured large packaging" means a metal or rigid plastics large packaging that:

(a) Is produced as a UN type from a non-UN type; or

(b) Is converted from one UN design type to another UN design type.

Remanufactured large packagings are subject to the same requirements of ADR that apply to new

large packagings of the same type (see also design type definition in 6.6.5.1.2);

"Remanufactured packaging" means in particular

(a) Metal drums that:

(i) are produced as a UN type complying with the requirements of Chapter 6.1 from a non-

UN type;

(ii) are converted from one UN type complying with the requirements of Chapter 6.1 to

another UN type; or

(iii) undergo the replacement of integral structural components (such as non-removable

heads);

(b) Plastics drums that:

(i) are converted from one UN type to another UN type (e.g. 1H1 to 1H2); or

(ii) undergo the replacement of integral structural components.

Remanufactured drums are subject to the requirements of Chapter 6.1 which apply to new drums of

the same type;

"Repaired IBC", see "Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC)";

"Reused large packaging" means a large packaging to be refilled which has been examined and found

free of defects affecting the ability to withstand the performance tests; the term includes those which

are refilled with the same or similar compatible contents and are carried within distribution chains

controlled by the consignor of the product;

"Reused packaging" means a packaging which has been examined and found free of defects affecting

the ability to withstand the performance tests. The term includes those which are refilled with the

same or similar compatible contents and are carried within distribution chains controlled by the

consignor of the product;

"RID" means Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail

(Appendix C of COTIF (Convention concerning international carriage by rail));

"Rigid inner receptacle" (for composite IBCs) means a receptacle which retains its general shape

when empty without its closures in place and without benefit of the outer casing. Any inner receptacle

that is not "rigid" is considered to be "flexible";

"Rigid plastics IBC" means a rigid plastics body, which may have structural equipment together with

appropriate service equipment;

"Routine maintenance of flexible IBCs", see "Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC)";

"Routine maintenance of rigid IBCs", see "Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC)";

S

"Safety valve" means a spring-loaded device which is activated automatically by pressure the purpose

of which is to protect the tank against unacceptable excess internal pressure;

"SADT" see "Self-accelerating decomposition temperature";

"Salvage packaging" means a special packaging into which damaged, defective, leaking or nonconforming

dangerous goods packages, or dangerous goods that have spilled or leaked are placed for

purposes of carriage for recovery or disposal;

"Salvage pressure receptacle" means a pressure receptacle with a water capacity not exceeding 3 000

litres into which are placed damaged, defective, leaking or non-conforming pressure receptacle(s) for

the purpose of carriage e.g. for recovery or disposal;

"SAPT", see "Self-accelerating polymerization temperature";

"Self-accelerating decomposition temperature" (SADT), means the lowest temperature at which selfaccelerating

decomposition may occur with substance in the packaging as used during carriage.

Provisions for determining the SADT and the effects of heating under confinement are contained in

Part II of the Manual of Tests and Criteria;

"Self-accelerating polymerization temperature (SAPT)" means the lowest temperature at which

polymerization may occur with a substance in the packaging, IBC or tank as offered for carriage. The

SAPT shall be determined in accordance with the test procedures established for the self-accelerating

decomposition temperature for self-reactive substances in accordance with Part II, section 28 of the

Manual of Tests and Criteria;

"Service equipment"

(a) Of the tank means filling and discharge, breather, safety, heating, heat insulating and additive

devices and measuring instruments;

(b) Of the elements of a battery-vehicle or of a MEGC means filling and discharge devices,

including the manifold, safety devices and measuring instruments;

(c) Of an IBC means the filling and discharge devices and any pressure-relief or venting, safety,

heating and heat insulating devices and measuring instruments;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Service life", for composite cylinders and tubes, means the number of years the cylinder or tube is

permitted to be in service;

"Settled pressure" means the pressure of the contents of a pressure receptacle in thermal and diffusive

equilibrium;

"Sheeted bulk container", see "Bulk container";

"Sheeted container", see "Container";

"Sheeted vehicle" means an open vehicle provided with a sheet to protect the load;

"Shell" (for tanks), means the part of the tank which retains the substance intended for carriage,

including openings and their closures, but does not include service equipment or external structural

equipment;

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Sift-proof packaging" means a packaging impermeable to dry contents, including fine solid material

produced during carriage;

"Small container", see "Container";

"Small receptacle containing gas (gas cartridge)" means a non-refillable receptacle having a water

capacity not exceeding 1000 ml for receptacles made of metal and not exceeding 500 ml for

receptacles made of synthetic material or glass, containing, under pressure, a gas or a mixture of

gases. It may be fitted with a valve;

"Solid" means:

(a) A substance with a melting point or initial melting point of more than 20 °C at a pressure of

101.3 kPa; or

(b) A substance which is not liquid according to the ASTM D 4359-90 test method or which is

pasty according to the criteria applicable to the test for determining fluidity (penetrometer test)

described in 2.3.4;

"Structural equipment"

(a) For tanks of a tank-vehicle or demountable tank, means the external or internal reinforcing,

fastening, protective or stabilizing members of the shell;

(b) For tanks of a tank-container, means the external or internal reinforcing, fastening, protective

or stabilizing members of the shell;

(c) For elements of a battery-vehicle or an MEGC means the external or internal reinforcing,

fastening, protective or stabilizing members of the shell or receptacle;

(d) For IBCs other than flexible IBCs means the reinforcing, fastening, handling, protective or

stabilizing members of the body (including the base pallet for composite IBCs with plastics

inner receptacle);

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Swap body", see "Container";

T

"Tank" means a shell, including its service and structural equipment. When used alone, the term tank

means a tank-container, portable tank, demountable tank or fixed tank as defined in this Section,

including tanks forming elements of battery-vehicles or MEGCs (see also "Demountable tank",

"Fixed tank", "Portable tank" and "Multiple-element gas container");

NOTE: For portable tanks, see 6.7.4.1.

"Tank-container" means an article of transport equipment meeting the definition of a container, and

comprising a shell and items of equipment, including the equipment to facilitate movement of the

tank-container without significant change of attitude, used for the carriage of gases, liquid, powdery or

granular substances and, when used for the carriage of gases as defined in 2.2.2.1.1, having a capacity

of more than 0.45 m3 (450 litres);

NOTE: IBCs which meet the requirements of Chapter 6.5 are not considered to be tank-containers.

"Tank-container/portable tank operator" means any enterprise in whose name the tankcontainer/

portable tank is registered;

"Tank record" means a file containing all the important technical information concerning a tank, a

battery-vehicle or a MEGC, such as certificates referred to in 6.8.2.3, 6.8.2.4 and 6.8.3.4;

"Tank swap body" is considered to be a tank-container;

"Tank-vehicle" means a vehicle built to carry liquids, gases or powdery or granular substances and

comprising one or more fixed tanks. In addition to the vehicle proper, or the units of running gear

used in its stead, a tank-vehicle comprises one or more shells, their items of equipment and the fittings

for attaching them to the vehicle or to the running-gear units;

"Technical name" means a recognized chemical name, if relevant a biological name, or other name

currently used in scientific and technical handbooks, journals and texts (see 3.1.2.8.1.1);

"Test pressure" means the required pressure applied during a pressure test for initial or periodic

inspection (see also "Calculation pressure", "Discharge pressure", "Filling pressure" and "Maximum

working pressure (gauge pressure)");

NOTE: For portable tanks, see Chapter 6.7.

"Through or into", for the carriage of radioactive material, means through or into the countries in

which a consignment is carried but specifically excludes countries "over" which a consignment is

carried by air provided that there are no scheduled stops in those countries;

"Transport index (TI) assigned to a package, overpack or container, or to unpackaged LSA-I or SCOI",

for the carriage of radioactive material, means a number which is used to provide control over

radiation exposure;

"Transport unit" means a motor vehicle without an attached trailer, or a combination consisting of a

motor vehicle and an attached trailer;

"Tray" (Class 1) means a sheet of metal, plastics, fibreboard or other suitable material which is placed

in the inner, intermediate or outer packaging and achieves a close-fit in such packaging. The surface

of the tray may be shaped so that packagings or articles can be inserted, held secure and separated

from each other;

"Tube" (Class 2) means a transportable pressure receptacle of seamless or composite construction

having a water capacity exceeding 150 litres and of not more than 3 000 litres;

U

"UIC" means the International Union of Railways (UIC, 16 rue Jean Rey, F-75015 Paris, France);

"UNECE" means the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE, Palais des Nations,

8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland);

"Undertaking", see "Enterprise";

"Unloader" means any enterprise which:

(a) Removes a container, bulk-container, MEGC, tank-container or portable tank from a vehicle;

or

(b) Unloads packaged dangerous goods, small containers or portable tanks out of or from a vehicle

or a container; or

(c) Discharges dangerous goods from a tank (tank-vehicle, demountable tank, portable tank or

tank-container) or from a battery-vehicle, MEMU or MEGC or from a vehicle, large container

or small container for carriage in bulk or a bulk-container;

"Unloading" means all actions carried out by the unloader, in accordance with the definition of

unloader;

"UN Model Regulations" means the Model Regulations annexed to the nineteenth revised edition of

the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods published by the United Nations

(ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.19);

"UN number" means the four-figure identification number of the substance or article taken from the

UN Model Regulations;

V

"Vacuum-operated waste tank" means a fixed tank, demountable tank, tank-container or tank swap

body primarily used for the carriage of dangerous wastes, with special constructional features and/or

equipment to facilitate the filling and discharging of wastes as specified in Chapter 6.10. A tank which

fully complies with the requirements of Chapter 6.7 or 6.8 is not considered to be a vacuum-operated

waste tank;

"Vacuum valve" means a spring-loaded device which is activated automatically by pressure the

purpose of which is to protect the tank against unacceptable negative internal pressure;

"Vehicle" see "Battery-vehicle", "Closed vehicle", "Open vehicle", "Sheeted vehicle" and "Tankvehicle";

W

"Wastes" means substances, solutions, mixtures or articles for which no direct use is envisaged but

which are transported for reprocessing, dumping, elimination by incineration or other methods of

disposal;

"Wooden barrel" means a packaging made of natural wood, of round cross-section, having convex

walls, consisting of staves and heads and fitted with hoops;

"Wooden IBC" means a rigid or collapsible wooden body, together with an inner liner (but no inner

packaging) and appropriate service and structural equipment;

"Working pressure" means the settled pressure of a compressed gas at a reference temperature

of 15 °C in a full pressure receptacle;

NOTE: For tanks, see "Maximum working pressure".

"Woven plastics" (for flexible IBCs) means a material made from stretch tapes or monofilaments of

suitable plastics material.

Persons employed by the participants referred to in Chapter 1.4, whose duties concern the carriage of

dangerous goods, shall be trained in the requirements governing the carriage of such goods

appropriate to their responsibilities and duties. Employees shall be trained in accordance with 1.3.2

before assuming responsibilities and shall only perform functions, for which required training has not

yet been provided, under the direct supervision of a trained person. Training requirements specific to

security of dangerous goods in Chapter 1.10 shall also be addressed.

NOTE 1: With regard to the training for the safety adviser, see 1.8.3 instead of this section.

NOTE 2: With regard to the training of the vehicle crew, see Chapter 8.2 instead of this section.

NOTE 3: For training with regard to Class 7, see also 1.7.2.5.

The training shall take the following form, appropriate to the responsibility and duties of the

individual concerned.

Personnel shall be familiar with the general requirements of the provisions for the carriage of

dangerous goods.

Personnel shall be trained, commensurate directly with their duties and responsibilities in the

requirements of the regulations concerning the carriage of dangerous goods.

Where the carriage of dangerous goods involves a multimodal transport operation, the personnel shall

be aware of the requirements concerning other transport modes.

Commensurate with the degree of risk of injury or exposure arising from an incident involving the

carriage of dangerous goods, including loading and unloading, personnel shall be trained in the

hazards and dangers presented by dangerous goods.

The training provided shall aim to make personnel aware of the safe handling and emergency response

procedures.

Records of training received according to this Chapter shall be kept by the employer and made

available to the employee or competent authority, upon request. Records shall be kept by the employer

for a period of time established by the competent authority. Records of training shall be verified upon

commencing a new employment.