The 1,000 points rule explained

A van takes jerrycans of petrol and gas cylinders to a building site. Both are dangerous goods. Even so, the van may be allowed to run without orange plates, and the driver may not need an ADR training certificate. Whether that works comes down to a calculation under ADR 1.1.3.6, known in the trade as the ‘1,000 points rule’.

What the 1.1.3.6 exemption covers

The exemption only applies to dangerous goods carried in packages, which means packagings, IBCs or gas cylinders. It never applies to tanks or bulk loads (ADR 1.1.3.6.2). You calculate per transport unit, which is a motor vehicle on its own or a motor vehicle with its trailer (ADR 1.2.1). Every dangerous good on that unit counts.

Each substance or article is assigned to a transport category from 0 to 4. You find it in Chapter 3.2, Table A, column (15): the category is at the top of the cell, with the tunnel restriction code in brackets underneath (ADR 1.1.3.6.1 and 3.2.1). Petrol (UN 1203) is in category 2, diesel (UN 1202) in category 3.

Categories, limits and multipliers

If everything on board is in the same category, you simply compare the quantity with the limit in the table in ADR 1.1.3.6.3. With a mixed load, you multiply each quantity by the multiplier for its category and add the results together. The total must not exceed 1,000 (ADR 1.1.3.6.4). ADR calls it the calculated value. Most people just call it points.

Category	Maximum quantity	Multiplier
0	0, no exemption	–
1	20	50
2	333	3
3	1,000	1
4	unlimited	not counted

• Category 0: particularly dangerous goods, such as Class 4.2 substances in packing group I
• Category 1: packing group I, toxic gases
• Category 2: packing group II, flammable gases such as propane
• Category 3: packing group III, asphyxiant and oxidizing gases such as oxygen
• Category 4: empty uncleaned packagings, 1.4S articles

The packing group is only a rough guide. Column (15) is what decides. The multipliers are set so that each limit corresponds to a calculated value of 1,000 (note b to the table in 1.1.3.6.3). Note a adds an exception: for UN 0081, 0082, 0084, 0241, 0331, 0332, 0482, 1005 and 1017 the limit is 50 kg, and the quantity is multiplied by 20 in the total. These include AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS (UN 1005) and CHLORINE (UN 1017).

Empty uncleaned packagings go into category 4. If they held a category 0 substance, they stay in category 0 (ADR 1.1.3.6.1).

What counts as the quantity

The figure you put into the sum depends on what you’re carrying (ADR 1.1.3.6.3):

• Liquids: the quantity actually contained, in litres, not the capacity of the packaging.
• Solids, liquefied gases, refrigerated liquefied gases and dissolved gases: the net mass in kilograms. With propane, you count the gas, not the cylinder.
• Compressed gases, adsorbed gases and chemicals under pressure: the water capacity of the receptacle in litres. The filling pressure makes no difference.
• Articles: the mass without packaging in kilograms. For Class 1, it’s the net mass of the explosive substance.

Goods that are already exempt under another provision are left out (ADR 1.1.3.6.5). These include goods packed in limited quantities (LQ, Chapter 3.4) and in excepted quantities (EQ, Chapter 3.5). Both are separate exemptions with their own conditions (ADR 1.1.3.4.2 and 1.1.3.4.3). The fuel the vehicle itself runs on doesn’t count either (ADR 1.1.3.3 (a)).

Three worked examples

1. Petrol only

A van delivers 300 litres of petrol (UN 1203) in jerrycans to a depot. Petrol is category 2, so the limit is 333 litres.

• Petrol, category 2: 300 l × 3 = 900 points

Result: 900 points, so the exemption applies. With 340 litres it would be 1,020 points, which is too much.

2. Mixed load

A vehicle delivers three dangerous goods to a garage:

• Diesel (UN 1202), category 3: 200 l × 1 = 200 points
• Petrol (UN 1203), category 2: 100 l × 3 = 300 points
• CORROSIVE LIQUID, N.O.S. (UN 1760), packing group I, category 1: 5 l × 50 = 250 points

Result: 200 + 300 + 250 = 750 points, so the exemption applies. The 5 litres in category 1 weigh more in the sum than 200 litres of diesel.

3. Gas cylinders

• 6 cylinders of propane (UN 1978), each holding 33 kg of gas, category 2. Propane is a liquefied gas, so the net mass counts: 198 kg × 3 = 594 points
• 8 cylinders of OXYGEN, COMPRESSED (UN 1072), each with a water capacity of 50 litres, category 3. Here the capacity counts: 400 l × 1 = 400 points

Result: 594 + 400 = 994 points, so the exemption applies, just. A seventh propane cylinder adds 33 kg × 3 = 99 points. At 1,093 points the exemption no longer applies.

What you can drop and what still applies

Below the limit, these are among the provisions you don’t have to apply (ADR 1.1.3.6.2):

• orange plates and placards on the vehicle (Chapter 5.3),
• the instructions in writing (Section 5.4.3),
• Part 8, apart from the exceptions listed below. That includes the driver’s ADR training certificate (8.2.1) and the equipment in 8.1.5, such as the wheel chock and warning vests,
• the requirements for the construction and approval of vehicles (Part 9),
• the security provisions (Chapter 1.10). These still apply to high consequence dangerous goods of Class 1 and to Class 7 excepted packages (UN 2910 and 2911) whose activity level exceeds the A₂ value.

These obligations remain:

• Packages: packaging, the UN number mark and danger labels. Chapter 5.2 isn’t on the list of exempted provisions.
• Transport document: as required by 5.4.1, carried in the driver’s cab (8.1.2.1 (a)). It shows the total quantity and the calculated value for each transport category (5.4.1.1.1 (f), Note 1).
• Fire extinguisher: one portable extinguisher for inflammability classes A, B and C with at least 2 kg of dry powder (8.1.4.2). It must be sealed, inspected and easy to reach (8.1.4.4 and 8.1.4.5).
• Training: in line with Chapter 1.3 for everyone involved, including a driver without an ADR certificate (8.2.3).
• Conduct: don’t open packages (8.3.3), don’t use portable lights with metal surfaces that could produce sparks (8.3.4), and don’t smoke during handling, e-cigarettes included (8.3.5).
• Loading: Chapter 7.5, including the mixed loading prohibition (7.5.2) and handling and stowage (7.5.7). Only special provision CV1 drops out.

Some goods carry extra rules: special provisions V5 and V8 (7.2.4), certain S provisions in Chapter 8.5 and the supervision of vehicles under Chapter 8.4. So check columns (16) and (19) of Table A, even for small loads.

Practise the calculation

The method never changes: look up the category in column (15), work out the quantity in the right unit, multiply, add up. After a few practice questions you’ll do it in your head.

In the free test you get an explanation and the ADR reference after every answer. The app has more questions on exemptions and quantity limits.

Sources

ADR 2025: sub-sections 1.1.3.3, 1.1.3.4 and 1.1.3.6, the definitions in 1.2.1, the explanation of columns (15), (16) and (19) in 3.2.1 and Chapter 3.2, Table A, paragraph 5.4.1.1.1, and sections 8.1.2, 8.1.4, 8.2.3 and Chapter 8.3. In Great Britain, the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 set the legal framework and include national exemptions, which this guide doesn’t cover (HSE guidance on ADR and the CDG Regulations). This guide explains the basics. For an actual load, the wording of ADR is what counts.