ADR vehicle equipment: the full list

At a roadside check, the equipment is almost always looked at. A missing wheel chock or an out-of-date extinguisher gets spotted straight away, and in an emergency it’s exactly the thing you need. The rules are in ADR 8.1.4 for fire extinguishers and 8.1.5 for everything else. What you have to carry depends on the maximum permissible mass of the transport unit and the danger labels of the load.

Fire extinguishers under 8.1.4

Every transport unit carrying dangerous goods needs portable fire extinguishers for inflammability classes A, B and C. How many and how big depends on the maximum permissible mass (ADR 8.1.4.1):

Mass	In total	Of which at least
up to 3.5 t	2 extinguishers, 4 kg	one of 2 kg for the engine or cab, another of 2 kg
over 3.5 t up to 7.5 t	2 extinguishers, 8 kg	one of 2 kg for the engine or cab, another of 6 kg
over 7.5 t	2 extinguishers, 12 kg	one of 2 kg for the engine or cab, another of 6 kg

The capacities are for dry powder. With another suitable extinguishing agent, the capacity has to be equivalent. If you’re carrying under the 1,000 points rule (1.1.3.6), one extinguisher for inflammability classes A, B and C with at least 2 kg of dry powder is enough (ADR 8.1.4.2).

All extinguishers must also meet these rules:

• They must be suitable for use on a vehicle and meet EN 3-7. The extinguishing agent must not release toxic gases into the cab or under the heat of a fire (ADR 8.1.4.3).
• If the vehicle has a fixed engine extinguisher, automatic or easily brought into action, the portable one doesn’t need to be suitable for an engine fire (ADR 8.1.4.3).
• A seal shows the extinguisher hasn’t been used. It is inspected regularly and marked with the month and year of the next inspection or of the end of its permitted period of use (ADR 8.1.4.4).
• The extinguishers are fitted where the crew can reach them easily and protected from the weather. The date on the mark must not have passed during the journey (ADR 8.1.4.5).

The crew must know how to use the extinguishers (ADR 8.3.2).

Equipment for every transport unit

The rest of the equipment is chosen by the danger label numbers of the goods loaded, which you can find in the transport document (ADR 8.1.5.1). Every transport unit carrying dangerous goods must have on board (ADR 8.1.5.2):

• a wheel chock for each vehicle, sized for the vehicle’s maximum mass and wheel diameter. Under Article 1(a) of the ADR Agreement, trailers and semi-trailers count as vehicles too. An articulated lorry therefore needs two chocks, one for the tractor unit and one for the trailer.
• two self-standing warning signs.
• eye rinsing liquid. Not required if the load carries only labels of models 1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3.

Equipment for each crew member

For every member of the vehicle crew, so the co-driver as well, ADR 8.1.5.2 requires:

• a warning vest, for example to EN ISO 20471,
• a portable lighting apparatus that complies with 8.3.4, so with no metal surface likely to produce sparks,
• a pair of protective gloves,
• eye protection, such as protective goggles.

Additional equipment for certain labels

For some goods, ADR 8.1.5.3 adds more:

• Emergency escape mask: one for each crew member when the load carries label 2.3 or 6.1. That includes a subsidiary hazard label, for example on methanol (UN 1230) with labels 3 and 6.1. ADR gives as an example a mask with a combined gas and dust filter of type A1B1E1K1-P1 or A2B2E2K2-P2, similar to the one described in EN 14387.
• Shovel, drain seal and collecting container: only for solids and liquids with labels 3, 4.1, 4.3, 8 or 9.

So you don’t need the shovel for gases, or for substances that only carry label 6.1. For those, the mask is what counts.

You’ll also find the full equipment list on the last page of the instructions in writing (ADR 5.4.3.4).

Three examples

Diesel tanker, 40 t. Diesel (UN 1202) carries label 3. On board: two extinguishers with a total of at least 12 kg, one of at least 2 kg for the engine and one of at least 6 kg. Plus a wheel chock for each vehicle, two warning signs, eye rinsing liquid, personal equipment for each crew member, and a shovel, drain seal and collecting container.

7.5 t lorry with 600 kg of propane in cylinders. Propane (UN 1978) carries label 2.1, and the quantity is above the 333 kg limit of 1.1.3.6. Two extinguishers with a total of at least 8 kg, a chock, warning signs and personal equipment. Eye rinsing liquid, an escape mask and a shovel aren’t required.

3.5 t van with 50 kg of potassium cyanide. UN 1680 carries label 6.1 and is in transport category 1. The limit under 1.1.3.6 is 20 kg, so the exemption doesn’t apply. Two extinguishers with a total of at least 4 kg, a chock, warning signs, eye rinsing liquid, personal equipment and an escape mask for each person. A shovel, drain seal and collecting container aren’t required.

Check before you set off

Before every journey, look at the transport document, note the labels and go through the list. On the extinguisher, check the seal and the date. These are exactly the exam questions: how many kilograms, when do you need the mask, when the shovel?

In the free test you get an explanation and the ADR reference after every answer. In the app you can work through every equipment question until it sticks.

Sources

ADR 2025: Article 1(a) of the Agreement, sub-section 1.1.3.6, sections 8.1.4 and 8.1.5, sections 8.3.2 and 8.3.4, and 5.4.3.4. In Great Britain, ADR applies through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009. This guide explains the basics. For the equipment on an actual transport unit, the wording of ADR is what counts.