Dangerous Goods by Road
Pressure receptacles for liquids and solids
Unless otherwise indicated in ADR, pressure receptacles conforming to:
(a) the applicable requirements of Chapter 6.2; or
(b) the national or international standards on the design, construction, testing, manufacturing and
inspection, as applied by the country in which the pressure receptacles are manufactured,
provided that the provisions of 4.1.3.6 are met, and that, for metallic cylinders, tubes, pressure
drums, bundles of cylinders and salvage pressure receptacles, the construction is such that the
minimum burst ratio (burst pressure divided by test pressure) is:
(i) 1.50 for refillable pressure receptacles;
(ii) 2.00 for non-refillable pressure receptacles,
are authorized for the carriage of any liquid or solid substance other than explosives, thermally
unstable substances, organic peroxides, self-reactive substances, substances where significant pressure
may develop by evolution of chemical reaction and radioactive material (unless permitted in 4.1.9).
This sub-section is not applicable to the substances mentioned in 4.1.4.1, packing instruction P200,
table 3.
Every design type of pressure receptacle shall be approved by the competent authority of the country
of manufacture or as indicated in Chapter 6.2.
Unless otherwise indicated, pressure receptacles having a minimum test pressure of 0.6 MPa shall be
used.
Unless otherwise indicated, pressure receptacles may be provided with an emergency pressure relief
device designed to avoid bursting in case of overfill or fire accidents.
Pressure receptacle valves shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they are inherently
able to withstand damage without release of the contents or shall be protected from damage which
could cause inadvertent release of the contents of the pressure receptacle, by one of the methods as
given in 4.1.6.8 (a) to (e).
The level of filling shall not exceed 95% of the capacity of the pressure receptacle at 50 °C. Sufficient
ullage (outage) shall be left to ensure that the pressure receptacle will not be liquid full at a
temperature of 55 °C.
Unless otherwise indicated pressure receptacles shall be subjected to a periodic inspection and test
every 5 years. The periodic inspection shall include an external examination, an internal examination
or alternative method as approved by the competent authority, a pressure test or equivalent effective
non-destructive testing with the agreement of the competent authority including an inspection of all
accessories (e.g. tightness of valves, emergency relief valves or fusible elements). Pressure
receptacles shall not be filled after they become due for periodic inspection and test but may be
carried after the expiry of the time limit. Pressure receptacle repairs shall meet the requirements
of 4.1.6.11.
Prior to filling, the packer shall perform an inspection of the pressure receptacle and ensure that the
pressure receptacle is authorized for the substances to be carried and that the requirements of ADR
have been met. Shut-off valves shall be closed after filling and remain closed during carriage. The
consignor shall verify that the closures and equipment are not leaking.
Refillable pressure receptacles shall not be filled with a substance different from that previously
contained unless the necessary operations for change of service have been performed.
Marking of pressure receptacles for liquids and solids according to 4.1.3.6 (not conforming to the
requirements of Chapter 6.2) shall be in accordance with the requirements of the competent authority
of the country of manufacturing.
Packagings or IBCs not specifically authorized in the applicable packing instruction shall not be used
for the carriage of a substance or article unless specifically allowed under a temporary derogation
agreed between Contracting Parties in accordance with 1.5.1.
Unpackaged articles other than Class 1 articles
Where large and robust articles cannot be packaged in accordance with the requirements of Chapters
6.1 or 6.6 and they have to be carried empty, uncleaned and unpackaged, the competent authority of
the country of origin2 may approve such carriage. In doing so the competent authority shall take into
account that:
(a) Large and robust articles shall be strong enough to withstand the shocks and loadings normally
encountered during carriage including trans-shipment between cargo transport units and
between cargo transport units and warehouses, as well as any removal from a pallet for
subsequent manual or mechanical handling;
(b) All closures and openings shall be sealed so that there can be no loss of contents which might
be caused under normal conditions of carriage, by vibration, or by changes in temperature,
humidity or pressure (resulting from altitude, for example). No dangerous residue shall adhere
to the outside of the large and robust articles;
(c) Parts of large and robust articles, which are in direct contact with dangerous goods:
(i) shall not be affected or significantly weakened by those dangerous goods; and
(ii) shall not cause a dangerous effect e.g. catalysing a reaction or reacting with the
dangerous goods;
(d) Large and robust articles containing liquids shall be stowed and secured to ensure that neither
leakage nor permanent distortion of the article occurs during carriage;
(e) They shall be fixed in cradles or crates or other handling devices or to the cargo transport unit
in such a way that they will not become loose during normal conditions of carriage.
2 If the country of origin is not a contracting party to ADR, the competent authority of the first country contracting
party to the ADR reached by the consignment.
Unpackaged articles approved by the competent authority in accordance with the provisions of
4.1.3.8.1 shall be subject to the consignment procedures of Part 5. In addition the consignor of such
articles shall ensure that a copy of any such approval is attached to the transport document.
NOTE: A large and robust article may include flexible fuel containment systems, military equipment,
machinery or equipment containing dangerous goods above the limited quantities according to 3.4.1.
List of packing instructions
NOTE: Although the following packing instructions use the same numbering system as used in the
IMDG Code and the UN Model Regulations, readers should be aware that some of the details may be
different in the case of ADR.