Dangerous Goods by Road
USE OF PORTABLE TANKS AND UN MULTIPLE-ELEMENT GAS CONTAINERS (MEGCs)
NOTE 1: For fixed tanks (tank-vehicles), demountable tanks and tank-containers and tank swap bodies, with
shells made of metallic materials, and battery-vehicles and multiple element gas containers (MEGCs),
see Chapter 4.3; for fibre-reinforced plastics tanks, see Chapter 4.4; for vacuum operated waste
tanks, see Chapter 4.5.
NOTE 2: Portable tanks and UN MEGCs marked in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 6.7
but which were approved in a State which is not a Contracting Party to ADR may nevertheless be
used for carriage under ADR.
General provisions for the use of portable tanks for the carriage of substances of Class 1 and Classes 3 to 9
This section provides general provisions applicable to the use of portable tanks for the carriage of
substances of Classes 1, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7, 8 and 9. In addition to these general
provisions, portable tanks shall conform to the design, construction, inspection and testing
requirements detailed in 6.7.2. Substances shall be carried in portable tanks conforming to the
applicable portable tank instruction identified in Column (10) of the Table A of Chapter 3.2 and
described in 4.2.5.2.6 (T1 to T23) and the portable tank special provisions assigned to each substance
in Column (11) of Table A of Chapter 3.2 and described in 4.2.5.3.
During carriage, portable tanks shall be adequately protected against damage to the shell and service
equipment resulting from lateral and longitudinal impact and overturning. If the shell and service
equipment are so constructed as to withstand impact or overturning it need not be protected in this
way. Examples of such protection are given in 6.7.2.17.5.
Certain substances are chemically unstable. They are accepted for carriage only when the necessary
steps have been taken to prevent their dangerous decomposition, transformation or polymerization
during carriage. To this end, care shall in particular be taken to ensure that shells do not contain any
substances liable to promote these reactions.
The temperature of the outer surface of the shell excluding openings and their closures or of the
thermal insulation shall not exceed 70 °C during carriage. When necessary, the shell shall be
thermally insulated.
Empty portable tanks not cleaned and not gas-free shall comply with the same provisions as portable
tanks filled with the previous substance.
Substances shall not be carried in the same or in adjoining compartments of shells when they may
react dangerously with each other (see definition for "dangerous reaction" in 1.2.1).
The design approval certificate, the test report and the certificate showing the results of the initial
inspection and test for each portable tank issued by the competent authority or its authorized body
shall be retained by the authority or body and the owner. Owners shall be able to provide this
documentation upon the request of any competent authority.
Unless the name of the substance(s) being carried appears on the metal plate described in 6.7.2.20.2 a
copy of the certificate specified in 6.7.2.18.1 shall be made available upon the request of a competent
authority or its authorized body and readily provided by the consignor, consignee or agent, as
appropriate.
Degree of filling
Prior to filling, the consignor shall ensure that the appropriate portable tank is used and that the
portable tank is not filled with substances which in contact with the materials of the shell, gaskets,
service equipment and any protective linings, are likely to react dangerously with them to form
dangerous products or appreciably weaken these materials. The consignor may need to consult the
manufacturer of the substance in conjunction with the competent authority for guidance on the
compatibility of the substance with the portable tank materials.
Portable tanks shall not be filled above the extent provided in 4.2.1.9.2 to 4.2.1.9.6. The applicability
of 4.2.1.9.2, 4.2.1.9.3 or 4.2.1.9.5.1 to individual substances is specified in the applicable portable
tank instruction or special provisions in 4.2.5.2.6 or 4.2.5.3 and Column (10) or (11) of Table A of
Chapter 3.2.
The maximum degree of filling (in %) for general use is determined by the formula:
| Degree of filling |
 |
The maximum degree of filling (in %) for liquids of Class 6.1 and Class 8, in packing groups I and II,
and liquids with an absolute vapour pressure of more than 175 kPa (1.75 bar) at 65 °C, is determined
by the formula:
