Guidance

皇冠体育app definition of a 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� for the purpose of transporting dangerous goods by road

Updated 6 April 2020

漏 Crown copyright 2020

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Use of closed vehicles

皇冠体育app requires that, for some dangerous goods loads, a 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� or 鈥榗losed container鈥� must be used for carriage by road.

皇冠体育app ADR defines a 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� in section 1.2.1 as 鈥渁 vehicle having a body capable of being closed鈥�.

Following enforcement action in mainland Europe, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) has clarified its interpretation of this definition as concerns vehicle design with other contracting parties to the ADR.

Interpretation of the term 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥�

A 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� is one with rigid walls and a rigid roof. Vehicles with fabric sides or fabric tops are not considered to be closed. Curtain-sided vehicles (also called tautliners) do not meet the definition of a closed vehicle.

This interpretation has been confirmed by the UK competent authority (DfT) through consultation with other contracting parties to the ADR and relevant persons at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Basis for the interpretation

皇冠体育app interpretation of a 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� set out in this guidance is aligned with related definitions in the Model Regulations and the ADR:

皇冠体育app definition of a 鈥榗losed cargo transport unit鈥� in the Model Regulations

皇冠体育app is the multi-modal foundation text for the ADR. It refers to 鈥榗argo transport units鈥�, of which vehicles are a type.

In section 1.2.1, a 鈥榗losed cargo transport unit鈥� is defined as one which 鈥渢otally encloses the contents by permanent structures with complete and rigid surfaces鈥�.

It confirms that 鈥渃argo transport units with fabric sides or tops are not considered closed cargo transport units鈥�. Vehicles with fabric sides or tops cannot therefore be considered closed cargo transport units.

皇冠体育app definition of a 鈥榗losed container鈥� in the ADR

Where such a condition is relevant, the ADR always provides an option of using either a 鈥榗losed vehicle鈥� or 鈥榗losed container鈥�. It follows that the 鈥榗losed鈥� structural features of both types of unit should be comparable.

皇冠体育app ADR defines a 鈥榗losed container鈥� in section 1.2.1 as 鈥渁 totally closed container having a rigid roof, rigid side walls, rigid end walls and a floor鈥�. It follows that a closed vehicle should also have a rigid roof and rigid walls.

  • 皇冠体育app by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ADR)

  • by the United Nations (the Model Regulations)

  • , as amended by , and the

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