The ADR is a qualification that enables drivers to transport dangerous and hazardous goods by road. The ADR Certificate is valid for 5 years from date of issue. Drivers that wish to renew their licence will need to carry out a Refresher Course.

Candidates must take at least 3 modules to gain the ADR certificate. These must be the Core module, either Tanker or Packages modules, and at least one of the nine classes which cover the specific type of hazardous material transported.

The main courses we run are as follows:

• Full ADR (5-day) - Core, Packages, Tankers, Classes 2-6, 8 & 9
• Basic ADR (3.5-day) - Core, Packages, Class 2-6, 8 & 9
• Tanker ADR (3-day) - Core, Tankers, Class 3
• Explosives ADR (2.5-day) - Core & Class 1

For more information on each modules, please see below:

Core, Tankers and Packages

• Core
  • Introduction, The Objective of the Course, Dangerous Goods Driver Training, Responsibilties of a Dangerous Goods Driver, Dangerous Goods Regalations, UN Regulations
  • The Main Hazards of Substances in Class 1 to 9
  • UK & ADR Transport Documents, Emergency Information, Dangerous Goods Notes, ADR Certificate, Checks Before Setting Out, Journey Rules, Breakdown
  • Equipment on the Vehicle ADR & UK
  • Segregation, Tunnels, Security of High Consequential Dangeous Goods
  • At the Loading Point, At the Discharge Point
  • Dangerous Waste
  • Liability Law
  • Multi-Module Operations
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Breathing Protection, Other Equipment, Looking after the equipment, Emergency Aid (Theory)
  • Emergency Aid
  • Fire on Vehicle, The Nature of Fire, Action in Event of Fire, Fire Extinguishers
  • Emergency Procedure, When Help Arrives, Desktop Examination, Narrative

• Tankers
  • Introduction, Tanks and Tank Vehicles, Regulations, Design Approval Inspection and Testing, Vehicle Equipment, Vehicle Markings UK, ADR, IMDG, UK Emergency Action Code, ADR Kemler Code
  • Tank Loads, Tank Construction, Maximum Allowed Working Pressure Tank Fittings
  • Operating Procedure Loading Rules, Supervision and Parking, Discharging Rules, Discharging of Petrol at Filling Stations, Static Electricity, Tank Cleaning, Journey Routes
  • Method of Loading and Discharging, Tanks, Cryogenic Liquids, LPG's
  • Dangerous Waste, Product Movement, Rollover

• Packages
  • Introduction, Transport Categories
  • Packaging, Steel Drums, Plastic Drums, Sacks, Gas Cylinders, Small Packaging, Intermediate Bulk Containers
  • UN Approved Packaging, Limited Quantities
  • Loading, Storage and Unloading, Segregating
  • Marking of Packaging, Vehicle Markings, Container, Vehiclles Carrying Bulk, IMDG, Vehicle Equipment, Supervision and Parking, RIDDOR

Class 1 - Explosives Back to top

• When suitably initiated, high explosives change their state almost instantaneously into very hot gas, therby creating a violent and sudden force. Other explosives produce effects by creation of gas, light, heat, etc. Explosives are mostly self-contained and the chemical change, which causes the large release of energy, is not dependent on reaction with oxygen in the air.

Class 2 - Gases Back to top

• Mostly carried under pressure to save space, the pressure itself creates a danger if it is release suddenly. The force contained in a high-pressure gas cylinder can amount to several hundred tonnes. If a valve gets knocked off a cylinder, the escaping gas creates a jet that makes it take off like a rocket and can lead to devastating damage.
• Most gases are heavier than air. They can cause suffocation if they displace or dilute air in confined spaces. Some gases are refrigerated down to very low temperatures to make them liquefy. The extreme cold also creates a danger.

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids Back to top

• Flammable liquids all evaporate easily, and the vapour will burn or explode when heated in the air. The vapours are invisible and always much heavier than air. They will flow downhill and collect at the lowest point. The flashpoint in the temperature above which the liquid releases just enough vapour to create an ignitable mixture with air. The lower the flashpoint, the quicker the vapour forms and the greater the risk. The FP of petrol is -40 degrees, so it burns readily. The FP of diesel is +65 degrees, so it has to be heated before it will burn.

Class 4 - Flammable Solids Back to top

• Other Flammables: Flammable Solids will burn easily, and may create great heat and sometimes, toxic fumes. Some need to be transported under refrigeration (SADT)
• Spontaneously Combustible: Ignite immediately with oxygen in the air; no ignition sources are needed.
• Dangerous when wet: Produce flammable gases when in contact with water. It is the heat of the reaction that generally ignites the gas.

Class 5 - Oxidising Agents Back to top

• Oxidising Agents: They are very dangerous in transport. They may react with other combustible materials to start them burning. Then they suplpy the oxygen to keep them burning without help in the air. Such fires may therefore break out and continue in confined spaces e.g. in containers.
• Organic Peroxides: May be unstable and sometimes explosives. They are often carried under refrigeration (SADT) to keep them inactive, and then then temperature must be carefully controlled. Materials are all poisonous somehow. They must not be allowed to get inside the body, through swallowing, breathing in, or by absorption through the skin.

Class 6 - Toxics Back to top

• Toxic Substances: Chemical posions that damage parts of the body in some way (alcohol).
• Infectious Substances: Which causes disease in humans and animals (BSE) and also includes clinical waste.

Class 7 - Radioactives Back to top

• Radioactives emit invisible radiation that may damage the body depending on the dose, and the duration of the exposure. The packages are designed to shield the radiation and must not be seriously damaged or the sheilding could become ineffective.

Class 8 - Corrosives Back to top

• Corrosives damage the body from the outside by destroying the tissue, in the opposite way to toxic which works from the inside. Corrosives are very dangerous to the eyes.

Class 9 - Miscellaneous Back to top

• Contains a number of different substances and articles, which cannot easily be placed in the other classes. The sign gives no indication of the particular danger that must be obtained from written information.
• There are two UN numbers in class 9 for environmentally hazardous materials. This indicates an extension of the concept of dangerous goods, to include environmental as well as human risks.