ADR Placarding Rules: Exemptions, Orange Plates & Marks

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Revised on Nov 4, 2026

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What are the placarding rules under ADR?

1. Check exemptions first

Before applying the normal placarding rules, check the substance’s UN entry in Table A, particularly column (6), which identifies any special provisions that may modify the requirements. (ADR 3.2.1, Table A, column (6), Volume I, page 274.)

The main quantity-related exceptions are:

Small-load exemption: dangerous goods carried in packages within the applicable limits or mixed-load calculation under 1.1.3.6 are exempt from Chapter 5.3—therefore, neither hazard placards nor orange plates are required under that chapter. This exemption concerns carriage in packages, not carriage in tanks or bulk. (ADR 1.1.3.6.2, Volume I, page 9.)
Excepted quantities: goods meeting Chapter 3.5 are not subject to the normal Chapter 5.3 placarding requirements. (ADR 3.5.1.1, Volume I, page 647.)
Limited quantities: a separate marking system applies. Transport units with a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes, carrying more than 8 tonnes gross mass of limited-quantity packages, generally require limited-quantity marks at the front and rear; containers require marks on all four sides. Existing mandatory orange plates or hazard placards may replace these marks in the circumstances specified in 3.4.13. (ADR 3.4.13–3.4.15, Volume I, pages 645–646.)

2. Where hazard placards must be displayed

Subject to those exemptions, the principal rules are:

Transport configuration	Required placard positions
Containers, bulk containers, tank-containers, portable tanks and multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs)	Both sides and both ends. Flexible bulk containers require placards on two opposite sides. (ADR 5.3.1.2, Volume II, page 266.)
Vehicles carrying those containers or tanks	If their placards are not visible from outside the carrying vehicle, repeat the relevant placards on both sides and the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, additional vehicle placards are unnecessary. (ADR 5.3.1.3, Volume II, page 266.)
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods in bulk, tank-vehicles, battery-vehicles and vehicles carrying demountable tanks	Both sides and the rear. For different dangerous goods in separate tank compartments, display the appropriate placards alongside each compartment and one of each applicable design at the rear. (ADR 5.3.1.4.1, Volume II, page 266.)
Vehicles carrying only packages—Class 1	Both sides and the rear, except for Division 1.4, compatibility group S. (ADR 5.3.1.5.1, Volume II, page 267.)
Vehicles carrying only packages—Class 7	Both sides and the rear, excluding excepted packages. (ADR 5.3.1.5.2, Volume II, page 267.)
Vehicles carrying only packages of other classes, without a freight container	Section 5.3.1.5 does not require vehicle hazard placards; orange-plate requirements must still be considered separately. (ADR 5.3.1.5, Volume II, page 267; ADR 5.3.2.1.1, Volume II, page 268.)

Ordinary swap bodies carrying packages generally follow the packaged-vehicle rules; tank swap bodies and swap bodies used in combined road/rail transport follow the relevant container rules. (ADR 5.3.1.2–5.3.1.3, Volume II, page 266; ADR 5.3.1.5, introductory note, Volume II, page 267.)

3. Which placards, and what size?

Use the hazard designs required by Table A, column (5), as modified where applicable by column (6). Placards must be weather-resistant, remain displayed throughout carriage, and have a contrasting background or an appropriate surrounding border. (ADR 5.3.1.1.1, Volume II, page 265.)
Standard placards are diamond-shaped and at least 250 × 250 mm. Class 7 normally uses model 7D, also at least 250 × 250 mm. (ADR 5.3.1.7.1–5.3.1.7.2, Volume II, pages 267–268.)
For Class 9, use placard model 9, not the battery label model 9A. (ADR 5.3.1.1.4, Volume II, page 265.)
For tanks not exceeding 3 m³ and small containers, compliant package labels may replace placards. If these labels cannot be seen from outside the carrying vehicle, standard placards must also be displayed on both sides and the rear of that vehicle. (ADR 5.3.1.7.3, Volume II, page 268.)
For Class 1 and Class 7 vehicles, placards may be reduced to 100 × 100 mm only where the vehicle’s size and construction leave insufficient space for the prescribed placards. (ADR 5.3.1.7.4, Volume II, page 268.)

4. Orange plates are a separate requirement

Hazard placards do not replace orange plates. Unless exempt, the transport unit must display a clearly visible orange plate at the front and rear. Tank operations may additionally require side plates bearing the hazard identification number and UN number from Table A. (ADR 5.3.2.1.1–5.3.2.1.2, Volume II, page 268.)

5. Empty equipment and additional marks

Empty, uncleaned or non-degassed tanks, and empty, uncleaned bulk vehicles and containers, must retain the placards required for the previous load. Placards unrelated to the goods or their residues must be removed or covered. (ADR 5.3.1.6.1, Volume II, page 267; ADR 5.3.1.1.6, Volume II, page 266.)
Where placarding is required and environmentally hazardous substances are carried, the environmentally hazardous substance mark is also required, subject to the exceptions referenced in 5.2.1.8.1. Its normal minimum size is 250 × 250 mm. (ADR 5.3.6.1–5.3.6.2, Volume II, page 274.)
Specified tanks, containers and specially equipped vehicles carrying liquids at 100°C or above, or solids at 240°C or above, also require the elevated-temperature mark. (ADR 5.3.3, Volume II, page 274.)

Sources

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