Data: UNECE ADR 2025, licensed from Labeline.com. 2,939 entries covering all hazard classes. Last verified May 2026.
For operational use, always verify against the current ADR in force.
What Is the ADR 1.1.3.6 Exemption?
ADR 1.1.3.6 provides a small load exemption that allows the transport of limited amounts of dangerous goods without full ADR compliance. If the total quantity of dangerous goods on a vehicle stays below a calculated threshold, the shipment is exempt from most ADR requirements — including placarding, vehicle marking, written instructions, and the need for an ADR-trained driver.
The exemption works on a points system. Every dangerous goods substance is assigned a transport category (0 through 4) based on its hazard level. Each category has a multiplier: category 1 substances score 50 points per unit, category 2 scores 3 points, category 3 scores 1 point, and category 4 scores 0 (effectively unlimited). If the total points across all substances on the vehicle stay at or below 1,000 points, the 1.1.3.6 exemption applies.
How the Points Calculator Works
Enter each substance by UN number and the quantity you are carrying (in kilograms for solids or litres for liquids). The calculator looks up the transport category and multiplier from the ADR 2025 Table A, multiplies quantity × multiplier for each substance, and sums the total. If the total is ≤ 1,000 and no transport category 0 substances are present, you qualify for the exemption.
Transport category 0 substances (the most hazardous, including explosives and certain toxic gases) are never eligible for the 1.1.3.6 exemption, regardless of quantity. If any category 0 substance appears in your load, full ADR compliance is required for the entire vehicle.
Per-Substance Quantity Limits
Beyond the 1,000-point threshold, ADR 1.1.3.6 also imposes maximum quantities per transport category on a single transport unit. Category 1 substances are limited to 20 kg/L, category 2 to 333 kg/L, and category 3 to 1,000 kg/L. The calculator checks these per-category limits automatically and warns you if any substance exceeds its individual maximum, even if the overall points total is below 1,000.
What the Exemption Means in Practice
When a shipment qualifies under 1.1.3.6, the driver does not need an ADR driver training certificate, the vehicle does not need orange plates or placards, and there is no requirement to carry written instructions (formerly “Tremcards”). The goods must still be properly packaged and labelled at the package level, and the vehicle must carry a 2 kg fire extinguisher. This exemption is widely used in the UK and Europe for small consignments of chemicals, aerosols, paints, and other everyday hazardous goods.
See also: ADR Dangerous Goods Lookup · LQ/EQ Checker · ADR Tunnel Codes