This information is intended as a guide to some of the vehicle testing requirements for new vehicles carrying dangerous goods within the UK and that will require additional testing and certification under the new “Carriage of Dangerous Goods And Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and The Carriage of Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (CDG)
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ADR is the term used to describe the “European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)”. The agreement is made under the auspices of the Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Parties to the Agreement undertake that, subject to certain reservations, the international transport by road of dangerous goods will be permitted through their territory. This is on the condition that the goods are packed and labelled in accordance with the Agreement, are carried in vehicles that comply with the provisions of the agreement, and are driven by suitably trained drivers.
Currently Northern Ireland vehicles involved in the International Transport Of Dangerous Goods are required to be tested under the ADR Agreement and these vehicles can currently apply to be tested by VOSA in GB.
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The Carriage of Dangerous Goods And Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and The Carriage of Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (CDG) are new regulations being introduced in Northern Ireland for the first time and come into force on 1 August 2006. These new regulations make applicable many of the ADR International transport requirements to new vehicles and trailers used within the UK for the carriage of dangerous goods.
This means that for the first time all new vehicles involved in the carriage of Dangerous Goods within Northern Ireland and GB will have to conform to the requirements laid down within the CDG regulations. This includes an additional vehicle test in order to obtain CDG certification.
Articulated and Draw Bar vehicle combinations are treated as separate vehicles and both drawing vehicle and trailers will require testing to CDG certification standards.
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DVTA will be acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Competent Authorities in relation to the CDG Vehicle Certification aspects of the legislation only.
DVTA can from the date of introduction of the new CDG legislation also test vehicles requiring certification under the ADR agreement, something previously only carried out by VOSA.
New semi and draw bar trailers which do not require an annual roadworthiness test will be required to undergo a full brake test as part of the CDG/ADR test.
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In normal circumstances a CDG certificate will be issued for a maximum period of 12 months, subject to all necessary declarations and certificates including roadworthiness certificates not having an expiry date before the 12-month period ends.
In cases where any required certificate, such as tank certificates, expires before the 12-month period the CDG/ADR certificate will only be issued to the expiry date of the tank certificate. Provision can be made on the production of a new tank certificate for the CDG/ADR certificate to be extended up to a date not exceeding 12 months after the initial CDG/ADR inspection.
It should also be noted that CDG/ADR certificates only remain valid as long as the annual roadworthiness certificate remains valid. It is therefore anticipated that customers will make applications for both CDG/ADR tests and the annual roadworthiness test at the same time.
Where CDG/ADR applications are made for vehicles also requiring the annual roadworthiness test, but such application has not been made, the CDG/ADR application and fee will be returned to the customer.
Where a CDG/ADR application is made for a vehicle that has a current roadworthiness certificate, the CDG/ADR certificate will be issued with the same expiry date as the Roadworthiness certificate.
In the case of CDG/ADR applications for new vehicles that are exempt from the annual roadworthiness test for the first year, the CDG/ADR certificate will be issued with an expiry date on which the vehicle requires its first annual roadworthiness test or for a period of 12 months whichever is sooner.
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See making an application for a CDG/ADR test
Depending on which type of CDG/ADR test is applied for, the application form will provide guidance on the vehicle declarations and certificates that are required with the application. Only copies of these certificates should be sent with the application form, with the original certificates being required by the examiner at the time of test.
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The Health and Safety Executive (NI) is the Competent Authority for The Carriage of Dangerous Goods (excluding explosives).
The Northern Ireland Office, Firearms and Explosives Branch, is the Competent Authority for vehicles carrying explosives.
Both Competent Authorities have appointed DVTA to carry out the inspection of vehicles on their behalf.
NOTE: All enquiries outside the scope of the CDG/ADR vehicle test and certification should be made directly to the relevant Competent Authority and not to DVTA.
Competent Authority Contact Details
Health and Safety Executive NI
Transport and Public Utilities Group
83 Ladas Drive
Belfast
BT6 9FR
Helpline no: 0800 032 0121
www.hseni.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Office
Firearms and Explosives Branch
Room B4.16
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
Tel: 02890523463
www.nio.gov.uk
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CDG/ADR
Carriage of Dangerous Goods – Background Information