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What the A to E tunnel scale means for routing a dangerous-goods load

One wrong tunnel category can void a corridor and force a hazmat tanker to turn back at the portal.

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01

What ADR tunnel categories (A to E) mean

Under the ADR agreement on the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, every regulated road tunnel is assigned a single category letter from A to E. The letter sets how restrictive the tunnel is: a Category A tunnel carries no restriction on dangerous goods, while a Category E tunnel is the strictest and bars all dangerous goods except the few marked '(-)'. The scale steps up in between, with B, C and D each forbidding more load types than the one before it. These adr tunnel categories sit in ADR chapter 1.9.5, and you read them off the tunnel sign, not the map.

  • adr tunnel categories
  • dangerous goods tunnel restrictions
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02

Matching your load's tunnel restriction code to the tunnel

Each dangerous good carries its own tunnel restriction code, found in column 15 of the ADR dangerous goods list, and it mirrors the category scale. A load coded B is forbidden in tunnels of category B, C, D and E; a code-C load is forbidden in C, D and E; a code-E load is forbidden only in E. Diesel (UN 1202) and petrol (UN 1203) both carry code D/E, so a tanker of either is blocked from any Category D or E tunnel. To clear a whole transport unit you take the strictest code on board and check it against the sign at the portal.

CategoryRestrictionExample load
ANo restriction on dangerous goodsAny ADR load, including a petrol tanker that a Category D or E tunnel would turn away
CLoads coded C, D or E are forbidden; B and below may passA diesel drum (code D/E, non-tank) passes; a code-C load is blocked
EAll dangerous goods forbidden except those marked '(-)'Almost nothing; petrol and LPG tankers turned away
  • tunnel restriction code
  • dangerous goods tunnel restrictions
03

Planning a hazmat route around restricted tunnels

Because a single Category E tunnel can void a whole corridor, the category drives the routing, not the distance. The Mont Blanc Tunnel between France and Italy runs as Category E, so a petrol or LPG tanker has to take an alternative surface route instead of the bore. Knowing each tunnel's letter before you set off lets you find a compliant line and the right stops along it, rather than discovering a closed portal at the entrance.

  • adr tunnel categories
  • dangerous goods tunnel restrictions
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Category A and Category E tunnels?
Category A is the lowest-risk classification and places no restriction on transporting dangerous goods. Category E is the highest-risk classification: under ADR it forbids all dangerous goods except those whose tunnel restriction code is marked '(-)', plus limited-quantity loads up to 8 tonnes gross per transport unit. The letters B, C and D fall between, each barring fewer load types than E.
How do I know my load's tunnel restriction code?
Look up the UN number in the ADR dangerous goods list and read column 15, which gives the tunnel restriction code (for example D/E for petrol UN 1203 and diesel UN 1202). For a mixed transport unit, the most restrictive code on board governs the whole load. A code of '(-)' means the load may pass through tunnels of every category.
Can a petrol or diesel tanker drive through any ADR tunnel?
No. Petrol (UN 1203) and diesel (UN 1202) both carry tunnel restriction code D/E. A tank carriage of either is forbidden in Category D and Category E tunnels. It may pass through Category A, B and C tunnels, so the route has to avoid the two strictest categories.
Are ADR tunnel categories the same in every European country?
The A-to-E framework and the restriction codes come from the ADR agreement, so the system is shared by ADR contracting parties. The category assigned to a given tunnel is set nationally, and some tunnels change category by time of day, so always confirm the letter on the local sign rather than assuming it.
Where do I see a tunnel's ADR category before I reach it?
ADR-regulated tunnels are marked with a category sign (a B, C, D or E letter board) at the approach; a Category A tunnel is not signposted and imposes no restriction. Checking the category in advance during route planning is the reliable way to avoid a turn-back, since the sign at the portal is the last point at which you learn the load is barred.