Hazard class · ADR 2025

Class 7 — radioactive material

Material containing radionuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity exceed defined clearance values.

UN entries: 25

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What belongs in this class?

Class 7 covers radioactive material — any material containing radionuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity in the consignment exceed the basic threshold values specified in ADR. (ADR 2.2.7.1.1)

Material below either threshold is not Class 7 at all — so the class is defined by a quantitative activity test rather than by a chemical family. The controlling values are the radionuclide's exempt activity concentration limit and the exempt total-activity limit for the consignment, each read from the table in 2.2.7.2.2.1 or derived under 2.2.7.2.2.2–2.2.7.2.2.6. (ADR 2.2.7.1.1, 2.2.7.2.2)

Classification rules

ADR 2.2.7.1.3
Fissile material — material containing uranium-233, uranium-235, plutonium-239 or plutonium-241 — is handled separately, with dedicated fissile UN entries. Small quantities (less than 0.25 g of fissile nuclides) and certain natural or depleted uranium are excluded from the fissile definition.
ADR 2.2.7.1.3
A surface contaminated object (SCO) is a solid object that is not itself radioactive but has radioactive material distributed on its surface, and is classified as such rather than by its bulk activity.
ADR 2.2.7.1.3
Uranium is defined by enrichment — natural (≈ 0.72 % U-235), depleted (less than natural) or enriched (more than 0.72 %) — and each grade drives which UN entry and controls apply.

Packing groups in this class

Class 7 does not use packing groups. Radioactive material is instead assigned to a UN number that reflects its material characteristics and the package type required, taking the activity thresholds into account. (ADR 2.2.7.2.1.1)

The assignment table groups entries by transport form — excepted packages, low specific activity (LSA-I, II, III) material, surface contaminated objects (SCO), Type A, Type B(U), Type B(M) and Type C packages, material under special arrangement, and uranium hexafluoride. Most package types are split into a fissile and a "non fissile or fissile-excepted" variant (excepted packages, LSA-I and SCO-III have no fissile counterpart). (ADR 2.2.7.2.1.1)

Two material forms carry particular weight — low specific activity (LSA) material, which by its nature has limited specific activity, and special form radioactive material (an indispersible solid or a sealed capsule), which is allowed a higher activity value (A₁). (ADR 2.2.7.1.3)

Class 7 in Table A

Transport categories, tunnel codes and quantity reliefs across the 25 Table A entries of this class.

Transport categories

Category 021

Category 44

The category feeds the 1.1.3.6 calculation — the lower the number, the stricter the limit.

Tunnel codes

E17

—6

The column 15 code decides which tunnel categories the load may pass.

Limited quantities (LQ)

entries allow LQ

of 25 in the class

For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.

Excepted quantities (EQ)

entries allow EQ

of 25 in the class

For the rest there is no relief — the full ADR applies to any quantity.

Exact values by UN number Calculate the 1.1.3.6 exemption Tunnel restrictions

Marking and signs for Class 7

What must be on every package — and what the transport unit carries on the road.

On the package

Every package carries the danger label of its Table A entry and the UN number with the letters "UN" (ADR 5.2.1, 5.2.2).

Buy the 100 × 100 mm label Package marking explained

On the transport unit

Orange plates at the front and rear — and for tanks and bulk also enlarged placards 250 × 250 mm on the sides and rear (ADR 5.3.1, 5.3.2).

Buy the 250 × 250 mm placard Placards and orange plates

Limited quantities

Goods packed under Chapter 3.4 carry the LQ mark instead of the danger label and UN number (ADR 3.4.1, 3.4.7).

Buy the LQ mark How limited quantities work

Class 7 specifics

ADR 5.2.1.7.1
Each package and overpack shall be legibly and durably marked on the outside with an identification of either the consignor or consignee, or both.
ADR 5.2.1.7.2
For each package, other than excepted packages, the UN number and the proper shipping name shall be marked on the outside of the packaging.
ADR 5.2.1.7.4
Depending on the package design, the outside of the packaging is marked "TYPE IP-1", "TYPE IP-2", "TYPE IP-3" or "TYPE A", and Type IP-2, IP-3 and A packages also bear the distinguishing sign of the country of origin of design and the name of the manufacturer.
ADR 5.2.2.1.11.1
Each package, overpack and container containing radioactive material shall bear labels conforming to models Nos. 7A, 7B or 7C according to the category, affixed to two opposite sides, and for fissile material additionally labels conforming to model No. 7E.
ADR 5.2.2.1.11.2
Each label is completed with the contents — the name of the radionuclide, the maximum activity during carriage in becquerels (Bq) — and the transport index, except for category I-WHITE.

Transport document

What must be written in the transport document when you ship Class 7 goods.

ADR 5.4.1.1.1
The transport document entry for Class 7 radioactive material shows the class number "7" in place of a label model number, and no packing group is assigned — for example, UN 2915, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, TYPE A PACKAGE, 7, (E).
ADR 5.4.1.2.5.1
Immediately after the basic entry, the transport document for each Class 7 consignment shall include, in the order given, the name or symbol of each radionuclide, a description of the physical and chemical form of the material, the maximum activity during carriage in becquerels (Bq), the category of the package — I-WHITE, II-YELLOW or III-YELLOW — and the TI.
ADR 5.4.1.2.5.1
Where a consignment is required to be shipped under exclusive use, the document bears the statement "EXCLUSIVE USE SHIPMENT".
ADR 5.4.1.2.5.2
The consignor shall provide in the transport documents a statement regarding actions required to be taken by the carrier — supplementary requirements for loading, stowage, carriage, handling and unloading, including any provisions for the safe dissipation of heat, restrictions on the mode of carriage or vehicle with any necessary routeing instructions, and emergency arrangements appropriate to the consignment.
ADR 5.4.1.2.5.4
The applicable competent authority certificates need not accompany the consignment — the consignor shall make them available to the carrier before loading and unloading.