30/1202 Dangerous goods: What the Kemler number means for diesel fuel

The number combination 30/1202 on the orange warning plate of a tanker is not a random number, but the marking prescribed in Chapter 5.3.2 ADR for diesel fuel, gas oil or heating oil, light. The upper number, 30, is the danger number according to Appendix A Chapter 5.3.2.3 ADR (Kemler number) and describes a flammable liquid substance with a flash point between over 60 and a maximum of 100 degrees Celsius. The lower number, 1202, is the UN number according to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and identifies the substance itself. Both numbers together provide the legally secure identification for supervision, emergency services and recipients and are enforced in Germany via the GGVSEB.

This article explains the labelling system, the obligations of the carrier and filler as well as the interface to the dangerous goods representative according to the GbV. It addresses four questions: What do the Kemler number and UN number mean, where and how must labelling be carried out, which documents must be carried, and how do companies ensure long-term compliance. CIVAC is a compliance platform and officer-as-a-service in which the appointment certificate, reporting line, annual report according to Section 8 GbV and audit templates for the transport of dangerous goods come together in one workspace. Audit-proof, documented, ADR-proof. The appointment certificate, signed, filed, verifiable. The clock starts on awareness.

The orange warning sign according to Chapter 5.3.2 ADR is 40 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters high, with a black border, two number fields and black lettering. The hazard number is in the upper half and the UN number is in the lower half. The hazard number (Kemler number) is a two- or three-digit code that describes the main hazard and, if applicable, secondary hazards of the substance. 30 is a flammable liquid substance with a flash point between over 60 and a maximum of 100 degrees Celsius, without any other hazard characteristics. The UN number 1202 identifies the substance: diesel fuel, gas oil or heating oil, light.

It is important to differentiate between related constellations. 33/1203 concerns petrol (highly flammable, lower flash point), 50/1830 concerns sulfuric acid. Doubling a number in the Kemler number (about 33) increases the danger; A preceding X (such as X423) indicates that the substance reacts dangerously with water. Anyone who transports several substances must adapt the warning sign for each substance or, in the case of tank trucks with multi-chamber tanks, attach a separate sign for each chamber.

In the CIVAC workspace, the labelling logic is linked to the substance list. The template for the transport order automatically generates the correct warning sign marking and checks it against Chapter 5.3.2 ADR. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready. Anyone who integrates the dangerous goods officer into the same platform has a list of substances, transport documents and appointment certificates in one audit architecture. If there are several substances per tanker, the system creates the correct panel variants per chamber and checks the compatibility of simultaneous transport. In this way, a common point of failure in multi-chamber transport is eliminated early on, which would otherwise only become visible during traffic control.

The UN number 1202 summarizes three related substances according to Chapter 3.2 ADR Table A: diesel fuel, gas oil and heating oil, light. All three are petroleum products with a flash point between over 60 and 100 degrees Celsius and are classified in packing group III, the lowest level of danger within class 3 (flammable liquids). Nevertheless, the transport is subject to the full ADR requirements because the sheer volume and importance for logistics, heat supply and agriculture make the risks worthy of regulation. In Germany, millions of tons of diesel fuel are transported by road every year.

The ADR classification has immediate practical consequences. Packaging group III allows higher quantities per packaging unit and lower requirements for inner packaging, but still requires ADR-approved tanks, tested closures and a documented filling process. When transporting in tank vehicles, additional requirements from Chapter 6.8 ADR (Tank Construction) and Chapter 9 ADR (Vehicle Construction) apply. An incorrect choice of tank or closure regularly leads to complaints during traffic controls.

In the CIVAC workspace, the UN 1202 specification is linked to the tank approvals, transport documents and the drivers' training certificates. An update of the ADR (every two years, most recently in 2025) appears in the test calendar. Others run compliance like a filing cabinet. We run it like software. This means that the substance entry always remains linked to the current set of regulations, and transports without current training or tank approval certificates are automatically marked. Anyone who manages several UN numbers in parallel can also see the quantity flows per substance for annual report generation. This means that the annual report according to Section 8 GbV is no longer maintained in an Excel table, but is derived from the real transport data. Anyone who supplies several mineral oil fractions in parallel benefits particularly because seasonal shifts, for example between summer diesel and winter diesel, can be clearly reflected in the volume flows.

Chapter 5.3 ADR regulates the labelling of both the transport unit and the individual tanks. According to Chapter 1.2.1 ADR, a transport unit is a motor vehicle without a trailer or a combination of tractor and trailer or semi-trailer. When transporting a single substance in tank vehicles with only one tank or multiple tanks with the same substance, an orange warning sign with a danger number and UN number must be attached to the front and rear of the transport unit. For multi-chamber tanks with different substances, a separate warning sign with the relevant numbers is required on each side of each tank.

The marking must not be covered, damaged or dirty. It must be made of reflective material and remain legible for at least 15 minutes in the event of a fire. When changing the substance being transported, the labelling must be adjusted or removed, otherwise there is a risk of fines according to GGVSEB. A common audit finding: Heating oil has already been unloaded, but the warning sign is still in place; The subsequent empty journey is therefore incorrectly marked, which is considered a violation.

The labelling requirements per vehicle, per tank and per substance are stored in the CIVAC workspace. A loading process automatically triggers the marking to be checked, and an unloading process triggers an instruction to remove or change it. This means that the obligation to display warning signs does not remain with the driver alone, but is systematically carried out in the workspace of the dangerous goods officer. Audit-proof, documented, ADR-proof. Anyone who runs multiple locations or multiple vehicle fleets can maintain the labelling rules centrally and clearly document location-specific deviations, such as heating oil deliveries. This means that the risk of a shutdown remains much more calculable in everyday operations. When changing the tank to a different substance, the system provides the cleaning and rinsing steps so that the subsequent labelling is ADR-compliant and verifiable.

According to Chapter 5.4 ADR, a transport document must be drawn up for every transport of dangerous goods which contains at least the UN number, the official name for the transport, the class, the packing group, the number and description of the packages and the total quantity. For UN 1202 the entry is typically UN 1202 diesel fuel, 3, III or UN 1202 heating oil, light, 3, III. In addition, there are written instructions in accordance with Chapter 5.4.3 ADR, which provide rules of conduct for travelers, emergency services and the authorities in the event of an emergency.

The written instructions are standardised on four pages and are provided by the carrier in the travelers' respective national language. It contains rules of conduct, protective equipment and emergency measures. In addition, there is the driver's ADR certificate in accordance with Chapter 8.2 ADR, the tanker's registration certificate in accordance with Chapter 9.1.3 ADR and the tank test report. During traffic control, these documents are checked individually and in context; missing or expired documents lead to shutdowns and fines.

CIVAC maps the document logic in the workspace: transport document, written instructions, ADR certificate, tank approval and chemical safety data sheet are linked per transport unit. The dual frame remains: Licence the workspace for your internal dangerous goods officers, or have our officers appoint you. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready. The written instructions are automatically generated in the correct language version, so that multilingual driver groups are covered without any additional effort. Cross-border transport also benefits from the uniform template management because the same logic applies to ADR contracting states and can be accessed in the language of the receiving country. The obligation to carry it remains unchanged, but the administrative effort is significantly reduced. Multi-chamber vehicles with different UN numbers are treated separately in the template logic.

According to Section 19 GGVSEB and Chapter 1.4 ADR, the responsibilities are divided in the supply chain. The sender must classify the substance correctly, issue the transport document and enclose the written instructions. The filler is responsible for filling the tank in accordance with ADR, adhering to the maximum filling levels in accordance with Chapter 4.3 ADR and attaching the warning sign to the filled tank chambers. The carrier checks the completeness of the documents, the correct labelling, the driver's ADR certificate and the tank approval. The recipient accepts the goods, checks the identity and quantity and unloads according to the specifications.

This distribution of tasks is not just legal, but operational. A filling error discovered late not only leads to fines according to GGVSEB, but also to insurance problems because the coverage requires ADR conformity. Anyone who unloads an incorrectly marked tanker as a recipient risks their own responsibility in accordance with Section 19 GGVSEB Paragraph 4.

The distribution of tasks for each transport process is documented in the CIVAC workspace. The dangerous goods officer can see in one view which roles are assigned which tasks per process, which evidence is available and which gaps exist. The appointment certificate, signed, filed, verifiable. Anyone who manages the hazardous goods officer together with the hazardous materials officer and the environmental officer in one platform benefits from linked training matrices and reporting lines. The recipient also benefits: Having your own incoming inspection checklist reduces the risk of unloading an incorrectly marked tanker without being checked and relieves the burden on downstream warehouse logistics. This creates distributed responsibilities without distributed evidence. Cross-border transport also benefits from the uniform multiple UN logic, because the recipients in neighboring countries check identical requirements under the same ADR rules and expect exactly this consistency.

According to Section 1 GbV in conjunction with Chapter 1.8.3 ADR, every company that transports, packs, fills, loads or unloads dangerous goods must appoint a dangerous goods representative. Exceptions apply for small quantities and for certain special regulations. The dangerous goods officer must present a valid training certificate in accordance with Chapter 1.8.3 ADR, which is acquired through an examination at the IHK and renewed every five years. The appointment is made in writing, the catalogue of tasks is regulated in Section 8 GbV and Chapter 1.8.3.3 ADR.

The tasks include monitoring compliance with the ADR and GGVSEB requirements, advising the company, training employees, preparing the annual report in accordance with Section 8 Paragraph 1 No. 4 GbV and investigating serious accidents in accordance with Chapter 1.8.5 ADR. The annual report must be kept for at least five years and presented to the responsible authority upon request. Without this report, the order is vulnerable in the audit.

CIVAC maps the duties of the dangerous goods officer in the workspace. Appointment certificate, training certificate, annual report template, accident report template and training matrix are linked together. Deadline begins as soon as we become aware of it. The dual frame: Licence the workspace for your internal representatives, or have our representatives order it. This creates a verifiable mandate instead of a formal order without effective fulfilment of the task. The audit templates are tailored to the requirements of the German supervisory authorities, including BAG control practices. The biennial ADR change cycle automatically updates templates so that the annual report is always compliant with current regulations. The last update was with ADR 2025, the next one will follow in 2027. This makes the distribution of tasks between sender, filler, carrier and recipient an auditable process instead of a dispute in the event of damage.

Violations of the labelling and documentation obligations are subject to a fine in accordance with Section 37 GGVSEB. The fines range from comparatively low amounts for formal violations (such as an illegible warning sign) to several thousand euros for substantial violations such as no ADR certificate, incorrect substance classification or insufficient tank approval. Repeated violations can be taken into account when extending the carrier's licence and, in individual cases, can lead to closure.

In the event of accidents involving dangerous goods, criminal and environmental regulations also apply. A tanker accident with UN 1202 can cause water pollution according to Section 324 of the Criminal Code, negligent bodily harm according to Section 229 of the Criminal Code and violations of the Water Resources Act. The management is also personally liable according to Section 130 OWiG if supervisory duties have been violated. Section 130 OWiG is a central lever of supervision in the dangerous goods industry because it covers responsibility even if no specific individual action can be proven.

The operational answer is: documented appointment of the dangerous goods officer, documented training, documented tank approvals, documented transport documents, documented annual report. The CIVAC workspace bundles this evidence and makes it immediately available in the event of a supervisory request. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready. Audit-proof, documented, ADR-proof. A missing order cannot be remedied through subsequent activity because the time of the order remains documented. Anyone who sets up compliance properly at an early stage also protects insurance coverage, because many transport insurers expressly require ADR compliance. B2B clients are also increasingly systematically checking their freight forwarder's dangerous goods compliance before concluding a contract. Anyone who cannot deliver here will lose orders. This continuous updating protects the management from breaches of supervisory duty according to Section 130 OWiG and stabilizes the tasks of the dangerous goods officer between the ADR change cycles. In the event of repeated violations, the official carrier permit can also be critically examined in the next extension.

The transport of UN 1202 does not end at the factory gate entrance. Hazardous substances and occupational safety regulations apply in the company itself. The GefStoffV regulates the handling of diesel fuel in tank farms, the TRGS 510 requirements for storage, and the TRBS 3151 the risk assessment for self-consumption filling stations. In the event of a fire, fire protection requirements from BauR law and the requirements of the fire protection officer apply. Anyone who operates a self-consumption gas station combines duties from at least four representative roles in one location.

There are also obligations under environmental law: requirements according to AwSV for systems dealing with water-polluting substances, notification obligations in the WHG process and the appointment of environmental representatives in larger companies. A tank leak not only leads to a dangerous goods accident report in accordance with Chapter 1.8.5 ADR, but also to a large number of parallel reporting paths to the water authority, building supervision, professional association and, if necessary, to the data protection supervisory authority if personal data is affected.

CIVAC maps these interfaces via the 25 representative roles in the workspace. Hazardous goods, hazardous substances, environmental and fire protection officers work in a uniform architecture with a common test calendar. An accident with multiple dimensions is recorded once and automatically translated into the respective reporting channels. This reduces the coordination effort and closes audit gaps between mandates. Anyone who manages multiple tasks at the same time benefits from uniform templates and a consolidated risk view for management. This bundling is a significant lever of efficiency, especially in logistics companies with their own consumption filling stations, tank farms and dangerous goods fleets. It reduces the number of parallel audits and creates a uniform supervisory interface with the BAG, the water authority and the professional association. A consolidated compliance architecture becomes a competitive advantage when awarding larger logistics mandates. As a result, the number of unexpected supervision requests decreases and planning security for tour and personnel planning increases.

The ADR marking 30/1202 is the visible end of a long chain of regulatory requirements: substance classification, packaging group, tank approval, filling, transport document, written instructions, ADR certificate, training, annual report and accident reporting. CIVAC is a compliance platform and officer-as-a-service that manages this chain as connected data objects in the workspace: 490 ready-to-use audit templates, appointment certificate and reporting line for the dangerous goods officer, training matrix for drivers, annual report generator and accident report template according to Chapter 1.8.5 ADR. EU data residency ensures that transport data is processed within European legal areas, which ensures data protection compliance for cross-border transport.

The dual frame remains: Licence the workspace for your internal dangerous goods officers, or have our representatives appointed. The order is placed in two working days, and the drivers' training certificates are linked to the expiration date and refreshment date. ADR updates, such as the biennial change cycle, automatically appear in the audit calendar. If you need several representative roles at the same time, for example for hazardous substances, environment and fire protection, you can order them from the same workspace and manage them in the same reporting line.

Turn reading into a mandate.: Send us your substance portfolio, your transport quantity and the desired reporting line to info@civac.de or use the contact form on civac.de. We hand over a workspace with linked ADR labelling logic, annual report and training matrix ready for use. Anyone looking for an overview of the Hazardous Goods Officer role or the FAQ can find this without registering. The auditor calls, the evidence is ready. Turn reading into an assignment. This multi-role architecture also relieves management of the growing complexity of parallel compliance obligations in logistics, the environment and occupational safety. Turn reading into an assignment. After ordering, the workspace remains your operational tool, not a one-off onboarding document.