The Australian Design Rules for

Road Vehicles 2018

Guide to the ADR Resource
November 2018
© Commonwealth of Australia 2018
ISBN 978-1-925531-97-8
INFRA-3463

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE ADR RESOURCE ................................................................................................................... 4

OBTAINING THE ADR RESOURCE ........................................................................................ 4
REGISTERING FOR NOTIFICATIONS .................................................................................... 4
UPDATES TO THE ADR RESOURCE .......................................................................... 4
UPDATES TO SPECIFIC ADRs ..................................................................................... 4
CONTENT OF THE ADR RESOURCE .................................................................................... 5

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULES ............................................................................... 8

HISTORICAL NOTES ............................................................................................................... 8
ADRs AS NATIONAL STANDARDS......................................................................................... 9
STEPS IN MAKING NATIONAL STANDARDS ........................................................................ 9
NUMBERING OF ADRs ..........................................................................................................10
ADR APPLICABILITY SUMMARIES ......................................................................................10
ACCEPTABLE PRIOR RULES ...............................................................................................10
SUBMISSION PROCESS .......................................................................................................11
ADR DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................11
SI UNITS USED IN THE ADRs...............................................................................................11

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THE ADR RESOURCE
In line with the national program for Australian Design Rule (ADR) development, the Department of
Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities (the Department) amends or develops ADRs and
related information. Such information is contained in the ADR Resource, which is downloadable
free of charge. The ADR Resource is provided as a .zip file for easy transfer to hard disk or USB
media and as a .iso file for easy transfer to CD-ROMs.

OBTAINING THE ADR RESOURCE

The ADR Resource can be downloaded from the Department’s website at:
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/download_adr_resource.aspx .

It is available as a .zip file for easy transfer to hard disk or USB or as an .iso file for easy transfer to
CD-ROM.

REGISTERING FOR NOTIFICATIONS

UPDATES TO THE ADR RESOURCE
If you wish to be notified of the availability of an updated ADR Resource, please register your email
address on the ADR Resource Notification List at:
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/email-notifications.aspx .

UPDATES TO SPECIFIC ADRs

Notifications relating to amendments to specific ADRs can be received by registering an account
with the Federal Register of Legislation at the following website:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/MyAccount .

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CONTENT OF THE ADR RESOURCE
Act and Regulations
Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Act and Regulations\
 Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989
 Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989
 Motor Vehicle Standards (Road Vehicles) Determination 2017
 Previous Compilations of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989
 Previous Compilations of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989

Administrator’s Circulars
Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Administrator’s Circulars\
 General Circulars
 Certification (Policy)
 Form of Approval
 Certification Procedure
 Definitions
 Test Facility Inspection
 Conformity of Production
 Single Uniform Type Inspection (SUTI)
 Desktop Audits
 Specific ADR Circulars
 Withdrawn Circulars

Australian Design Rule (ADR) Amendments

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\ADR Amendments\
 Each amendment package contains:
o Legislative Instruments (file suffix “LI”)
o Explanatory Statements (file suffix “ES”)
o Regulatory Impact Statements, where applicable (file suffix “RIS”)
o Legislative Compilations, where applicable (file suffix “COMP”)

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ADR Applicability Tables
Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\ADR Applicability Tables\
 Applicability Summary for L-Group Vehicles (Two and Three Wheeled Vehicles)
 Applicability Summary for M-Group Vehicles (Passenger Vehicles)
 Applicability Summary for N-Group Vehicles (Goods Vehicles)
 Applicability Summary for T-Group Vehicles (Trailers)

Australian Design Rules 2nd Edition

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Australian Design Rules 2nd Edition\
 All Australian Design Rules applicable for vehicles manufactured up until July 1989

Australian Design Rules 3rd Edition

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Australian Design Rules 3rd Edition\
 All ADRs applicable for vehicles manufactured after July 1989
 Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rules – Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005

Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS)

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme\
 Motor Vehicle Standards (Approval to Place Used Import Plates) Guidelines 2006 (No. 1)
 Motor Vehicle Standards (Placement of Used Import Plates) Determination 2004 (No.1)
 Motor Vehicle Standards (Procedures for Inspecting and Testing Used Imported Vehicles)
Determination 2002
 Motor Vehicle Standards (Registered Automotive Workshop – Fit and Proper Persons)
Determination 2002
 Guide to the Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme
 Single Uniform Type Inspection (SUTI) Report for Vehicles of Category LA, LB, LC, LD and
LEM
 Vehicle Inspection Report For Used Vehicles of Category MA, MB and MC
 Vehicle Inspection Report For Used Vehicles of Category MD, ME, NA, NB and NC
 VSS Vehicle Identification and Engine Number Location Chart System

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Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) Forms
Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\RVCS Forms\
 Administrator’s Circular 0-4-5 Final Inspection Certificate Documents for New Vehicles
 New Vehicle Low Volume Vehicle Scheme Evidence Examination Procedures Manual
 Single Uniform Type Inspection (SUTI) Report for Vehicles of Category MA, MB and MC
 Single Uniform Type Inspection (SUTI) Report for Vehicles of Category MD and ME
 Single Uniform Type Inspection (SUTI) Report for Vehicles of Category LA, LB, LC, LD and
LEM
 Single Uniform Type Inspection Summary Report (SSR)
 Used Imported Trailer Inspection Certificate Number
 VSS Vehicle Identification and Engine Number Location Chart System

Test Facility Inspection Manual

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Test Facility Inspection Manual\
 All Administrator’s Circulars that relate to Test Facilities
 Index of Circulars

Vehicle Standards Bulletins

Available in folder \ADR Resource 2018\Vehicle Standards Bulletins\
 VSB 1
 VSB 2
 VSB 4
 VSB 5
 VSB 5A / 5B
 VSB 6
 VSB 7A
 VSB 7B
 VSB 11
 VSB 12
 VSB 14
 National Guidelines for the Construction and Modification of Street Rods in Australia

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ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULES
The Australian Government administers the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act) which
requires that all new road vehicles, whether they are manufactured in Australia or are imported,
comply with national vehicle standards known as the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), before they
can be offered to the market for use in transport in Australia. The ADRs are performance based
standards for vehicle safety, emissions and anti-theft. They are developed through a consultative
process involving government, industry, employee and consumer representatives.
The ADRs are being increasingly harmonised with the international regulations adopted by the
United Nations (UN), except where it is necessary to take account of unique Australian conditions.
The harmonisation of the ADRs with the UN regulations is important because approximately 90 per
cent of motor vehicles supplied to the Australian market are imported by global vehicle
manufacturers and vehicle sales in Australia represent less than one per cent of the total world
production of motor vehicles. Regulation that is based on internationally agreed standards
provides consumers with access to the safest vehicles from the global market at the lowest
possible cost.

HISTORICAL NOTES
The 1st Edition of ADRs was distributed for discussion purposes but was not adopted as a legally
binding set of standards under either national or state and territory law. The 2nd Edition first came
into effect on 1 January 1969. It was subsequently made part of the national standards by
Determination No 2 of 1989 published in Commonwealth Government Gazette (Special Gazette
series) No. S 291 dated 1 September 1989.
The decision to develop a 3rd Edition of the ADRs was made at the 63rd meeting of the Australian
Transport Advisory Council (ATAC) in February 1983 following a comprehensive review of the
vehicle regulatory system. Several major recommendations were endorsed relating to ADR
development. The first was that international harmonisation of vehicle safety standards should be
actively pursued, with close attention given to the alignment of vehicle categories and particular
ADRs with their international counterparts except where there is sufficient evidence to justify
unique requirements. Another was that all regulations relating to the design and construction of
new vehicles should be integrated into the national ADR system.
The 3rd Edition ADRs were initially developed under the auspices of the Australian Transport
Advisory Council between February 1983 and December 1986. It incorporated into the one
publication: vehicle "design and construction" requirements previously contained in 2nd Edition
ADRs; Consolidated Draft Regulations; a number of state and territory regulations; and, new
vehicle classification definitions - so that a single set of requirements could be implemented
uniformly Australia-wide.

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The complete package of 3rd Edition ADRs became applicable on 1 July 1988. It has since been
added to and amended, to reflect the further needs of the community. The 3rd Edition ADRs were
made national standards by Determinations Nos 1 and 2 of 1989 published in Special Gazettes
Nos S 264 and S 291 dated 2 August and 1 September 1989 respectively.

ADRs AS NATIONAL STANDARDS

The ADRs are designated national standards for the purpose of section 7 of the Act. This means
that they have been "determined" by the Minister and must be complied with by manufacturers and
importers of vehicles being supplied to the Australian market. Section 14 of the Act makes it an
offence to supply vehicles to the market which do not comply with national standards. It is also an
offence under section 16 to make a standard vehicle nonstandard when first supplied to the
market.
The ADRs have effect in accordance with the "applicability dates" set out in each rule. However, in
some circumstances, ADRs can have application to vehicles other than new vehicles. There are
two ways this can occur. First, other laws may call these ADRs up so that, whether de facto or de
jure, they may operate as national in-service rules for vehicles which were manufactured in
accordance with these ADRs. Second, the rules have application to imported used vehicles. Such
vehicles may be required to comply with, or be brought into compliance with, the rules as they
stood when the vehicles were originally manufactured.

STEPS IN MAKING NATIONAL STANDARDS

The two broad stages in making a national standard are:
(a) settling the technical content of the proposed ADR; and
(b) determining the ADR as a national standard.

The major steps in settling the technical content of a proposed ADR are:
(a) consulting with regulatory authorities, the industry and vehicle users; and
(b) examining relevant overseas standards (particularly ISO and UN standards) in the interests of
harmonisation.

The major steps in determining a proposed ADR as a national standard are:

(a) approval by the Minister;
(b) tabling in Parliament; and
(c) scrutiny by the Parliament.

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NUMBERING OF ADRs
A modified version of the UN system used to number Vehicle Regulations is used for ADR
numbering. Minor changes which do not increase stringency do not result in the ADR being given a
new version number.
ADR X/00 indicates the original version of ADR X.
ADR X/01 indicates the first revised version of an ADR where the amendment increases the
stringency of the rule for vehicles to which the rule already applies. ADR X/02 is the second
revised version, and so on.
Where a reference is required to a generic 3rd Edition ADR, the formal designation "ADR X/..."
together, generally, with the ADR's short title is used
The ellipsis “...” should be taken to indicate that the latest ADR is being specified.

ADR APPLICABILITY SUMMARIES

Applicability Summaries show, for a particular vehicle category:
a. the ADRs currently in force for new model vehicles and the vehicle categories to which they
are applicable, as at the date the Applicability Summary is published;
b. the dates on which new ADRs will come into force and the vehicle categories to which they
will be applicable (light green highlighted);
c. earlier revisions of the ADRs that may be accepted as equivalent to the standards in force
for new model vehicles (refer to each relevant standard’s list of acceptable prior rules); and,
d. the ADRs that have been superseded by other standards (light yellow highlighted) or
withdrawn with no direct replacement (light red highlighted).
Applicability Summaries contained in the ADR Resource are for guidance only. Please refer to the
latest relevant standards for the circumstances under which the standard is mandatory, optional or
prohibited.

ACCEPTABLE PRIOR RULES

Vehicles certified to prior ADRs can in some cases be accepted as complying with a later "version"
of the rule. This happens where the prior ADR is listed as an "Acceptable Prior Rule" in the
Applicability Table in the ADR and where any conditions set have been met. That is, the
requirements for those categories are the same as those specified in the later "version" of the
ADR, and no reference need be made to the earlier ADRs.

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SUBMISSION PROCESS
Administrative arrangements concerning vehicle approvals are set out in Administrative Circulars
published by the Department. These arrangements include that manufacturers may obtain
approvals on the basis of an ADR before it is formally in force.

ADR DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

For general definitions, acronyms and abbreviations, refer to ADR—Definitions and Vehicle
Categories 2005 located in the \Australian Design Rules 3rd Edition\ folder. Relevant definitions
may also be contained within specific ADRs.

SI UNITS USED IN THE ADRs

The ADRs use the "SI" system of units based on application of AS 1000-1979 "THE
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (SI) AND ITS APPLICATION". However, in numbers, the
use of a comma has been retained for indicating groupings of thousands. The tables below outline
units used in the ADRs; they are structured in the same way as AS 1000.

SI BASE UNITS
Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
length metre m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
thermodynamic temperature kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol
luminous intensity candela cd

SUPPLEMENTARY SI UNITS
Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
plane angle radian rad
solid angle steradian sr

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SOME SI UNITS DERIVED FROM BASE AND SUPPLEMENTARY UNITS
Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
acceleration metres per second squared m/s2
area square metre m2
concentration (of amount of mole per cubic metre mol/m3
substance)
density kilogram per cubic metre kg/m3
luminance candela per square metre cd/m3
mass flow rate kilogram per second kg/s
moment of inertia kilogram per metre squared kg.m2
rotational frequency 1 per second 1/s; r/s or s-1
speed and velocity metre per second m/s
volume cubic metre m3

DERIVED SI UNITS HAVING SPECIAL NAMES

Quantity Name of Unit Symbol Definition
frequency hertz Hz 1 Hz=1 per second
force newton N 1 N=1 kg.m/s2
pressure and stress pascal Pa 1 Pa=1 N/m2
energy joule J 1 J=1 N.m
power watt W 1 W=1 J/s
potential difference volt V 1 V=1 W/A
luminous flux lumen lm 1 lm=1 cd.sr
illuminance lux lx 1 lx=1 lm/m2

SOME DERIVED SI UNITS EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF OTHER DERIVED SI UNITS

Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
moment of force; torque newton metre N.m

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SI PREFIXES
Factor by which the unit is multiplied Name Prefix Symbol
106 mega M
103 kilo k
10-2 centi c
10-3 milli m
10-6 micro 𝜇
10-9 nano n

NON-SI UNITS DECIMALLY BASED ON SI UNITS

Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
volume litre (Note 1) L (Note 2)
mass tonne t (Note 3)
Notes:
1 Litre forms multiples in the same manner as SI units, e.g. millilitres.
2 The symbol l is permitted but should not be used where it is likely to be confused with the figure
1, e.g. in 1/s.
3 Decimal sub-multiples of tonne are not used but decimal multiples are formed in the same
manner as SI-units, for example: megaton, Mt.

NON-SI UNITS OF PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE

Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
plane angle
degree o
minute ‘
second "
time
day d
hour h
minute min
temperature and temp. interval degree Celsius C

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LIST OF SI UNITS AND A SELECTION OF DECIMAL QUANTITIES AND SUB-MULTIPLES OF
THE SI UNITS TOGETHER WITH OTHER UNITS OR OTHER NAMES OF UNITS
Quantity SI unit Multiples Other units
plane angle rad mrad
length m km, cm, mm (preferred), nm
area m2 cm2, mm2 (preferred)
volume m3 L (litre), mL (millilitre)
time s a (year)
velocity m/s km/h
flow rate (volume) m3/s L/s
frequency Hz kHz
rotational 1/s, r/min (preferred), s-1, or r/s
(revolution per second)
mass g kg, mg
density (mass) kg/m3 g/L
flow rate (mass) kg/s g/s
force N kN
pressure Pa kPa, MPa
power W kW, mW

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