Fire safety in transport

Fire safety on the road varies from vehicle to vehicle. As well as vehicle types, other factors such as what a vehicle transports (from flammable gases to human passengers) contribute to the fire extinguisher transport regulations drivers or organisation owners must follow.

Generally, a vehicle should be equipped with a fire extinguisher that can tackle the wide range of risks on the road, including fuel and oil fires associated with car blazes. Here, we give detailed guidance on which vehicle fire safety regulations are required by law and how to ensure compliance.

Car fire safety 

While regular car drivers in the UK aren’t required to carry a fire extinguisher by law, they can provide extra peace of mind, should a fire ever break out on the road. In the case of company car fire safety, employers may need to install a fire extinguisher in a company car. Again, this is not a legal requirement, but it is an employer’s duty to keep employees safe – a fire safety in a company car is considered an extension of fire safety in the workplace.

A car safety kit with fire extinguisher units weighing 1kg or 2kg is sufficient for private motorists. Dry powder fire extinguishers are most effective for car fire safety, due to their versatile attributes. Known as ‘ABC’ fire extinguishers, they can tackle Class A (combustible materials), Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (flammable gases) fires by creating a thick barrier between the fuel and source of oxygen. All fire extinguishers should be secured to the inside of a car with a transport bracket – our 1kg and 2kg CommanderEDGE and 3kg Commander are supplied with a transport bracket as standard to prevent movement or damage in transit.

Commercial vehicle fire safety 

 For vans and other small commercial vehicles, businesses are required to conduct a health and safety assessment – including a fire risk assessment. This will highlight whether there is a need for a fire extinguisher, although it is the role of an employer (usually the responsible person) to ensure staff safety – so we’d recommend one.

As with car fire safety, dry powder fire extinguishers are also best for commercial vehicles. If a commercial vehicle carries dangerous goods (CDG), the minimum amount of dry powder needed depends on the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle. For example, a van carrying 3.5 tonnes of flammable liquid would need two 2kg dry powder fire extinguishers – one in the vehicle’s cab and another elsewhere. When transporting fire extinguishers in a commercial vehicle, always use a transport bracket. The multi-purpose CommanderEDGE 2kg ABC dry powder fire extinguisher has a fire rating of 13A 70B C and is supplied with transport brackets that have a stainless steel centre strap.

Public transport fire safety 

The national standard for buses and coaches states that all PCVs (passenger carrying vehicles) are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher. This is not dependent on the size of the vehicle, whether it’s single-deck or double-deck, or the amount of passengers it carries (however, more may be needed for wheelchair accessible vehicles). Other public transport fire extinguisher transport regulations may also be set out by local authorities, while airport shuttle buses will also have additional airport fire safety standards.

For public transport vehicles, AFFF foam fire extinguishers are recommended, carrying 2 litres of foam at the least. For tackling Class A and B risk areas (those featuring combustible materials and flammable liquids), Commander’s 2-litre AFFF foam fire extinguisher unit has a fire rating of 8A 55B, with a high performance in the harshest conditions.

Taxi or PHV (private hire vehicle) fire safety 

Fire extinguishers are required in order to work legally as a taxi driver, although these regulations will vary depending on local authority guidelines (in accordance with Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976).

A local vehicle licensing authority will set out the type of fire extinguisher needed and how much it should hold, but for most taxis this is generally a 1kg or 2kg dry powder extinguisher (depending on the size of the taxi). For private hire vehicles carrying nine or more passengers, a 2-litre AFFF foam fire extinguisher is required, although different PHV fire extinguisher transport regulations may also be set out by different local authorities.

HGV fire safety 

As with taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches, and commercial car fire safety, dry powder fire extinguishers are also recommended for HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles). At least one portable 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher is required in lorries and trucks in order to deal with a range of fire risks on the road, including class A (involving solids such as wood, paper, etc),  class B (involving liquids) and class C (involving gases) fires.

For HGVs carrying dangerous goods, CDG regulations must be adhered to. These state a minimum amount of dry powder required for each maximum permissible mass of the vehicle. A lorry over 7.5 tonnes, for example, would need a 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher in the cab, and a further 10kg stored elsewhere in the HGV (including at least one 6kg dry powder fire extinguisher).

When transporting fire extinguishers in a HGV cab, always use a transport bracket. The multi-purpose CommanderEDGE 2kg ABC dry powder fire extinguisher is perfect for this, with transport brackets included as standard. Larger fire extinguishers can be secured to the vehicle in a reinforced Commander Vehicle Cabinet. Available to secure both 6kg and 9-12kg units, these lockable, solid, and totally sealed structures provide total weather protection when mounted to trucks or trailers.

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