Did you know that your car could be classified as a workplace? If you have a company car, or provide company cars to your workers, you need to make sure they are as safe as possible. This blog post covers everything you need to know about car fire extinguishers.
At Jim’s Fire Safety, we specialise in the testing and inspection of fire protection equipment. Contact us for all your fire extinguisher servicing needs, and let us know if you have any questions about our work. We’re more than happy to take you through all we can do.
Do You Need to Carry a Fire Extinguisher in Your Company Vehicle?
According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, vehicles can be considered workplaces. While WorkSafe doesn’t require all commercial vehicles to carry a fire extinguisher, there are certain types that must keep an extinguisher on board:
- Tank wagons carrying dangerous goods
- Vehicles used for forestry
- Some farm vehicles
- Passenger service vehicles with more than 12 seating positions
But even if there’s no legal requirement for carrying a fire extinguisher in your car, you can still benefit from the advantages.
Benefits of Carrying a Fire Extinguisher in Your Vehicle
Image: Otago Daily Times
There are a number of reasons why fire extinguishers for cars are beneficial for both your employees and your business:
- Vehicle fires are not uncommon in New Zealand. Gas and diesel are highly flammable, as are electric batteries, and fires can start at any time. In one vehicle fire emergency, members of the public rushed to nearby businesses to find extinguishers to tackle the fire. You can be better prepared in an emergency by having an extinguisher installed in your vehicle’s interior with a car fire extinguisher bracket.
- Fire extinguishers can contain most small business fires. By equipping your business vehicles with fire extinguishers, you can minimise damage to your property and harm to your employees.
- If a fire does occur, you can prove you implemented fire safety measures for your employees’ benefit.
How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher for Your Car
Make sure your car fire extinguisher can handle the relevant fire risks. A vehicle fire might involve burning metals, plastic, petrol, and electronics, so you need an ABE dry powder extinguisher that can cover all your bases. For more information on ABE dry powder extinguishers, read our guide to white fire extinguishers and fire extinguisher types.
You’ll also need a suitably sized fire extinguisher. Besides ease of handling, don’t forget that the extinguisher will add weight to the car, which could affect fuel economy or take up space. Read more about choosing the right fire extinguisher size.
Many car fire extinguishers come with brackets or mounts specifically designed for vehicles. If your extinguisher doesn’t have a bracket, get one separately, or it’ll roll in the boot as you drive!
Car Fire Extinguisher Inspection Requirements
Once you’ve added a fire extinguisher to your business vehicle, you’ll need to invest in regular testing. There’s no point having fire protection equipment that isn’t properly maintained.
When we test and inspect extinguishers for businesses, we follow the NZS 4503:2005 standard for Hand Operated Fire-Fighting Equipment. NZ legislation requires that all portable and wheeled fire extinguishers be inspected at least once every 12 months (though we recommend once every 6 months).
Because there are no set standards for inspecting fire extinguishers in cars, we recommend following the national standards for extinguishers in buildings used as a workplace.
Besides the annual inspection, different fire extinguisher types require additional tests at different intervals. To learn more, read about our fire extinguisher maintenance services.
Why Jim’s Fire Safety?
You don’t want to take a chance when it comes to fire safety. You need to be sure that you’re covered in every way. With expert advice and consultation from fully qualified professionals, you have that all-important peace of mind. That’s why Jim’s Fire Safety is the name you can rely on.
Contact Jim’s Fire Safety Today
If you have more questions about New Zealand’s fire protection requirements for businesses, please contact us today. One of our professional technicians will be able to answer your enquiry. If you are interested in any of our services, fill in the online form now for a free quote or call 0800 454 654.
Featured image: Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0)
