When it comes to fire safety, it’s crucial that you have the right fire extinguisher for your environment. One of the most commonly overlooked places where a fire extinguisher is necessary is in vehicles. However, vehicles of all kinds have fire safety requirements that need to be carefully considered.

Vehicle ire extinguishers are not a legal requirement for private cars, but they are required in some commercial and public vehicles like HGVs and public transport.

In this guide, we will help you decide on the best vehicle fire extinguisher. We will explore the types of fire extinguishers that are used in vehicles, the different types of vehicles that require fire extinguishers, and how to use your vehicle fire extinguisher safely.

Do you need a vehicle fire extinguisher?

Whether or not you require a vehicle fire extinguisher is going to depend on a number of factors. These include the type of vehicle that it is as well as what it will be used for.

In the UK, fire extinguishers are not required in private cars. However, it is still advisable to have an extinguisher in your car for the sake of increased safety and peace of mind. A lot of people assume that business vehicles are legally required to have fire extinguishers but this is not necessarily the case. Many company vehicles do not legally require a vehicle fire extinguisher. That being said, there is a requirement for employers to conduct a health and safety assessment for any vehicles, and this should include a fire risk assessment.

Some vehicles are required to carry a fire extinguisher. These include PCVs, or passenger carrying vehicles, such as minibuses. These are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher. The same is true for taxis and private hire vehicles. In order to legally work as a taxi driver, you are required to carry a vehicle fire extinguisher.

As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to have a vehicle fire extinguisher, even if it’s not a legal requirement.

Types of vehicles that need fire extinguishers

Cars

While there isn’t any current legislation that requires private cars to carry fire extinguishers, there are real risks when driving any vehicle that need to be considered. This is especially true if the car is used by the employees of a company. An employer has a duty of care to ensure that their employees are safe and that makes it crucial that a fire risk assessment is carried out.

An ABC powder fire extinguisher is usually recommended as the best fire extinguisher for a car. Any extinguisher should be securely fixed in the car with a bracket to prevent damage in the case of an accident.

Taxis

It is a legal requirement for taxis, as well as other private hire vehicles, to carry a fire extinguisher as well as a fire aid kit. The capacity of the fire extinguisher required will depend on the local vehicle licensing authority.

If a personal hire vehicle can carry more than 9 people, a 2L AFFF foam extinguisher is legally required.

Commercial vehicles

It’s recommended that commercial vehicles and vans that aren’t carrying dangerous goods carry at least an ABC dry powder fire extinguisher. If a commercial vehicle is carrying any dangerous goods, the size of the extinguisher will usually be specified, depending on the permissible mass of the vehicle.

Public transport

Some public transport vehicles, including buses, coaches, and minibuses, are legally required to carry at least one 2L fire extinguisher. Vehicles like minibuses often contain multiple forms of combustible materials so the appropriate level of protection is essential. The number of extinguishers required does not change depending on the size of the vehicle but a wheelchair accessible vehicle may require more extinguishers.

Local authorities may also have additional regulations set out regarding fire safety on public transport vehicles, including some minibuses.

HGVs

While HGVs that are not carrying dangerous goods are not legally required to carry a vehicle fire extinguisher, most are recommended to carry at least one portable fire extinguisher that can tackle Class A, B, and C fires. This makes dry powder fire extinguishers an ideal choice.

If an HGV is transporting dangerous goods, there are additional regulations that it has to comply with, where the tonnage of the vehicle dictates the minimum amount of dry powder it must carry.  The HSE has released guidance on the minimum dry powder provision for HGVs.

Caravans and motorhomes

Thanks to the presence of electrical equipment in caravans and motorhomes, water mist fire extinguishers are ideal for these vehicles, thanks to their ability to fight Class A, B, C, and electrical fires.

ABC dry powder extinguishers were once recommended for caravans but they aren’t typically recommended anymore due to the potential danger of inhaling the powder in closed spaces.

What type of fire extinguishers are used in vehicles?

ABC Dry powder

Dry powder fire extinguishers are ideal for tackling Class A, B, and C fires. This, combined with their compact size makes them the ideal choice for private cars. A 1kg or 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher is usually sufficient for use in a car and they can be stored in the boot.

AFFF

AFFF fire extinguishers, or Aqueous Film Forming Foam, are required for public transport vehicles like buses and minibuses. Typically, 2L AFFF fire extinguishers are advised due to their effectiveness and performance when tackling Class A and B fires.

Wet chemical

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are suitable in vehicles that contain kitchens such as food trucks and caravans. Wet chemical fire extinguishers are designed to extinguish Class F fires. These are fires caused by flammable cooking oils and fats. The high flash point of these liquids makes other types of extinguishers unsuitable.

Is it safe to keep a fire extinguisher in your car?

You can safely store a dry powder fire extinguisher in your car. Since the UK rarely reaches temperatures that are either hot or cold enough to damage the extinguisher, keeping a powder extinguisher in your car is safe. However, it’s a good idea to keep your extinguisher out of direct sunlight by storing it in the boot.

No matter what vehicle you’re using, you need to make sure that your extinguisher is safely secured using an appropriate bracket to ensure that they don’t get damaged or pose a risk to you during travel.

How to practice safe vehicle fire extinguisher use

When using a vehicle fire extinguisher, it’s important to take all of the same precautions that you would when using an extinguisher in a building.

Storing your extinguisher in the boot of your car also forces you to get out of the car to tackle the fire, which is the safest option by far. As with any other fire safety situation, you need to make sure that you have the correct fire extinguisher for your needs. If the vehicle is used for commercial purposes, a fire risk assessment should always be carried out to ensure the correct fire extinguisher is in place.

Conclusion

As with any situation regarding fire safety, it’s important to make sure that you assess the kinds of risks present when choosing the right vehicle fire extinguisher. When choosing a vehicle fire extinguisher, you should always return to your Fire Risk Assessment to ensure that you are keeping yourself and your vehicle as safe as possible.

If you want more information on the right vehicle fire extinguisher for you, speak to one of our trained experts on 0330 058 0631 or click here to get in touch online.