How many fire extinguishers are required for hazardous material vehicles?
4 Answers
Hazardous material vehicles are required to be equipped with two fire extinguishers. Types of hazardous material vehicles: Tank-type specialized transport vehicles: Generally used for transporting liquid hazardous chemicals such as flammable, explosive, and toxic substances; Box-type specialized transport vehicles: Typically employed for transporting solid hazardous chemicals like industrial explosives, detonators, and fireworks; Ordinary trucks: Their cargo compartments lack flame-retardant material layers or partitions on inner and outer surfaces, have poor airtightness, and lack functions such as high-temperature resistance, dustproofing, rainproofing, static electricity prevention, and lightning protection. Collisions can easily lead to large-scale leaks, fires, or explosions of hazardous chemicals. Reasons why hazardous material vehicles require fire extinguishers: There are mandatory regulations for public transportation vehicles such as passenger buses, taxis, and hazardous material vehicles where passengers are concentrated or fires are prone to occur, requiring drivers and relevant personnel to carry fire extinguishers onboard.
The number of fire extinguishers for hazardous material vehicles is regulated by national laws. From a safety perspective, they must be equipped with at least two fire extinguishers, with a total capacity of no less than 8 kilograms. The standard requires portable dry powder types, such as two 4-kilogram or one 8-kilogram extinguisher, placed in a visible location near the driver's cabin. This is no trivial matter—in case of chemical leaks or fires during transport, the extinguishers can promptly control the flames and prevent explosions. During routine vehicle inspections, I often see drivers carrying only one extinguisher, which is far from sufficient for emergencies and may result in fines if caught. The critical point is that in an actual incident, lacking one extinguisher could lead to a major disaster. Therefore, carrying an extra one is always a wise precaution, especially for long-distance transportation.
In my years of driving this type of vehicle, I've summarized an experience: start with two fire extinguishers, but don't just look at the quantity. They must be dry powder type with a total weight of 8kg, which is the basic requirement. In practice, I carry an extra small bottle. Why? On high-temperature routes or when transporting fuel, fires can easily escalate, and two might still leave you scrambling. It's best to fix them next to the driver's seat for easy access. Don't forget to check the pressure gauge and expiration date monthly; replace them if expired. This thing is more important than tires—one accident can burn the entire vehicle.
Hazardous material vehicles must carry two fire extinguishers, each weighing over 4kg and of the dry powder type. The reason is simple: if a chemical leak catches fire, one bottle alone won't be enough to suppress the flames. I've seen cases where lacking just one extinguisher turned a small fire into a major blaze, leaving only the vehicle's frame. Safety comes first—keeping an extra one on board doesn't take up much space. Regularly check the pressure gauge; if it's in the green zone, it's good. Replace any expired or damaged extinguishers immediately—don't try to save on such small costs. When an accident happens, regret comes too late, especially for long hauls on mountain roads.
