Legal

 

Back Home Up Next

Offences

In 2003, the Vehicle Inspectorate of the DfT checked 7765 vehicles transporting Dangerous Goods. The following is a break down to the commonest offences discovered†:

Lacking Fire Extinguishers                               450

Missing or incorrect paperwork                        261

No driver training certificate                            115

Lacking appropriate hazard warning panels      104

No TREMcard                                                   73

No consignors declaration                                94

Of these 1097 offences, 403 resulted in Prohibition Notices being served (approx. 37%), and as you can see, 41% of those were due to missing or inappropriate fire extinguishers on the transport unit.

† Source: The Department for Transport.

Fire Extinguishers

The requirements for fire extinguishers to be present on vehicles transporting dangerous goods above the ADR Load limits have changed.

All extinguishers must:

  • Be Kite marked, or equivalent to EN 3, parts 1-6.
  • Serviced, be in date, and marked to indicate the date of the next service
  • Installed on the vehicle such that they are protected from the weather, but be easily accessible to the vehicle crew

 

Vehicle Size.

Minimum mass of fire extinguishing medium.

Must Include:

Up to 3.5 tonnes

4kg of Dry Powder*

1 X 2kg for cab/engine

 

3.5 – 7.5 tonnes

8kg of Dry Powder*

1 X 2kg for cab/engine

 

1 X minimum 6kg capacity for the wheels

 

More than 7.5 tonnes

12kg of Dry Powder*

1 X 2kg for cab/engine

 

1 X minimum 6kg capacity for the wheels

 

*or equivalent medium suitable for class A,B and C fires.

Other Items to be carried on board.

All vehicles transporting dangerous goods, in addition to the fire extinguishers above, must also carry the following equipment:

  • At least one suitable wheel chock (two, if a tractor unit and trailer)

  • Two self standing warning signs (Triangles, cones or battery operated flashing amber lights).

  • Fluorescent clothing for each member of the vehicle crew.

  • A suitable torch for each member of the vehicle crew.

  • Any additional items indicated by the TREMcard.

TOP

 

Copyright © 2003-2008 Keith Harrington/RoadSafe Europe Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this site or images it contains may be used, copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

RoadSafe Europe Limited - +44 (0)23 8070 2576 - dgsa@roadsafeeurope.com