DOT Standards for Fire Extinguishers

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Stay prepared for fires while driving.

Fire extinguishers put out fires of all kinds. There are several different kinds of extinguishers. Some put out grease fires, wood fires and electrical fires. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has standards regarding fire extinguishers to help protect the driver in case of a fire. Every state DOT has different standards for fire extinguishers. Always check with your state to make sure you are up to code.

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Federal DOT Standards

Each fire extinguisher must have a gauge to indicate if the extinguisher is fully charged and must have a label showing its Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) rating. The fire extinguisher must be attached securely and readily available and accessible for use at all times. Two fire extinguishers must have a UL rating of 4 B:C or more, or one extinguisher must have a UL rating of 10 B:C if carrying hazardous material.

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State DOT Regulations

Check the requirements of your state as all states have different DOT requirements. Georgia requires all commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,001 pounds to have a fire extinguisher installed. New York preforms roadside inspections and checks commercial vehicles for emergency equipment items such as spare fuses, emergency warning devices and fire extinguishers.

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Contents and Testing

The contents of a fire extinguisher cannot contain any poisonous, corrosive or flammable materials. It must also contain agents that prevents it from freezing. Each fire extinguisher must be tested at least once a year. It must have the actual date of inspection marked on the label with "MEETS DOT REQUIREMENTS" to show it meets requirements for use.

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Violations

Violating the fire extinguisher regulation of the DOT can result in harsh penalties and fines. The DOT can hold the vehicle until the violation is fixed. This can result in late shipment of a delivery. It can also uncover other violations.

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Vehicles

Federal laws state that every commercial vehicle must be equipped with a fire extinguisher. Commercial vehicles includes a school bus, tractor trailer, and any truck hauling hazardous material. Tow trucks are not required to have a fire extinguisher, but they are recommended.

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