Resources » Case Studies » Fire-Safe by Design: How RHINO Stainless Guards Help Mitigate Dangerous Goods Transport Fires
Fire-Safe by Design: How RHINO Stainless Guards Help Mitigate Dangerous Goods Transport Fires
Australia’s new fire safety rules are targeting dangerous goods vehicle fires at the wheel end — where most start. RHINO stainless steel mudguards offer passive protection that aligns with WA’s 2025 reforms and emerging national standards. Built from 304BA stainless, they help contain heat and limit fire spread — supporting compliance without compromising durability.
RHINO stainless guards in service on dangerous goods tanker.
🔥 A Turning Point in Transport Safety
On 24 October 2022, a tanker carrying ammonium nitrate emulsion caught fire near Cosmo Newbery, WA. The source? A tyre and brake fire on the rear axle. Despite a 2-hour delay before ignition reached the tank, the result was catastrophic: a high-explosive detonation flattened the trailer and scattered debris over a kilometre.
The investigation concluded that the fire could have been contained — and may have been avoided — with better fire risk isolation at the wheel end. That event directly shaped Western Australia’s Dangerous Goods regulatory amendments, which came into effect on 18 April 2025.
Recent events across Australia further highlight the urgent need for better fire containment around wheels and brakes — especially in vehicles transporting dangerous goods:
A road train carrying 34 tonnes of ammonium nitrate emulsion exploded after a wheel-end brake fire ignited the load. The explosion formed a 17×9×1.1 m crater, flinging debris hundreds of metres [AMSJ, Sept 2023].
🔍 Investigators traced the cause to brake drag from air pressure loss, and recommended:
In November 2023, the NSW Resources Regulator issued Safety Bulletin SB23‑09, following several serious tyre fire incidents on heavy mining machinery. Crews were observed approaching dangerously close to burning tyres, unaware of the risk of delayed explosions caused by internal pyrolysis.
📢 The safety bulletin now mandates:
Exclusion zones of at least 300 m
Recognition that tyres can explode up to 24 hours later after overheating
A 2019 claims analysis by TT Club — a leading global insurer and risk authority for transport and logistics — revealed that ~65% of truck/trailer fires originate at the wheels or brakes.
🔥 Common causes include:
Overheated brakes
Dragging brake systems
Hydraulic leaks
Wheel bearing failures
“While devastating fires on trucks and trailers can start in several ways, some 65% are caused by issues related to the wheel and brake assembly area.” — TT Club, Truck and trailer fires – what our data tells us (2019)
While ADG 7.9 remains the current national standard, the Consultation RIS signals likely future changes — including enhanced fire risk controls — across all states and territories.
🌏 Built for Australia’s Harshest Conditions
Across Australia’s most demanding freight environments — from remote mining roads to coastal chemical corridors — RHINO stainless guards are engineered to perform in:
Extreme heat zones — RHINO’s 1.2 mm 304BA stainless withstood intermittent exposure up to ~870 °C and continuous service up to ~925 °C, per Atlas Steels and Outokumpu datasheets — far beyond typical tyre/brake fire temperatures
Corrosive conditions like salt spray and chemical splash
Heavy-duty haulage with constant vibration and impact
Their rugged construction supports compliance goals and safety outcomes — especially as fire suppression expectations evolve nationwide. This aligns with principles already embedded in key Australian fire protection standards.
🔎 How AS 5026 Strengthens Fire Safety at the Wheel End
AS 5026 is the Australian Standard for fire protection of mobile and transportable equipment. It’s widely applied in mining, civil construction, and heavy vehicle environments.
It calls for measures that:
Reduce ignition risk
Enable rapid suppression
Protect personnel and equipment in high-heat failure scenarios
RHINO stainless guards don’t replace active suppression systems — but they complement them with passive containment around one of the most fire-prone zones: the wheel end.
✅ Prepare Your Fleet for Australia’s Evolving Fire Safety Standards
Whether you’re operating in WA under new dangerous goods legislation, or preparing for the national rollout of enhanced fire risk controls, RHINO stainless guards can help your fleet stay ready.
They offer durable, passive protection that supports:
WA’s 2025 fire safety reforms
Australian Dangerous Goods Code (Edition 7.9)
Recommendations from recent investigations and national regulators
The intent of AS 5026 and the Consultation RIS for future code updates
