Correct as at 25th April 2024. It may be superseded at any time.
Extract taken from: Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > In-service certification (WoF and CoF) > Forklifts > Vehicle exterior
2 Vehicle exterior
2-1 External projections
Reasons for rejection
Condition and performance
1. The risk of a component (Note 1) hooking a vehicle, or hooking or grazing a person, has not been minimised.
2. An ornamental object or fitting (Note 2) protrudes in such a way that it is likely to injure a person.
3. A protruding object or fitting that has a functional purpose (Note 2) is fitted in a way that does not reduce the risk of injury to a person.
4. A component, object or fitting is not securely attached to the vehicle.
5. A protruding object or fitting adversely affects the driver’s vision or control.
Note 1
Components include damaged, corroded and exposed body panels.
Note 2 Definitions
The external projections requirements relate to the design and maintenance of objects and fittings that protrude from the exterior of the motor vehicle with regard to the safety of other motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
Ornamental object or fitting means an object or fitting that does not have a practical purpose, eg bonnet emblems.
Functional object or fitting means an object or fitting that has a practical purpose.
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Permitted equipment
1. A forklift may be fitted with a protruding ornamental or functional object or fitting.
Condition and performance
2. A protruding ornamental object or fitting must not be likely to injure a person.
3. A protruding object or fitting that has a functional purpose must be installed so that the risk of the object or fitting causing injury to a person is minimised.
4. Components of a forklift, including damaged or corroded body panels, must be such that the risk of their hooking a vehicle, or hooking or grazing a person, is minimised.
5. A protruding object or fitting must not adversely affect driver vision or driver control.
2-2 Dimensions
Reasons for rejection
Mandatory equipment
1. A forklift exceeds the dimension requirements set out in Table 2-2-1 and is not fitted with the appropriate hazard warning equipment set out in Table 2-2-2.
2. A required revolving amber beacon cannot be activated and deactivated.
Note 1 Definitions
The rear axis
a) in relation to a vehicle with only one non-steering axle, means that axle,
b) in relation to a vehicle with a non-steering axle set of two axles, means:
i. midway between those axles, if each axle has an equal number of tyres on it, or
ii. two-thirds of the distance from the lesser-tyred axle towards the greater-tyred axle, if one axle has twice as many tyres on it as the other axle
c) in relation to a vehicle with a non-steering tri-axle set or a non-steering quad-axle set, or an overdimension vehicle with more than three axles, means midway between the extreme axles of the set
d) in relation to a vehicle whose rear axle set includes one or more steerable axles in conjunction with one or more non-
steering axles, means midway between the extreme non-steering axles of the set.
Front axis means the centre of the foremost axle of a rigid vehicle with motive power.
Wheelbase means the distance from a vehicle’s rear axis to its front axis.
Table 2-2-1. Dimension requirements (see Figure 2-2-4)
Dimension | Maximum distance | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Width | 2.55m 1.275m from each side of the longitudinal centreline | Measurement does not include:
|
Overall length | 12.6m (no tow coupling fitted) 11.5m (tow coupling fitted) | Measurement does not include collapsible mirrors. |
Height | 4.3m | |
Forward distance | 8.5m (tow coupling fitted) 9.5m (no tow coupling fitted) |
|
Rear overhang | Forklift GVM 3500kg or less:
Forklift GVM greater than 3500kg:
|
|
Front overhang | 3m |
|
Table 2-2-2. Hazard warning equipment requirements for vehicles that exceed the dimensions in Table 2-2-1
Vehicle category | Dimension | Limits | Required hazard warning equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
Category 1 | Width/forward distance | 2.55m /11.4m, or 3.1m/10.5m, or 3.7m/8.5m, or | Flags1 or panels2 fitted on each side at the front and rear as close as practical to the outside edge |
| Length | 25m, or | ||
| Front overhang | 7m, or | ||
| Rear overhang | 7m | ||
Category 2 (not including category 1) | Width/forward distance | 2.55m /13.3m, or 4.5m/8.5m, or | 1. Panels2 fitted on each side at the front and rear as close as practical to the outside edge 2. OVERSIZE sign3 fitted at the front and rear if more than 3.1m wide 3. Revolving amber beacon fitted so that it is visible to approaching traffic if the vehicle is more than 3.7m wide |
| Length | 35m, or | ||
| Front overhang | 10m, or | ||
| Rear overhang | 10m | ||
Category 3 (not including category 2) | Width/forward distance | 2.55m /20m 5m/20m 5m/8.5m | 1. Panels2 fitted on each side at the front and rear as close as practical to the outside edge 2. OVERSIZE sign3 fitted at the front and rear 3. Revolving amber beacon fitted so that it is visible to approaching traffic if the vehicle is more than 3.7m wide |
Category 4A (not including category 3) | Width/forward distance | 11m/20m 11m/8.5m | 1. Panels2 fitted on each side at the front and rear as close as practical to the outside edge 2. OVERSIZE sign3 fitted at the front and rear 3. Revolving amber beacon fitted so that it is visible to approaching traffic if the vehicle is more than 3.7m wide |
| Category 4B | Exceeding any limit in Category 4A | 1. Panels2 fitted on each side at the front and rear as close as practical to the outside edge 2. OVERSIZE sign3 fitted at the front and rear 3. Revolving amber beacon fitted so that it is visible to approaching traffic if the vehicle is more than 3.7m wide | |
1 Flags:
- must be fluorescent yellow
- must be at least 400mm long × 300mm wide.
2 Hazard warning panels
- must be reflective yellow-green with a reflective orange diagonal stripe
- comply with AS/NZS 1906.1:2007
- be frangible for those portions which extend beyond the vehicle’s limits (frangible means breakable or readily deformable)
- must be of at least of the minimum dimensions and of the colours specified in Figure 2-2-1.
3 OVERSIZE sign
- must be black lettering on a yellow-green background
- must be at least 300mm × 1100mm in size
- be frangible if any part of the sign extends beyond the body or load of the vehicle, whichever it is attached to (frangible means breakable or readily deformable)
- may be in two parts: OVER and SIZE.
Figure 2-2-1. Hazard panel details
Figure 2-2-2. Hazard panel location and orientation
Figure 2-2-3. Overdimension vehicle categories for width/forward distance thresholds
Use this figure to determine vehicle category in Table 2-2-2.
For the purposes of Figure 2-2-3 vehicles with a width less than 2.55m are deemed to have a width of 2.55m and vehicles with a forward distance of less than 8.5m are deemed to have a forward distance of 8.5m.
Figure 2-2-4. Dimension requirements
(Note: Dimensions in red updated in VDAM 2016)
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Mandatory equipment
1. A forklift that exceeds the dimensions in Table 2-2-1 must be fitted with additional equipment set out in Table 2-2-2.
Page amended 1 June 2019 (see amendment details).