Fire Extinguishers – Classes, Color Coding, Rating, Location and Maintenance

Classification of Fires

Fires are classified in 6 groups A, B, C, D, F and electrical:

  • Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like newspaper, woods, etc
  • Class B fires – are fires involving combustible liquids
  • Class C fires – are fires involving combustible gasses
  • Course D fires – are fires involving burning metals (eg aluminium swarf)
  • Course F fires – are fires involving fats such as used in deep fatty fryers
  • Electric fires (the letter of the alphabet E is non used. Instead the symbol of an electrical spark is displayed) – are fires acquired by electric equipment

Class A Icon Class B icon Class C icon Class D icon Class F icon Electrical Icon

Electrical Fires

Electrical fires are non given their own full class, as they tin fall into any of the classifications. After all it is not the electricity called-for only surrounding cloth that has been prepare alight by the electric current.

The kickoff step when fighting a fire caused by electricity is to switch the equipment off. In addition, any water based extinguishers used on electrical equipment should be dielectrically tested and certified to ensure that you can extinguish the fire safely, even if the power supply is left on. It must exist remembered that certain electrical apparatus maintain a lethal charge for some time after they have been switched off.

Colour coding of Extinguishers

The type of extinguisher is identified past a color coding every bit indicated below. The quondam burn down extinguishers standard required the whole of the body of the extinguisher to exist painted the appropriate colour. You will find these extinguishers in many premises and these are still legal, you do not need to modify them unless the extinguisher is defective and needs to be replaced. New extinguishers are manufactured to the standard BS EN 3.

  • Water extinguishers are coloured signal reddish.
  • Other extinguishers will exist predominantly signal red with a label, band or circumvolve covering at to the lowest degree 5% of the surface expanse of the extinguisher in a second color indicating the contents of the extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers color-coded dark-green are vapourising liquids (Halons) and have been illegal, with some exceptions like shipping and the military, since the end of 2003 every bit the effect of the Montreal protocol. They need to be tending of legally, for more than information become to Phasing out Halons in portable fire extinguishers.

The indicating color e'er indicates the type of extinguisher medium.

Type Erstwhile Code BS EN 3 Colour Code Fire Grade
Water Betoken Ruddy Betoken Red A
Water Mist White and Red White and Red A, F, (suitable for B and C, although without formal mark). Suitable for electric hazard if dielectrically tested and deploying de-ionised water
Foam Cream Red with a foam panel above the operating instructions A, B, electrical if dielectrically tested
Dry Powder French Bluish Red with a blue panel higher up the operating instructions A, B, C, electric
Carbon Dioxide Black Red with a black console above the operating instructions  B, electrical
Halon Emerald Green No longer produced – illegal in the UK A
Wet Chemical Non in use Red with a yellow panel above the operating instructions A, F, some are too suitable for B class fires
Specialist Powder French Blue Cherry with a blue panel above the operating instructions D

Not using the above color coding means the burn extinguisher does non accommodate to the British standard and therefore cannot display the Kitemark. If a specific slice of legislation requires them to accommodate to the British Standard, so they would exist unsuitable. In the example of the The Regulatory Reform (Burn Safety) Order 2005 this order does non require portable fire extinguishers to conform to the British Standard.
Therefore they are legal in premises covered by this order, however the DCLG guidance on the RR(FS)O does recommend they should conform to the British Standards which leaves the Responsible Person in a dilemma. Wherever reasonably possible, information technology is best exercise to select extinguishers which conform to BS EN iii

Burn Rating

All extinguishers capable of extinguishing class A, B or F fires comport a burn rating which is indicated by a number and letter (eg 13A, 55B). The number is indicating the size of burn down it tin can extinguish under test conditions. The larger the number, the larger the fire it can extinguish. The letter indicates the fire classification as higher up. Grade C, D and the electric symbol do non behave a numerical rating.

All extinguishers capable of extinguishing class F fires have a rating based on iv criterion tests using 5, 15, 25 and 75 litres of sunflower oil. The oil is heated to car-ignition and allowed to pre-burn for 2 minutes. The burn down is then extinguished and no re-ignition shall occur within 10 minutes of extinguishing the burn.

For a fuller caption, go to Portable Fire Extinguisher Guide and for a full explanation check out the latest edition of BS EN iii-vii

Chosing Fire Extinguishers

For a kitchen at home, a fire blanket and a small moisture chemical extinguisher or h2o mist extinguisher using de-ionised h2o would be considered satisfactory for most situations. A water mist extinguisher, with its broad fire fighting adequacy beyond most fire risks is also suitable for the remainder of the business firm. Remember to tackle merely small fires, if in uncertainty, get out and always call the burn service out.

Commercial and public organisations need to have a survey conducted to ascertain the number and type of extinguishers that are required. More often than not a more than substantial fire extinguishing capability will be required. The ratings of the extinguishers are then used to calculate the number and type of extinguishers required. Ideally, BAFE canonical fire extinguisher companies should be used to carry out these surveys equally this volition ensure a high installation and maintenance standard.

The following factors should also exist considered when siting fire extinguishers:

  • Extinguishers should ordinarily be sited on escape routes on all floors at what is called 'fire points'.
  • They should exist fixed in a location where the extinguisher can be reached quickly. The all-time place is about a door leading to a identify of rubber or near a specific fire run a risk.
  • They should be fixed where they can be easily seen. Fixing them inside cupboards or behind doors will waste product valuable fourth dimension if a fire breaks out.
  • Do not place them over cookers or heaters or in places of farthermost temperatures, hot or cold.
  • Extinguishers should exist fixed at an elevated height, so that the carrying handle is 1m from the floor for heavier units (heavier than 4kg) and 1.5m for smaller units.
  • Extinguishers should be within reasonable distance from any fire adventure:
  1. Class A: 30m
  2. Class B: 10m
  3. Class C: 30m
  4. Class D: example-by-case basis, by expert communication
  5. Class F: 10m
  • If you take to travel through doorways, the maximum travel distances need to exist reduced.
  • The method of operation should exist like for all extinguishers, where possible.
  • The occupiers should be capable of handling all the types and sizes recommended.
  • Where dissimilar types of extinguishers for different risk types are sited together they must be properly labelled to prevent defoliation.
  • Extinguishers should be fitted with suitable jet or spray nozzles or flexible hoses to suit the risk involved.

Additional References can be found in BS 5306 Role 8.

Maintenance

Extinguishers in commercial or public buildings should exist visually inspected monthly for damage or force per unit area loss and should be serviced to BS 5306-iii once a yr. Water, cream and powder extinguishers accept to exist discharged and refilled every five years. CO2 extinguishers must exist refurbished after ten years. One exception, however, are the kitemarked P50 servicing-free extinguishers which only need refurbishment after ten years and do non require maintenance within the ten years (other than the monthly visual inspection and a recorded yearly visual inspection by the owners).

In general, the manufacturer'south instructions will tell you lot what you need to do to keep your extinguisher in expert working lodge. Later on an extinguisher has been used, fifty-fifty if only partially, it must be recharged according to the manufacturer's instructions. See this guide about fire extinguisher maintenance for further details.

Service-Free Extinguishers:

BS 5306-3 and most extinguisher manufacturers recommend yearly servicing by an engineer and the refilling of cream, water and powder extinguishers every five years. One exception is the UK manufacturer Britannia with their P50 service-gratis extinguishers which are guaranteed for 10 years and which do not require maintenance by an external technician over the x year period. In bodily fact, these extinguishers lose their warranty if any effort is made to open up or modify the unit. They still require a recorded annual visual inspection by the owners, though. The visual inspection consists of  checking the pressure level gauges, checking the extinguisher for harm and checking the manufacture date of the extinguisher and recording the results in a fire safety logbook and on the back of the extinguisher. Insurance companies accept these extinguishers but should exist notified of the change in the maintenance process once you have installed P50 extinguishers.

Every bit there is no visit by an extinguisher specialist for 10 years, the installation of service-free extinguishers should always include first of all a site survey to ensure the right blazon of extinguisher is selected, followed by the bodily install and subsequent preparation of the client by the technician to ensure the customer fully understands the product. The buy of a P50 extinguishers should always include a survey, the installation, the commissioning, the training and certification for the grooming.

Purchasing Portable Fire Extinguishers

When purchasing fire extinguishers always ensure they encounter the requirements of the appropriate British Standard. Wait for the kitemark or LPCB mark to prove right certification. If the extinguishers are for commercial or public buildings they will need to be certified on-site Afterward the delivery. Surfing the internet will produce many suppliers but ever utilize a visitor that sells extinguishers meeting the appropriate British Standard and make sure that any supplier offers ON SITE commissioning (certification) or installation carried out past an engineer AT YOUR SITE. Be careful, as some cyberspace companies offer certification prior to commitment, which is not adequate, equally extinguishers could get damaged in transit.

If you crave whatsoever farther information well-nigh the blazon of fire extinguishers you should buy, ask your local fire service. They will be glad to help you and their good advice is free of accuse. They will too exist able to provide y'all with general fire safety advice.

Which Portable Fire Extinguishers to Use

Before you tackle a fire

Many people put out minor fires quite safely. However, some people die or are injured by tackling a burn which is across their capabilities. Here is a uncomplicated fire code to help you decide whether to put out or leave.

  • Only tackle a burn in its very early stages
  • Ever put your own and other peoples safety first
  • On discovering the fire, immediately heighten an alarm
  • Make sure yous tin can escape if you need to and never allow a fire block your get out
  • If you cannot put out the burn or if the extinguisher becomes empty, get out and become everyone else out of the building immediately, closing all doors behind you as you go. And then ensure the fire brigade has been called

Further data

Information on Types, Colours and Use of Portable Burn down Extinguishers

Information about Burn down Extinguisher and Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

Fire Extinguishers for Electrical Fires

Portable Fire Extinguisher Guide.

Determining the Age of Portable Extinguishers

Comparison of cartridge extinguishers versus stored pressure extinguishers

Tags:age of extinguishers cartridge extinguishers portable fire extinguishers

Categories:Fire Prophylactic Equipment

March 15, 2011[Concluding updated: August 18, 2021]