Fire extinguishers are an integral part of the fire safety provisions for any building and it is important to ensure that the correct type of fire extinguisher is installed and maintained.
Fire extinguishers meeting BS EN3 are manufactured with a red body and have a band of a second colour covering between 5-10% of the surface relating to the extinguisher’s contents. Each different type of extinguisher agent has a corresponding colour making identification easier for the user.
Below is an overview of each extinguisher agent and its corresponding colour.
Fire Extinguisher Classes and Suitability
Each type of fire extinguisher is suitable for different types of burning media and will have a fire rating based on the volume of fire that they are capable of extinguishing. Below is an overview of each type of fire extinguisher including its rating and suitable uses.
Fire Extinguisher Classes
Fires are identified using a classification system. Each class identifies the type of fuel involved and allows appropriate fire extinguisher media to be identified.
Class A Fires
Freely Burning Materials, Wood, Paper, Straw, Textiles, Coal etc.
Class B Fires
Flammable Liquids, Petrol, Diesel, Oils, Paint Paraffin etc.
Class C Fires
Flammable Gases, Methane, Propane, Butane, Natural Gas etc.
Class D Fires
Flammable Metals, Magnesium, Aluminium, Lithium etc.
Electrical Fires
Electrical Appliances, Computers, Stereos, Fuse boxes etc.
Class F Fires
Combustible Cooking Media, Cooking Oil, Fats, Grease etc.
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