5 Types of Fire Extinguishers: A Guide to Using the Right Class (2023)

Choosing the type of extinguisher for each class of fire can literally make the difference between life and death. So here's a helpful guide to choosing the right extinguisher type and class for the right scenario, including color codes, fire classes and intended use.

No fire extinguisher can be used to fight all fires, and since each type of extinguisher has different fire categories that it is effective on, the choice can be a minefield. The good news is that portable fire extinguishers are effective and life-saving. The number of successfully managed fires is rising, according to a survey of companies in the UK's four main trade bodies for fire safetyby wearable devices increased from 80% in 2003 to 93% in 2021.

The first step is to check what materials are present in the area to be protected against fire. These can be divided into six classes of fire with different substances:

• Class AFire caused by solid carbon-based combustibles such as paper, wood or textiles
• Classe BFire caused by flammable liquids, e.g. B. paraffin, gasoline, diesel or oil (but no cooking oil)
• Class CFire caused by combustible gases, for example, butane, propane or methane
• Class DFire from burning metals, for example aluminum, lithium or magnesium
• Fires caused by electrical equipment (indicated by aSpark symbol not the letter E)
• Classe FFire of cooking fats and oils.

In the UK, portable fire extinguishers must comply with the BS EN3 standard, which requires their body to be colored red. A small colored band indicates the type of extinguisher - red for water, white and red for water mist, off-white for foam, blue for dry powder, yellow coded extinguishers are used for wet chemicals, green for detergent and black for CO2 extinguishers.

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All fire extinguisher prices vary greatly by supplier, so buyers are advised to shop around. The future cost ofmaintenancemust also be taken into account. Some companies charge for installation and start-up, but they should come with a 5-year warranty and mounting brackets included. Approximate prices shown below include VAT.

Five main types of fire extinguishers

There are five different fire extinguishers, namely:

• Water, water mist or water jetfire extinguisher
• foamfire extinguisher
• dry powder– Normal or special fire extinguisher
• carbon dioxide("CO2") fire extinguishers
• wet chemicalfire extinguisher

Extinguisher type table

This table views the types of fire extinguishers used in the UK and the types of fire they are suitable for, along with their color coding.

As you can see from the table below, there are 5 colors of fire extinguishers in the UK: red, cream, blue, black and yellow

Types and uses of fire extinguishers

Water extinguisher (red label)

Water extinguishers are only used on Class A fires. Therefore, fire extinguishers marked in red can be used to fight fires caused by burning paper, wood, straw, coal, rubber, hard plastic and soft furniture . Water fire extinguishers work by spraying water out of the spray nozzle, which allows a larger surface area to be covered. They are the simplest, most common and cheapest type of extinguisher, costing around £25 for 3 or 6 liters and £35 for regular 9 liter models and £50 for freeze-proof extinguishers. Some have an additive to make the water more effective and reduce the size and weight of extinguisher needed - those are a bit more expensive.

Water extinguishers are the easiest to maintain variety and the least dangerous as they only contain water. They cool the fire by soaking it and the materials with water. This puts out flames and absorbs heat from burning objects.

They are commonly found in stores, offices, retail stores, schools, hotels, warehouses and residential buildings. They can have spray or jet nozzles and are usually capable of completely extinguishing a fire. One drawback is that they cannot be used on fat or oil burning (Class F), metal burning (Class D), liquid burning (Class B), or electrical appliance fires.

water mist extinguisher

The newest type of fire extinguisher. These very powerful yet smaller devices emit an ultra-fine mist of microscopic particles of "dry" demineralized water. They can be used safely and effectively on class A, B, C and F fires, eliminating the need to supply more than one type of extinguisher in most installations. Some water mist extinguishers are also suitable for use on electrical fires on equipment up to 1,000 volts, such as computers and printers.

They work by cooling the fire and reducing the oxygen supply. These devices will likely replace wet chemical extinguishers for putting out fryer fires and will not leave residue or collateral damage. Just like water extinguishers, they are recyclable and contain no chemicals. However, they cannot be used on Class D (metal) fires.

Water mist extinguishers are more expensive than water extinguishers, ranging from £50 for 1 liter to £100 for 6 litres.

water spray extinguisher

Available in three and six liter capacities, water spray extinguishers are suitable for fires involving organic solids such as wood, fabric, paper, plastic or coal. Using it in fat or oil burning or electrical appliances is a big ban.

Usage involves aiming the jet at the base of the flames and moving it steadily and evenly across the fire until it goes out.

A jet nozzle is dispensed with in favor of a spray nozzle, which generates a fine spray mist due to the higher pressure. By reaching a wider surface, heat is extracted faster. Surfactants can be added to allow water to penetrate further into the burning material.

Foam extinguisher (cream label)

Foam will smother fire on solids and liquids (Class A and B) but not on burning cooking fats or oils (Class F), so foam fire extinguishers are used on burning liquids such as gasoline, paint or turpentine . A foam extinguisher can also be used on some electrical fires if they have been tested and fired from a distance of 1 meter. However they leave a residue which needs to be cleaned up and are more expensive than water extinguishers at around £25 for 1 liter and £55 for 9 litres.

Powder extinguisher (blue label)

Gunpowder fire extinguishers are used to combat the burning of solids, liquids and gases (class A, B and C fires).Special powder fire extinguisherare designed to fight Type D fires involving combustible metals such as lithium, magnesium or aluminum.

They work by dust forming a crust that smothers the fire and prevents it from spreading.

The disadvantages are that the powder does not penetrate the materials and does not have an effective cooling effect on the fire, which can lead to a fire again. The dust is dangerous if inhaled, so they must be used in well-ventilated areas and are not suitable for offices and homes. Dust damages home textiles, machines, etc. and must be carefully cleaned after use. They cannot be used on skillet fires (Class F).

They are usually cheap and powerful and come in 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 kg sizes. A 1kg model can cost as little as £15, while a 9kg model is around £35.

CO2 extinguisher (black label)

These contain only pressurized carbon dioxide and therefore leave no residue. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are used on fires involving burning liquids (class B) and electrical fires, e.g. B. by large computer equipment and are therefore useful in offices. CO2 works by smothering the fire and will not damage electrical equipment or short circuit the system.

However, CO2 extinguishers are very cold when fired, and those not equipped with anti-freeze, double-lined rotating horns can result in your fingers freezing on the horn during use. They can suffocate in confined spaces and are not suitable for deep fryers, as the powerful jet from the extinguisher can blow burnt grease out of the fryer. Fires can reignite quickly once CO2 diffuses into the atmosphere, so they don't offer post-fire safety.

CO2 extinguishers are very expensive. A 2kg model costs around £33, while a 5kg model, suitable for server rooms and factories, starts at £65.

Wet extinguishing agent (yellow label)

Other than water mist, these are the only extinguishing agents suitable for class F oil fires (grease and cooking oil) and are primarily used in kitchens with fryers. They can also be used on Class A fires and some on Class B fires. They consist of a pressurized solution of alkaline salts in water which, when triggered, produces a fine mist that cools the flames and prevents splattering. Pricier than some others, they cost around £35 for 2-litre, £70 for 3-litre and £110 for 6-litre sizes.

What types of fire extinguishers to use

• Class AFire Extinguishers - Water, water mist, foam, dry powder, wet chemical
• Classe BFire extinguisher - water mist, foam, dry chemical, CO2, some wet chemicals
• Class CFire extinguishers - water mist, dry powder
• Class DFire extinguisher - special dry powder
• ElectricFire extinguisher - CO2
• Classe FFire extinguishers - water mist, wet chemicals.

Electric fire extinguishers

In 2017, it was reported that nearlyFour out of ten construction workers used the wrong type of fire extinguisherDealing with electrical fires – a survey found. Furthermore, electrical fires have become more common causes of fires due to the increased reliance on electrical products and batteries. In 2021 electricity was the oneMost common cause of fire reported (19%)According to a firefighting industry survey, it is important to know which extinguishing agent to use.

For electrical fires, CO2 extinguishers should be used. By displacing oxygen from the air, they help to stifle the fire and prevent its spread, leaving no residue and therefore harmless to electrical equipment. Because of this, they are often found in server/computer rooms, offices, kitchens, and construction sites.

Dry powder extinguishers, which have a blue label, are considered usable on electrical fires involving equipment below 1000V, although CO2 extinguishers are still recommended.

If an electrical fire occurs, responders should not use water-based, foam, or wet chemical extinguishers.

How to use a fire extinguisher

Fire extinguishers should ideally only be used by someone trained to use them - and the following does not constitute training. Also, a fire extinguisher should not be activated until the fire alarm sounds and you have identified a safe escape route. If you are still unsure about using a fire extinguisher, or if it is clearly the safest option, leave the building immediately.

Still, the following technique may serve as a refresher for those whoterfull training or if someone without training needs to use one to improve everyone's chances of escaping unharmed.

The following four-step technique is easier to remember with the acronymPASS to help you use a fire extinguisher:

1. To pull: Pull the pin to break the tamper evident seal.
2. Meta: Point down and point the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. (Do not touch the horn of a CO2 extinguisher, as it gets very cold and can damage your skin.
3. Squeeze: Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
4. To sweep: Sweep the fire site - the source of fuel - back and forth until the fire is out.

keep readinghow to use a fire extinguisher safely and effectively.

I likeTips from the Fire Protection AssociationUsing a fire extinguisher includes:

• Never use a fire extinguisher on a flame from a gas leak.
• Fight a fire only in its early stages
• Do not move forward unless it is safe and you must always stay at least six feet away from the fire.
• Do not use more than one fire extinguisher to fight a fire.

Fire blankets, hoses and buckets

These fire extinguishing methods are useful additions to fire extinguishers.

Fire buckets can be filled with water on Class A fires or used with sand as an absorbent on Class B fires, which are combustible liquid spills. They are not to be used with water in burning fat or oil or in electrical appliances. However, they are sometimes left blank or abused and have limited effect as they cannot be used on large fires. Plastic buckets with a lid are around £15, while metal buckets are available for around £23.

Fire hoses released water at high pressure. They can be effective on Class A fires, but they are very heavy. Hose reel prices start around £100 and vary greatly depending on size and fitment.

Fire blankets are effective for smothering small fires in kitchens or boats when a good seal is in place, and for covering people whose clothing is on fire. Made of fiberglass, they withstand temperatures of up to 500°C and are compact and portable. They require no maintenance and can only be used once. They are cheap and can be bought for as little as £7 for a 1 square meter blanket. Larger sizes cost around £15.

automatic fire extinguishers

automatic fire extinguishersare for fighting fires in transport, e.g. B. in the engine compartment of boats or large vehicles, or in industrial use, z. B. in generators or designed computer rooms. Advantages include ease of recharging and lack of constant monitoring, as well as eliminating the need for manual operation in unmanned areas.

These fire extinguishers are designed to kick in when they detect heat. On the other hand, their placement is crucial as they can falsely trip when the ambient temperature reaches the trigger level.

Available as dry powder (blue) or clean, inert extinguishing gas, replacing the now illegal halon, banned in the UK for its effects on the ozone layer (green), they protect against Class A, B, C and electrical fires.

They cost between £30 and £85 for smaller models; complete systems can cost from £500 to £1,750.

vehicle fire extinguishers

They usually contain dry powder to fight class A, B and C fires, their size should be selected according to the size and type of vehicle. They can be bought for around £11 for a 600g model to £70 for 12kg for larger vehicles. Its use is advisable, but not mandatory by law in common cars.

capes for fire extinguishers

It costs between £8 and £25 depending on size and is used to protect fire extinguishers in harsh environments. Hose reel covers are also available.

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