All Fire Extinguishers are tested by the Underwriters Laboratory for safety and performance.

They are rated

based on the type of fire that they will put out, and their classification is determined by the size of fire they will
put out.
lasses of Fires!
Class A: Wood, Paper, cloth, trash, plastics (solids that are not metals).
" The numerical rating for a lass A Fire extinguisher refers to the amount of chemicals#agent in the
extinguisher. The number represents the chemical#agent$s e%ui&alent to gallons of water the extinguisher holds.
'ultiply the number in front of A by (.)* to figure out the e%ui&alent to gallons of water.
" Example: A Fire Extinguisher with a rating of )A would contain the e%ui&alent to ).* gallons of water +) x (.)*,
Class B: Flammable Liqids!"asoline, oil, #rease, acetone (incldes $lammable
#ases).
" The numerical rating for a class - fire extinguisher refers to the number of cubic feet that the Fire Extinguisher
will be able to extinguish.
" Example: A Fire Extinguisher with a rating of (A!(.-! would contain agents e%ual to (.)* gallons of water +(
x (.)*, and would be able to extinguish (. s%uare feet of a class - fire.
+The extinguisher would also be rated non/conducti&e due to the rating,
Class C: Electrical Fires, Ener#i%ed electrical eqipment $ires (an&thin# that is
pl##ed in).
" lass do not ha&e a numerical classifiction. 0hen 11 is present in the classification#UL rating, it indicates
that the agents in the fire extinguisher are non/conducti&e, meaning that you can use them on an electrical fire
+meaning anything that is plugged in,.
" Example: A Fire Extinguisher with a rating of *-! would be able to extinguish * s%uare feet of a class - fire
and could also be used on a lass fire +electrical/ anything plugged in, due to it$s non/conducti&e properties.
Class ': (etal $ires in)ol)in# ma#nesim, sodim, potassim and sodim!
potassim allo&s.
" lass 2 Fire extinguishers are generally not gi&en a numerical rating. They are simply classified as a 1lass 21
extinguisher.
Class *: Commercial 'eep Fat Fr&ers (coo+in# oil $ires).
" lass 3 Fire extinguishers are ha&e been rated to be used on 3itchen fires in&ol&ing coo4ing oils and deep
fryers. lass 3 are not gi&en a numerical rating.
" Example: A Fire Extinguisher with a rating of )A!3 would contain the e%ui&alent to ).* gallons of water +) x
(.)*, and would also be appro&ed to be used on a lass 3 +coo4ing oil, Fire.