Classes of Fire - A, B, C, D, and K

Fires are classified by the types of fuel they burn.

Class A
Class A Fires consist of ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, trash or anything else that leaves an ash. Water
works best to extinguish a Class A fire.

Class B
Class B Fires are fueled by flammable or combustible liquids, which include oil, gasoline, and other similar materials.
Smothering effects which deplete the oxygen supply work best to extinguish Class B fires.

Class C
Class C Fires. Energized Electrical Fires are known as Class C fires. Always de-energize the circuit then use a nonconductive extinguishing agent. Such as Carbon dioxide.

Class D
Class D Fires are combustible metal fires. Magnesium and Titanium are the most common types of metal fires. Once
a metal ignites do not use water in an attempt to extinguish it. Only use a Dry Powder extinguishing agent. Dry
powder agents work by smothering and heat absorption.

Class K
Class K Fires are fires that involve cooking oils, grease or animal fat and can be extinguished using Purple K, the
typical agent found in kitchen or galley extinguishers.

Sound like a lot?

An easy way to remember these types of Fires is (beat) Class A leaves an Ash, (beat) Class B boils,(beat) Class C
has current (beat), and Class D has Dense Material (beat), And dont forget the most overlooked, Class K for
Kitchen.

LICK CATEGORY
NAME FOR MORE INFO
Wood,
paper,
textiles and
other
carbonaceous
materials.

Flammable
liquids,
petrols and
spirits.

Flammable Fires
gasses. For involving
example
burning
propane and metals.
butane.

Fires caused
by electrical
equipment
where
electric
current may
be present.

Cooking oil
and fat. For
example
olive oil,
maize oil,
lard and
butter.

Water

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to
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Foam

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Dry
Powder

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L2

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CO2 Gas

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Wet
Chemical

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* A Powder Extinguisher will leave a residue that can damage sensitive electrical equipment. If possible, use a
CO2 Extinguisher.
Notes:
Electrical equipment can be a factor in many types of fire.
When possible always isolate the electrical supply before using a water fire extinguisher..

Fire Extinguishers
Click the links below to quickly view the range of fire extinguishers available or use the side menu navigation.

Fire Types
A large part of knowing which fire extinguisher is suitable for which
application is to have an understanding of the different types of fire. Each
classification (A to F) refers to the material that is burning and any
accelerants that may be involved, and in some cases only one specific fire
extinguisher is appropriate. The substance that each extinguisher contains
is indicated by clear wording and a colour-coded stripe, although the BS EN
3 Standard dictates that all new extinguishers must be coloured red, with
only a 5% area allocated for the colour that indicates extinguisher type.

Class A

Materials Solids, such as wood, paper and plastic.

Extinguisher(s) Water, foam, dry powder and wet chemical units are all
appropriate for a Class A fire.
Colour(s) Red (water), cream (foam), blue (dry powder), yellow (wet
chemical).

Class B

Materials Flammable liquids, such as paraffin, petrol, oil

etc.
Extinguisher(s) Foam, dry powder, CO2 gas.
Colour(s) Cream (foam), blue (dry powder), black (CO2 gas).

Class C

Materials Flammable gases, such as propane, butane,

methane etc.
Extinguisher(s) Dry powder.
Colour(s) Blue (dry powder).

Class D
Materials Burning metals, such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium etc.
Extinguisher(s) M28/L2 dry powder.
Colour(s) Blue (M28/L2 dry powder).

Class E
Materials Fires involving electrical apparatus.
Extinguisher(s) Dry powder (although may leave residue that can damage
electrics), CO2 gas.
Colour(s) Blue (dry powder), black (CO2 gas).

Class F

Materials Cooking oil, fats etc.

Extinguisher(s) Wet chemical.
Colour(s) Yellow (wet chemical).

Here at Fire X UK, we carry out fire marshal training (including in-depth fire
extinguisher

education)

at

businesses

across

Bedfordshire,

Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and the Home Counties, ensuring that the

elected warden is fully aware of the correct extinguisher use for each
situation. We also offer extensive fire safety awareness courses aimed at
companies looking to educate their staff on the most effective prevention
methods and escape strategies.
With over 20 years in the industry, you can be sure that our qualified
professionals have the skill and experience necessary to deliver the highest
possible quality service to all customers throughout the region, so get in
touch today to organise a fire safety awareness or fire marshal training
course at your place of work.