Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Information On Fire Classifications And Extinguisher Ratings

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Fire Extinguisher Ratings:
Understanding Fire Extinguisher Ratings
Fire extinguisher ratings are expressed as a combination of letters and
numbers. The letter refers to the classes of fire that it can be used to
extinguish, and the number refers to the size of fire than it is capable of dealing
with. There may be several letters if the fire extinguisher is safe to use on more
than one class of fire, and generally speaking, the larger the number the
bigger the fire the extinguisher can put out.

The numbers are arrived at through testing the extinguisher against a fixed
measure of effectiveness. For example, a fire extinguisher with rating 13A
means that in a wooden crib test that appliance managed to successfully
extinguish 1.3m of the fire. So the number is a measure under strict
standardised test conditions of how big a fire the extinguisher can deal with.

With Class B fires (flammable liquids) the rating refers to the approximate area
of fire in square feet that it can extinguish. Different tests are used with different
fire types, but the principle is the same. The letter or letters denote the type of
fires and the number the effectiveness of the extinguisher.

The number will often relate to the size of the extinguisher, but this is not the
only factor. In water fire extinguishers for example an additive in the water can
significantly increase the effectiveness of the extinguisher, so even though two
extinguishers may be the same size, one could have a higher number rating
than the other.

Fire Classifications:
Differences Between US and UK Classes of Fire
The fire classifications in the UK are similar to those in the US, but there are
some important differences that should be made clear. Also, when I refer to
'UK', as far as fire classifications go this can also be taken to mean the whole of
Europe and Australasia.

The following main headings refer to UK classes of fire - US fire classifications

will be shown in brackets:

Fire Classifications - Class A Fires (US: Class A Fires)

Fires involving organic solid materials such as paper, wood, textiles, etc.

Fire Classifications - Class B Fires (US: Class B Fires)

Fires involving flammable liquids or liquefiable solids such as petrol, kerosene,
diesel, paints or oils.

Fire Classifications - Class C Fires (US: Class B Fires)

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In the US flammable gases are included with liquids in fire class B.

Fire Classifications - Class D Fires (US: Class D Fires)

Fires involving combustible metals or combustible metal alloys, such as
sodium, potassium and magnesium and titanium.

Fire Classifications - Electrical Fires (US: Class C)

Fires involving electrical equipment.

This is sometimes referred to as Class E in the UK, but there is no such official
fire classification. The rationale being that electrical equipment is often the
cause of a fire, rather than an actual fire type.

Fire Classifications - Class F Fires (US: Class K Fires)

Fires involving cooking fats and oils (deep fat fryers).
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Main fire classifications relate to the UK, US ratings are shown in brackets.

Fire Extinguisher Ratings:

Water Fire Extinguishers (colour: Red)

Classes of fire: A Popular Pages:

(US: class A)
Fire Marshall Training
Fire Extinguisher Ratings: Fire Training Course
Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers (colour: Black) Fire Warden Training
 Fire Regulations
Classes of fire: Electrical fires and A, B, C Fire Extinguisher
(US: classes A, B and C) Servicing
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Extinguisher Ratings: Maintenance
Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers (Colour: Blue) Fire Extinguisher Class
Car Fire Extinguisher
Classes of fire: A, B, C and electrical fires Boat Fire Extinguisher
(US: classes A, B & C) AFFF Fire Extinguisher
Carbon Dioxide Fire
If using on an electrical fire the electricity supply should always be
Extinguisher
disconnected first.
Dry Powder Fire
Extinguisher
Fire Extinguisher Ratings:
Water Fire Extinguisher
Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers (Colour: Yellow)
Wet Chemical Fire
Classes of fire: A, F Extinguisher
(US: classes A & K) Extinguishers Fire
Portable Appliance
Fire Extinguisher Ratings: Testing Companies
Foam Fire Extinguishers (Colour: Cream) Portable Appliance
Tester
Classes of fire: A and B
(US: classes A & B)

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Pictograms

As well as colour coding and being rated with a letter and number, fire
extinguishers also have a pictogram to show the classes of fires that it is safe to
use on. The pictograms used are shown below:

Understanding fire extinguisher ratings and fire classifications is very important

because using the wrong type of fire extinguisher on certain fires not only risks
making the situation worse, but could be extremely dangerous.

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