Fire Extinguishers & Equipment

Fire extinguisher colours show which extinguishing agent is inside. In the UK the body is usually red, with a coloured band or panel: red for water, cream for foam, blue for dry powder, black for carbon dioxide and yellow for wet chemical. A matching sign beside the extinguisher helps people pick the right one. The range here includes powder, foam, water and carbon dioxide signs.

The common types of fire extinguisher are water, foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide and wet chemical. Water and foam typically suit fires in wood, paper and textiles, while carbon dioxide is usually chosen near electrical equipment. Wet chemical is designed for cooking oil and fat fires. The range here includes powder, foam, water and carbon dioxide extinguishers, plus a disposable powder aerosol.

Fire classes group fires by what is burning. In the UK, Class A covers solids such as wood and paper, Class B flammable liquids, Class C flammable gases, Class D burning metals and Class F cooking oils and fats. Electrical fires have no class letter but carry their own symbol. Check the rating on the extinguisher to see which classes it can tackle.

A carbon dioxide extinguisher is the usual choice for electrical fires, because the gas leaves no residue and does not conduct electricity. Dry powder can also be used, although it leaves a heavy mess indoors. Water and ordinary foam should never be aimed at live equipment unless the extinguisher has passed a dielectric test. Isolate the power first if it is safe to do so.

A water fire extinguisher works by cooling the burning material until it can no longer keep burning. Stored pressure pushes the water out through the hose. Water suits fires in wood, paper and fabric, but it should never be used on burning oil or fat, or on live electrical equipment unless it has passed a dielectric test. The range here includes a red water extinguisher and stainless steel versions.