Fire Extinguishers

In general areas, water-based fire extinguishers are required – you will see
plenty of these around your institution.

Where there are more specific fire risks (e.g. a catering department with deep
fat fryers, the IT rooms and offices with electrical equipment or maybe the hair
and beauty salon where flammable chemicals are being used) the appropriate
fire extinguishers should be located close to the hazard.

Fire Extinguishers: Colours...

UK colour coding is the same as that in other European Union countries.

Although most fire extinguishers are red in colour, a small block of colour now
identifies the actual type of extinguisher. Older extinguishers (painted entirely in
the colour below) are being phased out.

Water: Red Class A fires

Carbon Dioxide: Black Class B and electrical fires
Foam: Cream Class A and Class B fires
Dry Powder: Blue Class A, B and C fires + electrical
Vapourising Liquid: Green (Halon) has been illegal since 2003.

Types of fire: Classes…

Class A fires - fires involving organic solids like paper, wood, etc.

Class B fires - fires involving flammable Liquids.

Class C fires - fires involving flammable Gasses.

Class D fires - fires involving flammable metals.

Class F fires - fires involving cooking oil and fat.

Fires involving Electricity

Electrical fires can fall into any of the classifications. You should avoid
using water extinguishers on electrical fires. Remember that, even if
the electrical supply is isolated, some electrical apparatus will
maintain a lethal charge for some time after is has been switched off.

From: http://www.firesafe.org.uk/html/fsequip/exting.htm [Merseyside Fire Liaison Panel. Permission is

granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses.]

Please visit the ‘firesafe’ site (just above) if you need more information.