To ensure you buy the right type and size for the application you have in mind, learn more about fire extinguisher classes and size ratings. Water-based Class A extinguishers may also have additives to make them more effective. To see what each fire extinguisher looks like, see our guide to types of fire extinguisher, a BS (BSI) Kitemark, indicating BAFE (British Approval for Fire Equipment) approval. These mystical codes that are printed on all quality-approved fire extinguishers are there to indicate, not just the type of fire that particular extinguisher can combat, but also the size of the fire the contents can effectively put out. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are two essential pieces of fire safety equipment every home should have. Different tests apply to each Class of fire (from A,B,C, D & F) but the rule is the larger the number before the Code letter the bigger the fire (of that Class) that can be extinguished. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multipurpose rating - they … Professional maintenance of fire extinguishers is a vital part of any business’ fire safety strategy, understanding that the integrity of these systems need to be maintained to protect the safety of not only your premises and assets but also your employees and residents. Fire Extinguisher Ratings. Fire extinguishers in your house, garage, car and camper help you put out small fires quickly before they spread. You find Class A extinguishers with ratings such as 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 6-A, 10-A, 20-A, 30-A and 40-A. A dry chemical extinguisher with a 6A rating is equivalent to three 2 1/2 gallon water extinguishers. An extinguisher with a 10B rating can cover roughly 10 square feet, an extinguisher with a 20B rating can cover 20 square feet and so on. For Class A fires the Size test is conducted using a fire comprising an open latticework of wooden sticks approx 40mm square x 500mm long piled 14 high. If an extinguisher is described as “safe to use” on fires involving live electricity it means the suppressant is not inherently electrically conductive so you don’t risk electrocution when combating the fire. Fire extinguisher training and why it’s critical. It’s effective against all types of common home fires, including fires that involve combustible materials, … The number represents the chemical/agent's equivalent to gallons of water the extinguisher holds. Click to download Fact Sheet. Fire extinguishers are portable devices used to extinguish small fires or reduce their destruction before firefighters arrive at the scene. The best fire extinguisher for home use needs to be able to tackle a domestic fire, whatever it’s caused by, but keep safely out of sight when not in use. The first time you use a fire extinguisher shouldn’t be during emergencies. It is vital that you use the correct fire extinguisher for the fire as using the wrong type of fire extinguisher could be life threatening. Fire extinguishers with a Class B rating are effective against flammable liquid fires. Fire Extinguisher Ratings Explained The importance of fire safety is oftentimes overlooked in favor of other everyday concerns. Many fires are caused by electrical faults which in consequence ignite other flammables. But deciding on the right fire extinguisher can be confusing. ABC Fire Extinguishers: Mono ammonium phosphate, ABC Dry Chemical, ABE Powder, tri-class, or multi-purpose dry chemical is a dry chemical extinguisher used on class A, B and C fires. Fire extinguishers that can put out a fire up to this size are rated 13A. This code, for example 13A/55B, defines the Class (or type) of fire and the size of fire this type of fire extinguisher is capable of extinguishing. Most fire extinguishers have a fire Rating printed on the canister. If you’re not sure what type of fire extinguisher to use for each class of fire, take a look at our blog that explains this in detail. By the way, there is no such thing as a Class E rating in the UK – often thought to cover Electrical fires. The numbers in the UL Rating are a relative measurement of how effective a given extinguisher is at fighting certain classes of fires, based on proper fire extinguisher … The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rates fire extinguishers to be used on certain types of fires. This is divided into either Class A or Class B:C to indicate the relative extinguishing effectiveness of the extinguisher. Most fire extinguishers have a fire Rating printed on the canister. The letter part of the rating denotes what class of blaze this fire extinguisher is suitable for. Browse our full range of fire extinguishers here. A fire extinguisher with a 1A rating is equivalent to 1.25 gallons of water. Two commonly used chemicals are effective in fighting these types of fires. The A, B, C rating system defines the kinds of burning materials each fire extinguisher is designed to fight. The rating on the extinguisher tells all the relative quantity of water which can extinguish the size fire that this particular extinguisher is capable of. This compact and handy 2 litre Foam Fire Extinguisher with LPCB Approval is used for combating class A & B fires (flammable solids and liquids). Step 3 The 4-A extinguisher holds 4 gallons of water and is, thus, expected to put out twice as much fire as a 2-A extinguisher holding 2 gallons of water. Fire Extinguisher Ratings. It is rated for class A, B, and C fires. For an A rating, the number is an indication of water equivalency, with each A being the same as 1 1/4 gallons of water. The number before the letter A such as 13A indicates the length of a wooden crib test fire (1.3 metres in this case) successfully extinguished under rigorous test conditions. Fire extinguishers are usually fitted in buildings at an easily accessible location, such as against a wall in a high-traffic area. This type of fire extinguisher (also called multi-purpose fire extinguisher) is the one that’s recommended for home use. Atkinsons Way, Foxhills Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 8QJ. Fire Extinguisher UL Rating: What it Means . The fire rating of the particular extinguisher is indicated by a number and letter, e.g. In practice you should estimate the volume of combustibles at risk against this benchmark and select the most applicable size for the job. This number has a different meaning for each class. This code, for example 13A/55B, defines the Class (or type) of fire and the size of fire this type of … The operating pressure is 100 psi. • The numerical rating for a Class A Fire extinguisher refers to the amount of chemicals/agent in the extinguisher. For a more detailed explanation, read on…. B-rated fire extinguishers are numbered in 10s. Only AFFF foam, CO2 fire extinguishers and dry powder extinguishers are suitable for this application. In the UK, all quality fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing class A and B fires should carry a fire rating. These can be fires where cooking liquids, oil, gasoline, kerosene, or paint have become ignited. The average office can be covered by a water extinguisher (for Class A solid combustibles) … Fire Extinguisher Buyer’s Guide. Definition - What does Fire Extinguisher mean? A 175B rating uses 175 litres and so on. FAQ Which extinguisher type is suitable for what fire? The revised NFP… The number indicates the size of fire it can extinguish. Each fire extinguisher rating in expressed as a series of numbers and letters which indicate the classes of fire they can be used on the size of fire they are suitable for. The test method involves adding water and fuel to circular metal trays (to specified sizes) before igniting and extinguishing the fire. These are kept handy at places, namely fire points, in buildings, factories, public paces or transportation. There are 9 ratings for Class B fire extinguishers - 21B through to 233B. So for example, a water additive stored pressure extinguisher coded 13A will extinguish a Class A fire of freely burning combustibles of size 13. The rating of a fire extinguisher is designed to help users understand the class and size of a fire in which the extinguisher is meant to be used. It’s one of those few things that you buy but hope to never use. The number in front of the A, B, or C indicates the rating size of fire the unit can extinguish. To achieve a Class “A” rating, the extinguisher must be capable of putting out the wood crib, wood panel and excelsior (shredded paper) tests. What the devil is size 13 you may ask? A B and C are the average ratings a fire extinguisher can have. The A, B, C rating system defines the kinds of burning materials each fire extinguisher is designed to fight. A quick review: Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, plastics, trash Multiply the number in front of A by 1.25 to figure out the equivalent to gallons of water. Class A rating fire extinguishers are often water-based, and are highly effective in extinguishing burning materials found or stored in an office or warehouse, for example. (See Extinguisher Chart). Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. It is critical that you have training and have used them to ensure your safety and others around you. 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