Premises that are used for non-domestic activities may be legally required to install and maintain at least one fire extinguisher. This guide looks at the common types of fire extinguishers available, what they are used for, and how to identify them.

Types of fire

The types of fire are known as fire classes. Below is a brief description of each fire class.

• Class A fires – combustible solid materials such as wood and paper
• Class B fires – flammable liquids, petrol or paint for example
• Class C fires – flammable gases like hydrogen, butane, or methane
• Class D fires – combustible metals such as aluminium or potassium
• Electrical fires – electrical equipment
• Class F fires – cooking oils

Types of fire extinguishers

The table below shows the common types of fire extinguishers and the class of fire they are suited for.

Fire extinguishers are red and have a band of colour, as indicated above, to identify what type of extinguisher they are.

Fire extinguisher signs

Signs are placed on or near the extinguishers to identify the extinguisher type and class of fire it is safe to use on.  Below are some of our standard fire extinguisher identification signs. These can be purchased in our shop