There are various different types of fire extinguishers ranging from water to wet chemicals; each and every extinguisher has its own class and suitable function which many do not seem to realise. There various classes to fires from A to F each which their own properties. This leads to some fire extinguishers to be suitable for certain types of fires that may occur. It is important for the CSCS test to know your fire Extinguishers for health and safety.
Contents
Fire Extinguisher Colour Coding UK
- Carbon dioxide (co2) – Black
- Water – Red
- Dry powder – Blue
- AFFF Foam – Cream
- Wet Chemical – Yellow
As you can see, there are 5 different types of fire extinguisher, but there are a few different versions of the Dry Powder and the Water extinguishers. This means in total there are 8 types you can use. These are:
- Foam
- Dry Powder – Standard
- Dry Powder – Specialist
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Wet Chemical
- Water
- Water Mist
- Water Spray
All these work on different types of fires and no single extinguisher will work on all classes of fires.
Different Fire Extinguishers Types And Uses
Water Fire Extinguishers
Label Colour
Bright Red
Best For
The water fire extinguishers are best used on fires involving organic matter such as Paper, Wood, cloth etc.
Do Not Use On
Do not use on any sort of electrical items or any burning fat or oil.
Other Types of Water Extinguishers
Water mist extinguishers
As the name suggests these Water mist extinguishers create a mist of microscopic water particles because they have a different nozzle type. What this will do is suffocate the fire, but it will also create a barrier between the fire and the person using the fire extinguisher, like building a wall of water, this will reduce the feeling of heat from the fire also.
Water spray extinguishers
Like above the water spray fire extinguishers come equipped with a slightly different nozzle which creates a separate spray, rather than a jet nozzle on the normal extinguishers, this will give a greater surface coverage, and the fire can be put out quicker.
AFFF Foam Fire Extinguishers
Label Colour
Cream
Best For
These are best for fires which involve burning liquids, for example, petrol and paint.
Do Not Use On
These should not be used on fat pan fires or chip pan fires.
CO2 Fire Extinguishers
Label Colour
Black
Best For
The best use of CO2 fire extinguishers is for live electrical items, and these are mainly used on large computer systems like servers.
Do Not Use On
Be careful when using them in confined spaces, fumes from CO2 extinguishers can cause asphyxiation if they are used in confined spaces. Make sure they have a frost free horn as otherwise hands holding the horn can become frozen to the horn as the gases coming from the extinguishers can get very cold.
Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers
Label Colour
Blue
Best For
Dry Powder extinguishers are best used on fires which are organic liquids such as grease, fats, petrol etc or solids. They can also be used on gas fires.
Do Not Use On
Not recommended for indoor use due to the chances of inhaling and the powder has the potential to impair vision
Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
Label Colour
Yellow
Best For
This type of fire extinguisher is great for Class F fires; these are ideal for cooking oils and fats.
Do Not Use On
These are not meant to be used on Class B fires which include fires such as petrol, but there have been some manufacturers that have created wet chemical extinguishers with a Class B rating.
Always check the Manufactures labels on the fire extinguishers before use.
How do wet chemical fire extinguishers work?
These work by creating a foamy layer over the surface of the burning material, this will then stop oxygen from fuelling the fire. It also has a cooling effect on the fire.
What type of premises/business are these best for?
As these are good with cooking oil fires and fats, these are best in Commercial Kitchens and Canteens.
Where to locate wet chemical extinguishers:
Place near to the source of the fire risk.
Types of Fire Classes and Materials
- Class A – Solid materials – wood, paper, plastic etc
- Class B – Flammable liquids – oil, petrol etc
- Class C – Flammable gases – propane, butane etc
- Class D – Metals – titanium, aluminium etc
- Class F – Cooking oils and fats
- Electrical Fires – Live electrical equipment
Which Fire Extinguisher Should I Use? – Quick guide
All of the above extinguishers have directions to follow, so it is always good to familiarise yourselves with these instructions in advance to prevent a fire adequately.
We have other topics for you to use in helping with your CSCS Revision. We have also prepared a fire extinguishers CSCS mock test for you to test your new knowledge on.
I wish I could come up with something profound to say, but wow is the only word that comes to mind after reading your article.
Some great resources on this website that really helped me get my card, thank you for providing these for free.
Great article about the different types of fire extinguishers available
your are told that incase of fire, you should stop imediatly and go straight to the assembly point, unless you are a trained fire marshall. So why does everyone have to learn about the fire extinguishers. I have been a bricklayer for 36 years. I now have to keep paying every 5 years to prove i am competant. The fire extinguishers often change and are often the failure point for people failing their CSCS test.
It is still better to know than not know. One time you might not have a choice not to use one and it will be best to know which one to use.
great info thanks
while i agree with this site and all it does to help me i can’t donate atm but once i get my card and steddy hours i will donate as much as i can
Hi Calvin,
Thank you very much. That means a lot.
Great article about Extinguisher great information thank
This was extremely helpful , very clearly shows me that the different types of compounds within the different fire extinguishers do and what they should and shouldn’t be used for.
I will revise over this further so I know for definite what the pro’s and con’s are of each fire extinguisher is and how to use them safely in a stressful situation
Much appreciated Ryan