Extinguishers are classified by a number and letter symbol. The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher, and the letter indicates the type of fire it will extinguish.
Type A fires are of combustible solids such as wood. On Type A extinguishers, the number relates to how many gallons of water the extinguisher is equal to for a Type A fire. Type B fires are of flammable liquids such as gasoline or oil. On Type B extinguishers, the number tells you the square footage of the fire the extinguisher can put out. Type C fires are electrical fires. Type C extinguishers do not use numbers.
What are the symbols on a fire extinguisher?
The labels A, B, C, or D are used to indicate the type of fire on which an extinguisher is to be used. Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which classifications of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight.
What do the icons found on most fire extinguishers indicate?
What do the Symbols on a Fire Extinguisher Mean? – All fire extinguishers are labeled with a letter or symbol that indicates what type of fire the fire extinguisher can be used for. These Classes are A, B, C, D, or K classes. Some extinguishers have a “multi-purpose” rating which is a combination of these symbols, such as AB, BC, or ABC, which simply means that those types of fire extinguishers can be used on multiple types of fire.
- Class A Fire Extinguishers: Ordinary combustibles – wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics, and other solids that are not metal.
- Class B Fire Extinguishers: Flammable or combustible liquids or gases – gasoline, oil, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
Class C Fire Extinguishers: Electrical – energized (plugged-in) electrical equipment. Class D Fire Extinguishers: Metals – magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. These types of fires require special extinguishing agents. These fire extinguishers are not given a multi-purpose rating to be used on other types of fires. For more information about fire extinguisher symbols visit NFPA,
What are the 4 types of fire extinguishers?
Understanding fire extinguisher types and classes – There are four classes of fire extinguishers – A, B, C and D – and each class can put out a different type of fire.1a
Class A extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles including wood, cloth, rubber, paper, as well as many plastic materials. Class B extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, oils and other similar substances. Class C extinguishers are suitable for use only on electrically energized equipment fires. Class D extinguishers are designed for use on flammable metallic substances like potassium and sodium.
Multipurpose extinguishers can be used on different types of fires and will be labeled with more than one class, for example A-B, B-C or A-B-C. You can find the class label of most fire extinguishers in a pictograph on the side of the extinguisher.1
What does the label of a fire extinguisher do?
Fire extinguisher labels are also available with letter shaped symbols that explain which types of fires the unit can safely extinguish. Most fires fit into four classifications: Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D.
What are the 5 fire extinguishers?
There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. –
Why is ABC written on fire extinguisher?
‘ABC’ indicating that they are designed to extinguish class A, B, and C fires. ‘BC’ indicating that they are designed to extinguish class B and C fires.
Do fire extinguishers expire?
How long do fire extinguishers last? – The average lifespan of a powder, foam or water extinguisher is usually between 10 and 12 years. This is based on the extinguisher being in good condition with no corrosion or damage. After this time, the fire extinguisher should be replaced with a new one.
What is the symbol for Class A fire?
Class D Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multipurpose rating – they are designed for class D fires only. The geometric symbol indicating Class D is a yellow decagon.
Are all fire extinguishers ABC?
Every fire extinguisher has an alphabet rating that tells you what types of fires it can extinguish. The letters stand for the class of fire the extinguisher can be used against: Class A – extinguish fires involving paper, wood, textiles, cloth, rubber, trash, and plastics.
What is ABC on a fire extinguisher mean?
Dry Chemical (ABC, BC and DC) Extinguishers ‘ABC’ indicating that they are designed to extinguish class A, B, and C fires. ‘BC’ indicating that they are designed to extinguish class B and C fires.