Technical Data

The Colour Code for Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers in the United Kingdom are mostly colour coded to tell apart there extinguishing medium, usually a coloured patch.
A Cream patch on a red extinguisher denotes a FOAM fire extinguisher.
A Blue patch on a red extinguisher denotes a POWDER fire extinguisher.
A BLACK patch on a red extinguisher denotes a CO2 fire extinguisher.
A RED patch on a red extinguisher denotes a WATER fire extinguisher.

Fire Ratings - Different Classes of Fire

(A) Class fires involving flammable solid materials, include Wood, Paper and Carbonaceous materials.
(B) Class fires involving flammable liquids such as Paint, Petrol, Oil, Fat, Solvents and Grease.
(C) Class fires involving flammable Gasses, including Propane gas, Butane gas and Natural gas.
(E) Class fires involving Electrical, CO2, Carbon Dioxide are safe on electrical fires, as well as ABC dry powder.

What to Use

On a CHIP PAN fire use a FIRE BLANKET
Water - (A) Types of Fire
Dry Powder - (A) (B) (C) and (E) Types of Fire
CO2 - (B) (C) and (E) Types of Fire
Foam - (A) and (B) Types of Fire

Important Do NOTS

Do not use Water Extinguishers on (B) Class fires or (E) class fires
Do not use Fire Extinguishers on Chip Pans

If there is a risk to life, a risk of explosion, or the fire is out of control DO NOT attempt to put it out Call the FIRE BRIGADE OUT