Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher

All fire extinguishers are given a classification, primarily in order to show what kind of fires they are safe to use on. This is important because using an extinguisher on the wrong type of fire can have disastrous consequences. For example, if you use a water extinguisher on a fire involving any electrical equipment, you are risking electrocution and possible death. 
 
Classifications are made up of letters and numbers. The letter part of an extinguisher classification tells us what fire type the appliance is suitable for. Each type of fire is given a class, which is designated by a single letter. When you look at the classification on the side of an extinguisher, what you see will be one or more letters, showing all the types of fire that the appliance is safe to use on. So there may be one letter, or several.
 
The other thing that fire extinguisher classifications do, is tell us something about how effective an extinguisher is, or 'how much' fire it can put out. This is indicated by a number which is shown next to the letter on the classification. A higher number indicates that the appliance can deal with a bigger fire. The numbers correspond directly to set fire tests that the extinguisher has been subjected to. The rating an appliance ends up with will generally relate to the actual amount (distances or areas) of fire that it was able to extinguish. For example a classification of 13 means that the appliance was able to extinguish 1.3m of fire in the test situation.
 
On every extinguisher you will see one or more letters, and a number, giving you important information about the type of fire you can use it on and how effective it is likely to be. This kind of information can be crucial when you have to make a decision about whether to tackle a fire or not.
 
There are slight differences between fire extinguisher classifications in the UK and in the US. The UK system is the same for whole of Europe and Australia too. 
 
Extinguishers for dealing with fires involving everyday combustible matter such as paper, cardboard, wood or textiles are given an 'A' classification. This is the same in both the UK and US.
 
Extinguishers designed specifically for use on flammable liquids such as oils, spirits and petrol, are given a 'B' classification. Again, this classification is the same in the UK and US.
 
In the UK there is a separate class C rating for extinguishers that are safe to use on flammable gases, such as natural gas or propane. In the US this category is included in the 'B' classification.
 
Appliances that deal with fire on combustible metals have a 'D' classification in both the UK and US.
 
In the UK, electrical fires do not have a separate classification, though they are occasionally wrongly referred to as class 'E'. Electricity is viewed more as a cause of fire and source of ignition than a classification in the UK. Remove the electrical supply and the fire becomes a class A, B or whatever. In the US electrical fires are known as class 'C'.
 
Finally, the specialist appliances which are the only ones safe to use on burning deep fat fires are classed as 'F' in the UK and 'K' in the US.
 
Fire extinguisher classifications give you valuable information that you need if you are faced with a fire. The information on the extinguisher is only of use if you know for sure what is burning. If you have any doubt about what is actually on fire, you should not attempt to put it out.

Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher

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Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher
Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher

Catching Fire

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Find Out About Fire Classifications and Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Fire extinguisher ratings are designed to indicate the type of fires they should be used on, and to give an indication of how effective they will be. 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.

Different types of fires are classified by different letters, and fire extinguishers ratings may show several letters because they can be used on more than one type of fire. In terms of the size of fires the extinguisher can be used on, the number gives an indication of this, and generally speaking, the larger the number, the larger the fire that the appliance can deal with.

The numerical part of the fire extinguisher ratings relate directly to tests carried out to measure their effectiveness. A wooden crib test is one test that is used to measure how large a fire an appliance can deal with. A rating of 13A, for example, indicates that the extinguisher was able to put out 1.3m of the fire. The number on a fire extinguisher rating is therefore a very accurate indication of what each extinguisher can cope with.

As another example of the numerical rating, the test for measuring the effectiveness of extinguishers for use on flammable liquids refers to the approximate area of fire in square feet that it is able to extinguish. The specific tests vary with the different fire types, but the basic system of accurately measuring the extinguisher's effectiveness is the same.

It would seem obvious to think that the number on a fire extinguisher would increase with the size of it. This is generally true, but size is not the only factor that effects the number in the fire extinguisher rating. With water extinguishers, additives are often mixed with the water to increase their effectiveness, therefore you could have two appliances which are the same size, but which have different numerical ratings, because one is more effective than the other.

Fire Classifications - The UK and US Differences

As already mentioned, the letters used in fire extinguisher ratings refer to the classes of fire that they can be safely used on. We therefore need to look at these fire classifications first, before looking at the actual ratings for the various types of appliance.

The classifications for the UK and US are similar, but there are some differences, so I will show both. Europe and Australasia also use the same classification system as the UK. The following are the main classifications of fires, with US classes shown in brackets:

Class A (also Class A in US)

Any fire involving solid materials such as wood, card, paper, fabric, etc.

Class B (also Class B in US)

Class B fires involve flammable liquids including kerosene, oils, petrol, paints, diesel, etc.

Class C (comes under Class B in US)

A separate classification except in US, this category is for flammable gases, including butane, methane, etc.

Class D (also Class D in US)

The D Classification is for combustible metals or alloys, such as potassium, magnesium or titanium.

Electrical (Class C in US)

Electrical fires are sometimes known as Class E in the UK, but this is an error as there is no separate classification for electrical fires in the UK.

Class F (Class K in US)

Specifically relates to fires involving deep fat fryers (fats and oils).

Fire Extinguisher Ratings:

The following information shows the classes of fires covered by the different ypes of appliance:

Main fire extinguisher ratings shown refer to UK, with US ratings in brackets.

Water Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A (class A in US)

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: Electrical, A, B and C (A, B and C in US)

Dry Powder Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A, B, C and Electrical (A, B and C in US)

Wet Chemical Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A, F

Foam Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A and B (A and B in US)

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Conclusions

Understanding fire classes and extinguisher ratings is important in order to be sure of using the correct type of appliance on any fire in your workplace. It can be very dangerous to use the wrong type of appliance on some fires, one of the most obvious examples being the use of water on an electrical fire. For this reason proper staff training is important for any staff who are required to use fire fighting equipment.

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Find Out About Fire Classifications and Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Catching Fire

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Find Out About Fire Classifications and Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Find Out About Fire Classifications and Fire Extinguisher Ratings
Fire Extinguisher Ratings - Find Out About Fire Classifications and Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Catching Fire

The True Meaning of Snakes in a Dream

The snake symbol in a dream refers to many things. The colour of the snake plays an important role in decoding this symbol in dream. Seeing snakes coming in your direction or following you on a path says a lot about sexual feelings of a person for you. Only when the snake transforms to human form one will be able to realize who this person and till then one will be subjected to strong sexual currents from this person.

Dreams about playing with snakes:

Playing with a snake tells about flirting attitude. Being chased by many snakes tells about that you are overwhelmed by sexual thoughts are trying your best to break yourself free from them. Bitten by a snake says that you will be drained of your vital forces and you may even fall sick for few days. A doctor giving treatment after being bitten by snake says that a spiritual guide is on his way to release you from sexual desires.

Snake at your door step:

A military person leaving a snake at your door step says that a war is being fought on you with the help of a person who can make you slave by his/her whims.

Dreams about snake entering bathroom:

Dreaming of a snake entering your bathroom says that no matter how hard you try to purify yourself the negative forces always find a way to make you impure again. A deadly black poisonous snake hissing says about hyper-acidity problem which can become chronic, if unchecked.

Killing snakes in dreams:

Killing a snake or seeing someone killing it says that you will be free from all types of tensions and you will be surrounded by an aura of protection. snakes flying in air and trying to reach you says that you are surrounded by many worldly problems and they gained strength and they are after you.

What does flying snakes represent in dreams:

If you are attacked by the flying snakes then you have to place many many unpleasant things in waking life. Catching a snake in a dream and removing poison from its glands says that you are blessed with higher spirit power and with this spirit power you can tame any beautiful men or women and have total control on sensual pleasures.

Snakes burned in fire dreams:

Seeing snakes getting killed by fire says that a strong detachment from all worldly things finally put all your problems to rest. This is the time of self realization and enlightenment. The soul is ready to receive messages from higher sources.

Big snake in dream:

If you see a big snake like 'Anaconda' in dream it says about life threat. If you kill it then you are out of danger. If its furious then you will have a brush with death, but somehow you will manage to come out safely.

Snake transforming into human being in dreams:

If you see a snake transform into a man it says that an external sexual influence was lessened to a great extent. And its time of gaining strength again.

Snake in bedroom:

To dream of snake in bedroom and if there are many people sleeping at that time, then it says that your mind will be poisoned by sexual thoughts for a short time period, provided if you can locate and throw snake out of the bedroom.

The True Meaning of Snakes in a Dream

Catching Fire

The True Meaning of Snakes in a Dream

The True Meaning of Snakes in a Dream
The True Meaning of Snakes in a Dream

Catching Fire