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Fire Extinguishers

UK’s No1 Fire Extinguisher Supplier - Fast Delivery

Using our expertise, we have gathered the highest quality UK approved fire extinguishers in one place. All conform to the high standards set out in the UK for fire protection equipment. We have every size and type you can think of and have arranged them by where they can be used as well as their type to help you make the right decision, buying an extinguisher from us couldn’t be easier.

Whether you are looking to get an extinguisher for your home kitchen or industrial workplace, by simply selecting from the choices below you are only a click away from getting the exact type and size of fire extinguisher you need.

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How to Choose the Best Fire Extinguishers for Your Workplace

It is important for you to consider many aspects when deciding which fire extinguisher best suits your workplace or any given environment. You will want to be covered for every eventuality, and with this in mind we have devised a guide to aid in your decision making process, detailing the most important things to know when selecting a fire extinguisher.

Fire Classes

Fires fall into one of 6 classes, dependent upon which energy source is fuelling them.

  Water Foam Spray Dry Powder (BC) Dry Powder (ABC) CO2 Wet Chemical
Class A - Fires involving Wood, Paper, Textiles    
Class B - Petrol, Diesels, Oils  
Class C - Fires involving Gases        
Class D - Fires involving Metals            
Electrical - Fires involving Electrical Equipment      
Class F - Fires involving Cooking Fats and Oils          
Example Application Warehouses, Offices, Hotels Petrol stations, Factories, Offices, Taxis, Coaches Cars, Boats, Trucks, Factories, Caravans, Homes, Flammable Liquid Stores, Warehousing, Storage facilities Cars, Boats, Trucks, Factories, Caravans, Homes, Flammable Liquid Stores, Warehousing, Storage facilities Electrical areas, Offices, Factories, Computer server rooms, Manufacturing, Warehousing Kitchen, Restaurants, Canteens, Mobile catering, Caravans

How do fire extinguishers work?

You may feel that you don’t need to know the details of how your fire extinguishers work, just that they do. However, understanding how different types of fire extinguishers work will help you decide exactly which ones you need.

How do fire extinguishers work?

Fire extinguishers work in one of three ways.

  • Water fire extinguishers are the most common and work much as you would expect them to: by removing heat from the fire.
  • Dry powder extinguishers work by smothering the fire with a layer of powder or foam that cuts off the oxygen fueling the fire.
  • Carbon dioxide extinguishers both smother the fire and, as the CO2 cools, they remove the heat from the fire.

Why does this matter? Different types of fire extinguishers are suitable for different types of fire. Water extinguishers may work on the majority of fires, but you do not want your staff using them on an electrical fire, for example. So, what type of fire extinguisher do you need? Or more importantly, what colour fire extinguisher do you need?

How are fire extinguishers colour coded?

You have probably noticed that the colours of fire extinguishers have changed. Whereas they used to come in several different colours, most fire extinguishers are now red, or occasionally they have a chrome or metallic appearance. Even so, the colour coding you may remember from the past remains. Fire extinguishers now come with a prominent coloured band or label which is still used to indicate what type of fire extinguisher you are buying.

To make life easy, most fire extinguishers also clearly state what they contain on this band. This is important to know as you need to keep the right fire extinguishers to hand, depending on what type of fire risk you face in any given area. Colour coding works as follows:

  • Red Fire Extinguishers – (water) Safe for use on paper, wood and fabric fires
  • Cream Fire Extinguishers – (foam) Safe for use on flammable liquid fires as well as paper, wood, and fabric fires
  • Blue Fire Extinguishers – (dry powder) Which are safe for use on gaseous fires, flammable liquid and electrical fires, as well as paper, wood, and fabric fires
  • Black Fire Extinguishers– (CO2) These are fire extinguishers for electrical fires and flammable liquid fires
  • Yellow Fire Extinguishers – (wet chemical) Suitable for cooking oils and fatty liquid fires
  • White fire extinguisher (water mist) – Ideal for organic solid fires or burning fats, as found in deep fat fryers

While Water Fire Extinguishers and Foam Fire Extinguishers are the most common, it is certainly possible you will need powder extinguishers in the workplace if your business uses flammable gases, flame cutting or welding, or has a large boiler room. Garage forecourts are usually equipped with dry powder fire extinguishers, as are businesses with electrical equipment which will need a suitable fire extinguisher for electrical hazards. Work vehicles should also carry a 2kg carbon dioxide fire extinguisher or a car fire extinguisher, while wet chemical fire extinguishers are vital in environments where cooking oils or hot, flammable liquids are in use.

Types of extinguishers

Water Fire Extinguisher: For Class A fires

Water Fire Extinguiser

These are the most economical and widely used fire extinguishers and can be found in offices, schools, hotels and warehouses. Used to tackle class A fires which encompass freely combustible materials such as paper, plastic and fabrics.

Under no circumstances must water extinguishers be used on electrical or Class F fires as electrocution or a dangerous oil expansion can occur.

Water Fire Extinguisher labelling is RED.

Water Fire Extinguisher labelling is RED

Foam Spray Extinguisher: For Class A and B Fires

Foam Spray Extinguishers

Foam creates a barrier between the burning material and the air, thus starving it of oxygen and extinguishing the fire.

More versatile than water, foam fire extinguishers are used on both Class A and B (flammable liquids) fires. It can also be used to fight electrical fires but it is not recommended as it will cause irreversible damage to electrical components.

Foam Fire Extinguisher labelling is YELLOW/CREAM.

Foam Fire Extinguisher labelling is YELLOW/CREAM

Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher: For Class A, B, C and Electrical Fires

Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher

Often the choice of commercial premises for its ability to tackle the majority of common workplace fires. ABC Powder Extinguishers are suitable for Class A, B, C and Electrical fires.

They are not suitable for kitchen fires involving the burning of oils and fats and precaution should always be taken not to inhale the powder. For this reason we do not recommend ABC Powder Extinguishers for use in small spaces.

Powder Fire Extinguisher labelling is BLUE.

Powder Fire Extinguisher labelling is BLUE

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher: For Class A and B fires

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These are specialised extinguishers for use with fat or oil based fires often associated with kitchens. They are potentially hazardous to the user as they can produce harmful, toxic fumes.

Wet Chemical Extinguishers are used on Class A and B fires. The chemicals in them bond with the ignited oil or fat producing an emulsion or a cake of soap that starts to cool and extinguish the fire.

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher labelling is ORANGE/YELLOW.

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher labelling is ORANGE/YELLOW

CO₂ Extinguisher: For Class B and E fires

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Due to the fact that these extinguishers use carbon dioxide gas as a fire suppressor they are ideal for tackling electrical fires as the electricity cannot conduct via the gas and electrocute the user.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers are for use on Class B and E fires. Care should be taken as the compressed carbon dioxide, when released, is extremely cold and can cause cold burns if sprayed upon naked skin or if the user should hold onto the extinguisher cone for any length of time. The use of CO₂ in small spaces should also be avoided if possible as it will lower the available oxygen in the room which could lead to breathing difficulties.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher labelling is BLACK.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher labelling is BLACK

How many fire extinguishers do I need?

The short answer to this is enough to ensure fire safety throughout your business premises. The UK Fire Industry Association offers rough guidelines, stating that you need at least one 13A fire extinguisher per 200 square metres of floor space, and at least two 13A fire extinguishers per floor. These guidelines do not, however, take into account your individual circumstances and any risks particular to your business.

It is vital to have a professional fire risk assessment carried out, to determine exactly what is required for the safety of your workforce, customers and premises. This will take into account specific risks that may require specialist firefighting equipment and will ensure that you are not in breach of any national laws or guidelines. Once this is done, you will also need to consider not only where your fire extinguishers will be located but how best to display them. See our full range of Fire Extinguisher Accessories & Equipment for all of your extinguisher display and storage needs.

Designating a fire warden

UK businesses need to designate a ‘responsible person’ (or persons) to oversee fire prevention strategies, and to ensure procedures to prevent injury or death in the event of a fire. This is an important role that encompasses fire extinguisher management throughout the premises.

Ideally this person, or persons, will put in place an active fire safety management protocol, regularly checking fire extinguishers to ensure that they conform to current regulations and are in good working order, and replacing all fire safety equipment as soon as necessary. Record all ongoing fire safety monitoring carefully with Inspection and Recharge Tags. As stated in Health and Safety Authority guidelines:

"A record of the work carried out on such equipment and systems will help to demonstrate compliance with the law."

It goes without saying that too much is better than too little when it comes to fire safety equipment, procedures and protocols.

Why fire extinguishers are important

It’s easy to assume that fires are a rare and unlikely occurrence, but according to UK Government statistics, Fire and Rescue Services attended over 180,000 fires in the year ending September 2018. Thankfully many fires are small, and easily dealt with, which is exactly why putting good fire safety practices, and adequate fire safety equipment, in place is so essential.

Bigger fires can be highly destructive and dangerous, not to mention expensive. The worst-case scenario is loss of life and serious injury, but even if this is avoided, fire damage represents a serious and expensive problem, even in smaller fires. Expect your insurance company to go through your fire safety practices with a fine-tooth comb before paying out if you are claiming as a result of a fire. Insurance companies know they can often void a policy based on a disregard for fire safety guidelines. While you might be concerned with the prices of fire extinguishers, the cost of this simple piece of equipment is far outweighed by the potential legal costs or the reparations you may have to pay as a result of non-compliance.

As already stated, some companies may be tempted to neglect or de-prioritise fire safety simply because fires are seen as unlikely, but remember that minor fires are more common than you might think, and often a fire remaining minor comes down to how quickly and easily it is put out. While you can get equipment at a good price, you should not simply go for the cheapest fire extinguishers. Instead, you should look for quality and suitability. When it comes to fire prevention, it is always worth going the extra mile to ensure your workspace is well equipped and fully compliant.