Electrical Equipment Fire Extinguishers

Electrical Equipment Fire Extinguishers – What You Need to Know

As a fire of any kind can cause extensive damage, injury and even death, fire safety in the workplace is crucial. The HSE states that all employers must carry out fire safety risk assessments to identify specific dangers and implement steps to mitigate these fire hazards.

However, not all fires behave the same. While it’s possible to douse a paper fire with water, doing so with an electrical one will only increase the dangers. Your risk assessment must factor in trade-relevant hazards.

Possible causes of electrical fires

Many things can trigger an electrical fire. In workplaces, the following are the most common causes:

• Poor electrical maintenance – you need to regularly check equipment, wires and distribution panel components. This includes maintaining plugs and sockets.


• Outdated equipment and faulty devices.


• Not staying in step with the fire safety regulations.

Remember, new fire safety regulations came into effect on 1st October 2023, obliging responsible persons to keep a written record of assessments and the acquisition and maintenance of fire extinguishers. Here, we explain which type of fire extinguisher you need for electrical fire and why every workplace should have at least one electrical fire extinguisher.

What is an electrical fire?

An electrical fire is one caused by faulty electrical components or machinery. Starting points vary from electric cables and circuitry gadgets in distribution boards to equipment such as computers or automated factory devices.

Anything that generates or uses electricity can start a fire. During assessments, you must evaluate every risk in this regard – from the kettle in the staff kitchen to extensive power panels in an electrical room.

An electrical fire is not just electricity burning – it’s not the electricity that burns, but the materials it ignites, and it can mutate into an oil, chemical, or organic wood or paper fire.

Because every workplace uses electricity in one form or another, it is essential to have at least one electrical fire extinguisher on site. Let’s look at the type of fire extinguisher for electrical fires.

Which fire extinguisher is used for electrical fires?

Similarly to other fires, electrical fires need oxygen to thrive and spread. However, unlike other fires, electrical conduction also plays a role and some substances carry electrical current, ultimately spreading and not extinguishing the fire.

It can be daunting to choose the right fire extinguisher for an electrical room or other workplace area given the wide choice available today. Some setups, such as laboratories, construction sites and shipyards, require more than one fire extinguisher.

Provided that it’s dielectrically tested, you can use a water mist extinguisher or foam extinguisher to fight an electrical fire. Experts, however, recommend a CO2 extinguisher for an electrical fire as it smothers the oxygen to effectively hamstring escalation.

Seton’s highly polished, chrome-effect CO2 extinguisher is ideal for your workshop, warehouse, office or electrical room. It features an easy-to-use squeeze grip and comes with a wall-mounting bracket to make storage simple.

If you’re in the market for a more versatile option that can tackle a variety of fires, including electrical ones, check out the multifunctional powder fire extinguisher. It extinguishes Class A, B, C and electrical fires.

Do any fire extinguishers work on electrical fires?

Not all fire extinguishers will put out an electrical fire. These fires usually have a complex nature as they combine with other materials to burn.

For example, ionised water will spread the dangerous current and fire, while non-ionised water will help to dampen an electrical fire. However, if you used water to extinguish a fire on electrical equipment, then that water must be dielectrically tested and approved for that specific use.

Any type of fire extinguisher for electrical fire carries a lightning bolt or electric spark symbol. Electrical fire extinguishers are not classed by a letter, because, as we’ve explained, these fires are usually combination fires and you also have to consider the material it uses to spread.

Take our professional construction site fire extinguisher bundle. We know that these locations carry multiple fire risks, ranging from solids and liquids to chemicals and electricity. This trolley has a water fire extinguisher for fires not involving electricity and a foam one to tackle any electrical outbreaks.

What fire extinguisher is used on live electrical equipment?

Live electrical equipment is any piece of equipment that has electricity running through it. You cannot just use foam or water fire extinguishers (even if they’re specially prepared and tested) on live electrical equipment as these are likely to cause more damage and injury.

Again, fire safety experts recommend CO2 fire extinguishers to combat fires on live electrical equipment. Not only are they safe to use on electrical fires, but they also don’t leave residue or damage equipment beyond repair like their foam and water counterparts.

This CO2 fire extinguisher from Seton is ideal for fires involving electrical equipment as the carbon dioxide doesn’t harm machines or conduct electricity. This 2kg unit includes:

• Mounting brackets for installation and safe storage.


• A frost-free horn so that you can confidently use it outdoors.

Another effective option is our CO2 fire extinguisher kits, which include the fire safety signage you must display with all fire safety equipment to meet legal requirements. Like our other best-in-class CO2 fire extinguishers, this one can be used to battle electrical and flammable liquid fires. You can choose between different sizes and 3D locator signs.

For large industrial sites, such as warehouses and retail centres, there’s Seton’s popular mobile CO2 fire extinguisher. This unit:

• Sits in its own trolley that’s easy to wheel from one area to another.


• Has an easy-to-use grip that a single person can operate without any hassle.


• Contains carbon dioxide, which effectively combats electrical fires without damaging expensive equipment.

Fire safety is not something to be taken lightly. The law is very clear on the duties of employers and the equipment needed. That’s why we went out of our way to ensure that we’ve got you covered when it comes to electrical fire extinguishers.