Tradefox Reference
Fire extinguishers.Right colour, right fire.
What the colours and class letters on a fire extinguisher mean in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and beyond, which type is safe on which fire, and how to use one without putting yourself at risk.
Classes of fire. Same fire, different letter.
Fires are grouped by what is burning, but the letters do not line up between regions. A US “C” is an electrical fire; a UK or Australian “C” is burning gas. Always read the letter in the context of the label it is on.
Swipe the table sideways to see every region.
| What is burning | UK and Europe | USA and Canada | Australia and NZ | India | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SolidsWood, paper, textiles, many plastics | AA | A | AA | AA | Aordinary |
| Flammable liquidsPetrol, diesel, paint, solvents | BB | B | BB | BB | Boil |
| Flammable gasesLPG, methane, acetylene | CC | Part of B | CC | CC | No classCheck local rules |
| MetalsMagnesium, sodium, lithium, aluminium swarf | DD | D | DD | DD | No classCheck local rules |
| ElectricalLive equipment and wiring | No letter, symbol | C | EE | No letter | Electrical |
| Cooking oils and fatsDeep-fat fryers, chip pans | FF | KK | FF | Not in IS 15683Check local rules | Counted as oilCheck local rules |
- London Fire Brigade – Guidance Note 08: portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Signal red bodies; colour zone of up to 5% of the surface; zone colours (cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical, green clean agent, violet Class D powder); BS EN 2 classes A, B, C, D, F; annual basic service
- OSHA eTool – Extinguisher basics (opens in a new tab)US classes A, B, C (electrical), D, K; water for A only; CO2 for B and C; never water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires; no water or CO2 on deep-fat fryers; water units have a silver body
- OSHAcademy – Fire prevention plans: classes of fire (opens in a new tab)US Class B includes flammable gases and aerosols
- Queensland Fire Department – Fire extinguishers information sheet (opens in a new tab)AS/NZS 1841 colour bands: red water, blue foam, white powder, black CO2, yellow vaporising liquid, oatmeal wet chemical; classes A to F with E for electrical; PASS
- Masterspec NZ – Fire extinguishers: matching the hazard (opens in a new tab)AS/NZS 1841.1 band colours used in New Zealand; classes A to F per AS/NZS 1850; NZS 4503 class symbols
- Bureau of Indian Standards – IS 15683:2006 Portable fire extinguishers (public copy) (opens in a new tab)Red body to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5 (cl. 10.1); classes A, B, C, D (cl. 3.1); use-code symbols with red slash for unsuitable classes
- Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) – 2010 revision of extinguisher technical standards (opens in a new tab)From 1 Jan 2011 extinguishers show ordinary, oil and electrical fire pictograms on white, yellow and blue grounds; old-standard units allowed until 31 Dec 2021
- City of Okayama – Extinguisher installation standard (opens in a new tab)Capacity units are stated separately for A (ordinary) and B (oil) fires
Checked 9 Nov 2026
By region. How each system marks the agent.
Pick a region to see its extinguishers drawn out, the standards behind them and where each fact comes from. On-screen colours are approximate.
United Kingdom
BS EN 3 with BS 5306-10 colour zones
Every new extinguisher is red. A small colour zone on the upper front of the body, plus the label, tells you what is inside. The UK code of practice is generally described as asking for a zone of 3% to 10% of the surface, with at least 90% of the body left red. BS EN 3-7 itself allows a zone of up to about 5%.
- Construction
- BS EN 3 (parts 7 to 10)
- Colour coding
- BS 5306-10:2019 (replaced BS 7863)
- Fire classes
- BS EN 2: A, B, C, D, F
- Servicing
- BS 5306-3
- Body colour
- Signal red on every type. Older units painted all over in the agent colour are still legal until replaced.
What you will see
Electrical fires are not a separate class in BS EN 2. Suitable units carry an electrical symbol and a note on any dielectric test it has passed. Halon (green) has been banned since 2003 except for aviation and military uses. London Fire Brigade guidance gives violet for Class D powder; many makers simply use blue and label it for metal fires.
- London Fire Brigade – Guidance Note 08: portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Signal red bodies; colour zone of up to 5% of the surface; zone colours (cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical, green clean agent, violet Class D powder); BS EN 2 classes A, B, C, D, F; annual basic service
- BSI Knowledge – BS 5306-10:2019 colour coding of portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)BS 5306-10:2019 is the current UK code of practice for the colour, size and position of the agent colour zone; extinguishers made to the withdrawn BS 7863 remain acceptable
- BSI Knowledge – BS 7863:1996 (withdrawn) (opens in a new tab)BS 7863 was the earlier UK colour-coding recommendation and has been withdrawn
- NBS – Fire extinguisher types: choose, identify, maintain and use (opens in a new tab)Red body with a zone of about 5% under BS EN 3; water mist white and red; suitability by class; older units fully colour coded
- Firesafe.org.uk – Fire extinguishers: classes, colour coding, rating and maintenance (opens in a new tab)Agent colours incl. white for water mist; suitability of each type by class; electrical use of CO2, powder and dielectrically tested foam or mist; five-yearly discharge of water, foam and powder; ten-yearly CO2 refurbishment
- Fire Protection Shop – Fire extinguisher guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)UK colour zone of 3% to 10% of the surface, at least 90% red, placed on the upper front; water units all red
- BAFE – How often should I be servicing my fire extinguishers? (opens in a new tab)BS 5306-3 intervals: monthly user check, 12-monthly basic service, 5-yearly extended service for water-based and powder, 10-yearly overhaul for CO2 and clean agent
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Europe (EN 3)
Red body, optional colour zone
EN 3 applies across CEN member countries, so the body is red almost everywhere in Europe. Whether a colour zone is used, and which colours, depends on national practice: the UK uses its code of practice, while many continental units rely on the printed label and the class pictograms alone.
- Construction
- EN 3-7 and later parts
- Fire classes
- EN 2: A, B, C, D, F
- Body
- Red (RAL 3000 is typical)
- Colour zone
- Allowed, up to about 5%
- Body colour
- Red. EN 3-7 lets makers add a colour zone of up to about 5% of the surface to show the agent, but does not force them to.
What you will see
Always read the label: it shows the agent, the classes with their pictograms, the fire rating (for example 13A 89B) and any electrical limit. National maintenance rules differ from country to country and were not checked for this page.
- London Fire Brigade – Guidance Note 08: portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Signal red bodies; colour zone of up to 5% of the surface; zone colours (cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical, green clean agent, violet Class D powder); BS EN 2 classes A, B, C, D, F; annual basic service
- NBS – Fire extinguisher types: choose, identify, maintain and use (opens in a new tab)Red body with a zone of about 5% under BS EN 3; water mist white and red; suitability by class; older units fully colour coded
Checked 9 Nov 2026
United States
NFPA 10, rated to UL 711
In the US the class markings on the label carry the meaning, not the paint. Each class has a letter inside a coloured shape, or a picture symbol that is slashed in red when the extinguisher must not be used on that fire.
- Selection and care
- NFPA 10
- Fire classes
- A, B, C (electrical), D, K
- Colour coding
- None by agent; labels and symbols do the job
- Servicing
- Monthly check, annual maintenance, hydrostatic tests
- Body colour
- No agent colour code. Dry chemical and CO₂ units are usually red; pressurised water units are typically silver; kitchen Class K units are often stainless steel.
What you will see
Class symbols on the label
A unit suitable for several classes shows several symbols. In the picture version, a class it must not be used on is shown in black with a red slash.
US Class C means energised electrical equipment, and flammable gases fall under Class B. A unit only gets a C rating if it is already rated for A or B and passes a non-conductivity test. Use a Class K unit only after the kitchen hood suppression system has operated.
- OSHA eTool – Extinguisher basics (opens in a new tab)US classes A, B, C (electrical), D, K; water for A only; CO2 for B and C; never water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires; no water or CO2 on deep-fat fryers; water units have a silver body
- OSHA Construction Outreach – Extinguisher markings (archived) (opens in a new tab)Letter symbols: green triangle A, red square B, blue circle C, yellow star D; pictograph system with slashed symbols for unsuitable classes
- National Safety Council – Fire extinguisher fact sheet (opens in a new tab)Class symbol shapes and colours (A green triangle, B red square, C blue circle, D yellow star); PASS
- UCF Environmental Health and Safety – Fire extinguisher fact sheet (opens in a new tab)NFPA 10 letter-shaped markings; Class C rating only on units also rated A or B after a non-conductivity test; Class K has no letter-shaped symbol
- OSHAcademy – Fire prevention plans: classes of fire (opens in a new tab)US Class B includes flammable gases and aerosols
- Dust Safety Science – What is a Class B fire? (opens in a new tab)NFPA Class B definition includes flammable gases
- OSHA eTool – Fire extinguisher use (PASS) (opens in a new tab)PASS technique; fight only an incipient fire after raising the alarm with a clear escape route; leave if in doubt
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Canada
NFPA 10 via the National Fire Code, ULC-rated
Canada uses the same A, B, C, D and K classes and symbols as the US. The difference is the label: extinguishers must be listed to Canadian ULC standards with bilingual English and French wording, and UL-only units are not accepted in Alberta.
- Code
- National Fire Code of Canada and provincial codes
- Selection and care
- NFPA 10
- Rating
- CAN/ULC-S508
- Labels
- Bilingual, metric, ULC or other certification mark
- Body colour
- No agent colour code, as in the US. Red is the norm for dry chemical and CO₂.
What you will see
Class symbols on the label
A unit suitable for several classes shows several symbols. In the picture version, a class it must not be used on is shown in black with a red slash.
In Alberta, units carrying only a US label had to leave service by 31 December 2021 or at the next recharge. Inspection is monthly and maintenance at least yearly, with hydrostatic testing to the NFPA 10 table.
- Government of Alberta – STANDATA fire code interpretation 19-FCI-009 (opens in a new tab)National Fire Code of Canada applies NFPA 10 for selection, installation, inspection and maintenance; rating to CAN/ULC-S508; bilingual ULC labels required; monthly inspection, yearly maintenance
- University of Guelph – Fire extinguisher programme (opens in a new tab)Classes A, B, C (electrical), D used in Ontario workplaces; NFPA 10 and Ontario Fire Code cited
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Australia and New Zealand
AS/NZS 1841 colour bands
Australia and New Zealand put a coloured band around a red body. The band colour gives the agent at a glance, and the label lists the classes, including E for energised electrical equipment.
- Construction
- AS/NZS 1841 series
- Fire classes
- AS/NZS 1850: A, B, C, D, E, F
- Servicing (AU)
- AS 1851, six-monthly inspection
- Symbols (NZ)
- NZS 4503
- Body colour
- Red, with a band around the body in the agent colour. Water units are all red.
What you will see
Class E is used for electrical fires even though electricity is not a fuel. Yellow vaporising-liquid (halon or BCF) units have been withdrawn from general use. Older Australian extinguishers may be painted all over in the type colour.
- Queensland Fire Department – Fire extinguishers information sheet (opens in a new tab)AS/NZS 1841 colour bands: red water, blue foam, white powder, black CO2, yellow vaporising liquid, oatmeal wet chemical; classes A to F with E for electrical; PASS
- Wormald Australia – Understanding fire classes and extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Coloured band identifies the type; same band colours and suitability as QFES; six-monthly or annual professional check
- Masterspec NZ – Fire extinguishers: matching the hazard (opens in a new tab)AS/NZS 1841.1 band colours used in New Zealand; classes A to F per AS/NZS 1850; NZS 4503 class symbols
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority – Inspection of portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)AS 1851 requires six-monthly inspection, with yearly and five-yearly service by an accredited provider
Checked 9 Nov 2026
India
IS 15683, with IS 2190 for selection and care
Indian extinguishers are red and are identified by their marking: the agent, the class letters with fire-size numbers (for example 2A, 10B) and use-code pictures, with a red slash through any class the unit must not be used on.
- Construction
- IS 15683
- Selection and care
- IS 2190
- Fire classes
- A, B, C, D in IS 15683
- Body
- Red to IS 5 shade 536 or 538
- Body colour
- Red, to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5. IS 15683 does not set an agent colour band.
What you will see
The checked text is the 2006 edition with amendments; a later revision exists, so confirm the current edition. Some suppliers add UK-style colour bands, and secondary sources describe IS 2190 as covering a cooking-oil class, but neither point was confirmed from an official source.
- Bureau of Indian Standards – IS 15683:2006 Portable fire extinguishers (public copy) (opens in a new tab)Red body to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5 (cl. 10.1); classes A, B, C, D (cl. 3.1); use-code symbols with red slash for unsuitable classes
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Japan
Ministry ordinance on extinguisher standards
Japanese extinguishers show which fires they suit with round pictograms: a white ground for ordinary fires, yellow for oil fires and blue for electrical fires. Capacity is stated in units for A and B fires.
- Standard
- Ordinance on technical standards for extinguishers (1964, revised 2010)
- Fire types
- Ordinary (A), oil (B), electrical
- Pictograms
- White, yellow and blue grounds since 2011
- Old units
- Pre-2011 types out of service after 2021
- Body colour
- Red. Secondary sources say at least a quarter of the outer surface must be red; that figure was not confirmed from the ordinance text.
What you will see
Fire-type pictograms
Each pictogram shows a red flame over a burning object on a coloured round ground.
Pictograms changed on 1 January 2011. Extinguishers made to the old standard were allowed until 31 December 2021 and should now have been replaced.
- Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) – 2010 revision of extinguisher technical standards (opens in a new tab)From 1 Jan 2011 extinguishers show ordinary, oil and electrical fire pictograms on white, yellow and blue grounds; old-standard units allowed until 31 Dec 2021
- City of Yokohama Fire Bureau – Extinguisher standard change (opens in a new tab)New pictograms from 2011; old-standard extinguishers had to be replaced by 31 Dec 2021
- City of Okayama – Extinguisher installation standard (opens in a new tab)Capacity units are stated separately for A (ordinary) and B (oil) fires
Checked 9 Nov 2026
South Africa
SANS 1910, serviced to SANS 1475
South Africa's building regulations call for extinguishers made to SANS 1910, and servicing by a SANS 1475-certified company using SAQCC-registered technicians. Dry powder units are the most common type in buildings.
- Building rule
- SANS 10400-T
- Extinguishers
- SANS 1910
- Servicing
- SANS 1475 company, SAQCC technician
- Powder
- SANS 1522
- Body colour
- Red is the norm. Agent colour bands were not confirmed for this page: check local rules and the label.
What you will see
Colour bands and the exact class letters used on South African labels were not confirmed from an official source.
- Engineering News – Fire compliance: what you need to know about fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)SANS 10400-T requires extinguishers to meet SANS 1910; servicing to SANS 1475 by SAQCC-registered technicians
- Electricity + Control – Check points for safe, effective fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)SANS 1910 for extinguishers in buildings, SANS 1475 for servicing, SANS 1522 for dry powder
Checked 9 Nov 2026
UAE and the Gulf
Civil defence codes
Not confirmed from an official source. Check local rules with the civil defence or fire authority before relying on it.
Gulf states set extinguisher rules through their civil defence authorities, and only approved products may be installed. Colour practice depends on whether a product follows the European or the US system.
- UAE
- UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, chapter 4
- Approval
- Civil defence listed products
- Checks
- Monthly checks, annual third-party inspection
- Colours
- Not confirmed
- Body colour
- Red is usual. Many units follow UK BS EN 3 colour zones or US NFPA 10 labelling, depending on the maker. Check local rules.
What you will see
Only the UAE code reference and inspection routine were checked. Saudi, Qatari, Omani, Bahraini and Kuwaiti rules were not checked for this page.
- DMCC (Dubai) – Health and safety bulletin 01: fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)UAE Fire and Life Safety Code chapter 4 covers extinguishers; monthly checks and annual third-party inspection
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Which extinguisher. Which fire.
General suitability of each extinguisher type against each class, using UK letters with the US equivalents in brackets. The label on the unit in front of you always overrides this table.
Swipe the table sideways to see every class.
| Extinguisher | ASolids | BLiquids | CGases | DMetals | FCooking oil (US K) | EElectrical (US C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WaterUK zone: Red | Yes | No | No | Never | Never | Never |
Never on electrical equipment, cooking oil or burning metal: water conducts, and on hot oil it flashes to steam and throws burning fat out. | ||||||
| Water mistUK zone: White | Yes | Some models | Some models | No | Some models | Some models |
Only the classes printed on the label. Electrical use only on dielectrically tested models. | ||||||
| FoamUK zone: Cream | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Some models |
Electrical use only if the unit passed the dielectric test, and only from the stated distance. | ||||||
| ABC powderUK zone: Blue | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Cuts visibility and can be breathed in. Avoid in small rooms. Does not cool, so fires can reignite. | ||||||
| CO₂UK zone: Black | No | Yes | No | No | Never | Yes |
No lasting cooling on solids. Never on a fat fryer. Displaces oxygen in small spaces and the horn gets very cold. | ||||||
| Wet chemicalUK zone: Yellow | Yes | Some models | No | No | Yes | No |
Made for fryers: forms a soap-like crust on the oil. Apply gently; do not use on live equipment. | ||||||
| Class D powderUK zone: Blue / violet | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Only for the metal named on the label. Lay it on gently to smother; never use water on a metal fire. | ||||||
- Firesafe.org.uk – Fire extinguishers: classes, colour coding, rating and maintenance (opens in a new tab)Agent colours incl. white for water mist; suitability of each type by class; electrical use of CO2, powder and dielectrically tested foam or mist; five-yearly discharge of water, foam and powder; ten-yearly CO2 refurbishment
- NBS – Fire extinguisher types: choose, identify, maintain and use (opens in a new tab)Red body with a zone of about 5% under BS EN 3; water mist white and red; suitability by class; older units fully colour coded
- London Fire Brigade – Guidance Note 08: portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Signal red bodies; colour zone of up to 5% of the surface; zone colours (cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical, green clean agent, violet Class D powder); BS EN 2 classes A, B, C, D, F; annual basic service
- OSHA eTool – Extinguisher basics (opens in a new tab)US classes A, B, C (electrical), D, K; water for A only; CO2 for B and C; never water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires; no water or CO2 on deep-fat fryers; water units have a silver body
- Bureau of Indian Standards – IS 15683:2006 Portable fire extinguishers (public copy) (opens in a new tab)Red body to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5 (cl. 10.1); classes A, B, C, D (cl. 3.1); use-code symbols with red slash for unsuitable classes
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Get out first. Fight only if it is safe.
An extinguisher is for a small fire that has only just started, and for helping people get out. It is never worth your life, and in most workplaces only trained staff should use one.
1Raise the alarm
Shout “Fire!”, set off the nearest call point and make sure the fire service is called: 999 or 112 in the UK, 112 in Europe, 911 in North America, 000 in Australia. Do this before you pick up an extinguisher.
2Check before you fight
- The fire is small and in its very early stage
- You have the right type for what is burning
- Your way out is behind you and clear of smoke
- You have been shown how to use it
3Know when to leave
- The fire is spreading or growing
- Smoke is building up or your exit is threatened
- The extinguisher runs out and the fire is not out
- You have any doubt at all
4Isolate the electrics
If equipment is involved, switch it off or isolate the supply if you can reach the switch safely. Use CO₂, powder or a unit tested for electrical use. Once the power is off, what is left burning is an ordinary A or B fire.
5Kitchen fires
Turn off the heat only if you can do it safely. Use a wet chemical (Class F or K) extinguisher on fryers and pans of oil, applied gently. In commercial kitchens, let the hood suppression system operate first.
6Small rooms
CO₂ pushes out the air you breathe and powder makes it hard to see. After using either in a small space, get out and ventilate before going back in.
Use it with PASS.
Stand a few metres back, with your exit behind you.
- Pull
Pull out the safety pin. This breaks the tamper seal.
- Aim
Point the nozzle or horn low, at the base of the flames. Hold a CO₂ horn by its handle only: it gets cold enough to burn skin.
- Squeeze
Squeeze the lever steadily to release the agent. Let go to stop.
- Sweep
Sweep from side to side across the base until the fire looks out. Back away, watch it, and be ready to go again or leave.
- OSHA eTool – Fire extinguisher use (PASS) (opens in a new tab)PASS technique; fight only an incipient fire after raising the alarm with a clear escape route; leave if in doubt
- OSHA eTool – Extinguisher basics (opens in a new tab)US classes A, B, C (electrical), D, K; water for A only; CO2 for B and C; never water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires; no water or CO2 on deep-fat fryers; water units have a silver body
- Queensland Fire Department – Fire extinguishers information sheet (opens in a new tab)AS/NZS 1841 colour bands: red water, blue foam, white powder, black CO2, yellow vaporising liquid, oatmeal wet chemical; classes A to F with E for electrical; PASS
- Firesafe.org.uk – Fire extinguishers: classes, colour coding, rating and maintenance (opens in a new tab)Agent colours incl. white for water mist; suitability of each type by class; electrical use of CO2, powder and dielectrically tested foam or mist; five-yearly discharge of water, foam and powder; ten-yearly CO2 refurbishment
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Servicing. Checked, not just hung up.
In the UK, BS 5306-3 sets out who checks what and when. The responsible person makes the monthly checks; the rest needs a competent engineer, such as one from a BAFE-registered company.
- MonthlyUser check
In its place, not blocked, seal and pin intact, gauge in the green, no damage, instructions readable.
- Every 12 monthsBasic service
Full inspection by a competent person, with the service label and records updated.
- Every 5 yearsExtended service
Water-based and powder units are discharged, checked inside and refilled.
- Every 10 yearsOverhaul
CO₂ and clean-agent units get a full overhaul by a competent engineer.
Recharge any extinguisher after use, even a short burst. Elsewhere: the US and Canada follow NFPA 10 (monthly inspection, annual maintenance and periodic hydrostatic tests); Australia follows AS 1851, with six-monthly inspection and yearly and five-yearly service.
- BAFE – How often should I be servicing my fire extinguishers? (opens in a new tab)BS 5306-3 intervals: monthly user check, 12-monthly basic service, 5-yearly extended service for water-based and powder, 10-yearly overhaul for CO2 and clean agent
- Fire Industry Association – Short guide to BS 5306-3:2017 (opens in a new tab)BS 5306-3:2017 sets broadly annual basic and broadly five-yearly extended servicing by competent persons
- London Fire Brigade – Guidance Note 08: portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)Signal red bodies; colour zone of up to 5% of the surface; zone colours (cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical, green clean agent, violet Class D powder); BS EN 2 classes A, B, C, D, F; annual basic service
- Government of Alberta – STANDATA fire code interpretation 19-FCI-009 (opens in a new tab)National Fire Code of Canada applies NFPA 10 for selection, installation, inspection and maintenance; rating to CAN/ULC-S508; bilingual ULC labels required; monthly inspection, yearly maintenance
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority – Inspection of portable fire extinguishers (opens in a new tab)AS 1851 requires six-monthly inspection, with yearly and five-yearly service by an accredited provider
Checked 9 Nov 2026
Learn it properly. Then you will not have to guess.
Fire safety, safe isolation and working in occupied buildings come up across every trade. Build the knowledge with a Tradefox course, and keep your site checks in one place.