Certain types of fire extinguishers are suitable for use on two or more classes of fires.

A + B Rated Fire Extinguishers

These are either foam fire extinguishers or ABC or multi-purpose powder fire extinguishers. Foam extinguishers are coloured red with a cream panel over the instructions. ABC or multi-purpose powder fire extinguishers are red with a blue panel above the instructions.

A + B + C Rated Fire Extinguishers

ABC (multi-purpose) powder fire extinguishers are the only ones suitable for all the standard classes of fire including Class C flammable gas fires. They will be red with a blue panel above the instructions.

B + C Rated Fire Extinguishers

BC powder fire extinguishers also known as standard powder are not very commmon in large extinguisher sizes these days with Monnex powder being the most likely one you’ll find.

Some of the little cheap ones sold by car, caravan and boat accessory shops may have BC powder but remember that this will not put out wood, paper, material Class A fires.

They will be red with a blue panel above the instructions.

B + Electrical Rated Fire Extinguishers

Carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers have a black panel above the operating instructions, and usually have a distinctive black cone-shaped nozzle attached. These extinguishers are highly effective on electrical equipment fires, and hence bear the electrical fire pictogram (a zigzag of lightning with an arrow at one end.)

ABC and BC (usually Monnex) powder extinguishers will also extinguish these fires

Confused about Fire Classes and Extinguisher Ratings?

It’s sometimes easy to get in a muddle over fire extinguisher types and ratings, so here’s our easy guide to which extinguisher type can be used on which fire class. Always check that the fire extinguisher you choose is officially rated for the class of fire on its label, just in case!

Class A Fires (wood, paper, textiles, etc)

YES – water fire extinguishers (red)

YES – water with additive fire extinguisher (red)

YES – AFFF foam fire extinguisher (red with cream panel)

YES – dry powder extinguisher with ABC rating (red with blue panel)

YES – wet chemical fire extinguisher (red with yellow panel)

Class B Fires (flammable liquids)

YES – AFFF foam fire extinguisher (red with cream panel)

YES – dry powder extinguisher with ABC or BC rating (red with blue panel)

YES – Monnex dry powder fire extinguisher (red with blue panel)

YES – carbon dioxide/CO2 fire extinguisher (red with black panel)

Class C Fires (flammable gas)

YES – dry powder extinguisher with ABC or BC rating (red with blue panel) but ONLY when gas has been turned off – escaping gas leaves an explosion risk that is more dangerous than burning gas

Class D Fires (flammable metals)

Specialist powder fire extinguishers only, including M28 and L2 powder extinguishers.

Electrical Equipment Fires

YES – carbon dioxide/CO2 fire extinguisher (red with black panel)

YES – dry powder extinguisher (red with blue panel)

YES – automatic fire extinguishers containing clean agent

Class F Fires (cooking oils and fats)

YES – wet chemical fire extinguisher ONLY (red with yellow panel)

Pictograms

If your fire extinguisher shows a pictogram of a type of fire, such as a flammable liquid, then the extinguisher is suitable for use on that type of fire.

If the pictogram has a diagonal line through the pictogram, then the fire extinguisher is NOT suitable for use on that type of fire.