Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguisher Guide

Enfield Safety supply a wide range of fire extinguishers, with different types to cater to your specific needs, at competitive prices. Our range of extinguishers include water, powder, foam and Co2 – the most common types of fire extinguisher suitable for a number of scenarios – in different sizes and capacities ranging from 1 to 9 kg or litres.

All of the fire extinguishers we sell are tested to comply with the relevant safety standards, are CE marked and conform to BS EN3 where applicable. Every extinguisher we sell comes with a wall bracket so it can be safely secured in position. We also sell fire extinguisher stands and trolleys to safely store your extinguishers without having to fix them in one permanent position.

It is important to choose the right type of extinguisher based on the fire risks you are likely to encounter, below we have listed the different types of fire extinguisher and how they should be applied.

Fire Extinguisher Types

Water Fire Extinguisher

The most common type of fire extinguisher, they are designed to fight fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper, plastics and textiles. Water extinguishes the fire and cools the combustible material down, which helps to stop it reigniting.

Water extinguishers should never be used to fight oil or liquid fat fires such as a burning chip pan, and are not suitable for electrical fires.

Powder Fire Extinguisher

Also known as ABC and dry powder extinguishers, they are versatile option that can be deployed to fight a number of different classes of fire, including solid combustibles, flammable liquids and gases. They are designed for outdoor use except for specialist indoor areas such as workshops and garages.

They should not be used to fight fat based fires such as chip pans or deep fat fryers, and should not be used in confined spaces due to inhalation.

Foam Fire Extinguisher

Designed to fight fires involving burning solids and liquids, foam fire extinguishers are a great choice for most offices and workplaces. Also known as AFFF extinguishers, they are widely adopted in office environments as they offer good area coverage without the mess to clean up that a powder extinguisher leaves. They are also safe to use on electrical fires providing they are tested to 35kV and used from a safe distance of 1m.

Co2 Fire Extinguisher

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are used to fight fires involving live electrical equipment. They use pure Co2 to suffocate the fire, leaving no residue once the fire has been put out. Often installed in conjunction with foam extinguishers, they are a good fit for offices that have computer equipment.

They should not be used to fight burning fats or chip pan fires, as they can spread the burning material. Care should also be exercised when using in confined spaces such as server rooms, as there is a risk of asphyxiation, the area should be ventilated immediately after use when safe to do so.

All of the Co2 extinguishers we sell come with frost free horns to protect the user against injury during use.

Which Fire Extinguisher To Use?

This depends on the type of fire and burning material, also the environment where the fire is located. Fires can be classified into different categories, depending on the materials involved;

• Class A Fires – Solid combustible materials (wood, fabric, paper, etc)
• Class B Fires – Flammable liquids (petrol, diesel, etc)
• Class C Fires – Flammable Gases (LPG, natural gas, etc)
• Class D Fires – Flammable metals (magnesium, lithium, etc)
• Class F Fires – Cooking fats (chip pans, deep fat fryers, etc)

A brief overview of which classes of fire each type of extinguisher is suitable for;

• Water – Class A
• Powder – Classes A, B & C
• Foam – Classes A & B
• Co2 – Class B and live electrical fires

Fire Extinguisher Colour Codes

In the UK fire extinguishers are colour coded so that they can be easily identified and used for the right class of fire. The colour codes for UK fire extinguishers are;

1. Red – Water
2. Blue – Powder
3. Cream – Foam
4. Black – Carbon Dioxide

Purchase online from our secure and user-friendly website, alternatively you can contact one of our experienced sales representatives on 0330 003 5710 to discuss your requirements.