system stringclasses 2
values | fire_class stringclasses 6
values | fuel_type_description stringclasses 9
values | suitable_extinguishing_agents stringclasses 10
values | unsuitable_agents stringclasses 10
values | uk_colour_code_bs_en3 stringclasses 6
values | us_label_convention_nfpa stringclasses 6
values | governing_standard stringclasses 5
values | notes stringclasses 10
values |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US (NFPA) | A | Ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, cloth, rubber, many plastics | Water (stored pressure or cartridge), foam/AFFF, dry chemical ABC, wet chemical | CO2 is ineffective on deep-seated Class A fires; BC dry powder ineffective | Not applicable (US system) | Green triangle with letter A | NFPA 10 (2022) | CO2 can knock down surface flames but does not cool burning materials; ABC dry chemical leaves residue but is effective |
US (NFPA) | B | Flammable and combustible liquids: petrol/gasoline, oils, solvents, paints, lacquers | Foam/AFFF, CO2, dry chemical ABC or BC, clean agents (e.g. FK-5-1-12/Novec 1230) | Water (jet or spray) — can spread burning liquid and cause steam explosion; not suitable | Not applicable (US system) | Red square with letter B | NFPA 10 (2022) | Alcohol-resistant AFFF required for polar solvents (alcohols/ketones) — standard AFFF can be broken down by these fuels |
US (NFPA) | C | Energised electrical equipment | CO2, dry chemical ABC or BC, clean agents — any non-conductive agent | Water (conductive), foam (conductive) — risk of electric shock to operator | Not applicable (US system) | Blue circle with letter C | NFPA 10 (2022) | Class C designation applies only while equipment is energised; once de-energised the underlying fuel becomes Class A or B. NFPA 10 notes the C rating indicates non-conductivity of the agent, not a fuel-type category. |
US (NFPA) | D | Combustible metals: magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium, zirconium | Specialist Class D dry powder agents (e.g. Met-L-X, Lith-X, copper powder) — agent must match the specific metal | Water (violent or explosive reaction with most combustible metals), CO2 (reacts with some metals), foam, standard dry chemical ABC/BC | Not applicable (US system) | Yellow star with letter D | NFPA 10 (2022) | No universal Class D agent exists; the specific extinguishing agent must be matched to the metal hazard. Verify with the extinguisher manufacturer and the SDS for the metal involved. |
US (NFPA) | K | Cooking media: vegetable oils and animal fats in commercial cooking appliances | Wet chemical (potassium-acetate or potassium-citrate based) | Water jet (violent steam/splatter), CO2 (insufficient cooling — re-ignition risk), standard ABC dry chemical (ineffective on high-temperature cooking oil fires) | Not applicable (US system) | No standard letter symbol; extinguisher labelled Class K | NFPA 10 (2022); also NFPA 17A | Class K extinguishers are required for commercial cooking equipment hazards. Cooking appliances must have their energy supply (gas or electric) shut off before or during discharge. US Class K broadly corresponds to UK/EU Class F. |
UK/EU (BS EN 2) | A | Ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, textiles, rubber, many plastics | Water, foam/AFFF, dry powder ABC, wet chemical | CO2 is ineffective on deep-seated Class A fires; BC powder not rated for Class A | Red band/label (water extinguisher); also cream band (foam); yellow band (dry powder ABC) | Not applicable (UK/EU system) | BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004; BS EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 | Water extinguisher body is all red (BS EN 3 — no band required for water); colour band on shoulder identifies agent type |
UK/EU (BS EN 2) | B | Flammable liquids: petrol, diesel, oils, paints, solvents | Foam/AFFF (cream band), CO2 (black band), dry powder ABC or BC (yellow band), clean agents | Water (jet) — risk of spreading burning liquid; standard water spray not rated for Class B | Cream band/label (foam); black band/label (CO2); yellow band/label (dry powder) | Not applicable (UK/EU system) | BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004; BS EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 | Alcohol-resistant AFFF required for polar solvents |
UK/EU (BS EN 2) | C | Flammable gases: natural gas (methane), propane, butane, hydrogen | Dry powder ABC or BC (can knock down flame — but see note); isolate gas supply first | Water, foam — not effective on gas fires and may create other hazards; CO2 can knock flame but re-ignition risk if gas flow continues | Yellow band/label (dry powder) | Not applicable (UK/EU system) | BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004 | UK/EU Class C covers flammable gases (unlike US Class C which covers energised electrical). The primary control for a Class C fire is always isolation of the gas supply; extinguisher use without isolation creates re-ignition risk. Electrical equipment fires are addressed through agent non-conductivity ratings in BS EN ... |
UK/EU (BS EN 2) | D | Combustible metals: magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium | Specialist Class D dry powder matched to the specific metal | Water (violent reaction), CO2, foam, standard dry powder ABC/BC | Blue band/label (specialist Class D powder) | Not applicable (UK/EU system) | BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004 | No single universal Class D agent; must match the metal. Verify with manufacturer. |
UK/EU (BS EN 2) | F | Cooking media: vegetable oils and animal fats in commercial cooking appliances | Wet chemical (potassium-salt based — canary yellow band/label) | Water jet (violent spattering), CO2 (insufficient cooling for high auto-ignition-temperature oils), standard dry powder (ineffective) | Canary yellow band/label (wet chemical) | Not applicable (UK/EU system) | BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004; BS 5306-3:2017 | UK/EU Class F broadly corresponds to US Class K. Wet chemical extinguishers react with the hot oil to form a soapy foam layer (saponification) that cools and seals the surface. Cooking equipment energy supply should be shut off before or during use. |
Fire Classes & Extinguisher Selection Reference 2026
US (NFPA) and UK/EU (BS EN 2) fire classes with verified suitable and unsuitable extinguishing agents, colour codes, and governing standards.
Details
- Publisher: SmartQHSE Ltd (https://www.smartqhse.com)
- License: CC BY 4.0
- Format: CSV (UTF-8)
- DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20446733
- Landing page: https://www.smartqhse.com/datasets/fire-classes-extinguishers-2026
Citation
SmartQHSE Ltd (2026). Fire Classes & Extinguisher Selection Reference 2026 [dataset]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20446733
Disclaimer
Published for reference, training, and research. Consult authoritative sources before operational or compliance decisions. SmartQHSE Ltd accepts no liability for errors or omissions.
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