Water Extinguishers
Red label. For Class A fires involving solids such as wood, paper, card and textiles. They cool the burning material and are not for electrical or cooking oil fires.
Suitable for: Class A solids
UK fire extinguisher guide
5 main extinguisher types
Fire Extinguisher Types.
A practical guide to fire extinguisher types used across UK workplaces. Water, foam, CO2, dry powder and wet chemical, explained in plain English alongside the fire classes A to F so you can match the extinguisher to the fire.
Fire Safety Order 2005
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Extinguisher guide edition
The right extinguisher, chosen the right way.
Matching the extinguisher to the class of fire is the most important decision when a fire breaks out. Train your team to read the labels and pick the right unit every time.
- 5 main extinguisher types explained
- Matched to the fire classes A to F
- Aligned with Fire Safety Order 2005 duties
Full course price
£19.97 · final price
5
Main extinguisher types
2005
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
45 min
Average course completion
3 years
Certificate validity UK-wide
Why selection matters
The right extinguisher is the single biggest decision in the first seconds of a fire.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every UK responsible person must provide appropriate firefighting equipment and make sure staff know how to use it. The right extinguisher depends entirely on what is burning, because using the wrong type can make a fire far worse.
When the correct extinguisher is chosen, in good condition and used on the right class of fire, a small fire can be controlled safely. Our Fire Marshal Course shows teams how to read the colour-coded labels and match each extinguisher to the fire classes A to F.
The safest extinguisher is the right extinguisher for the fire. Always ask, what is actually burning here, and is this the type made for it?
This guide introduces the five most common fire extinguisher types used across UK workplaces, from a water extinguisher to a wet chemical unit, and explains the fire classes each one is designed for.
Extinguisher types
Common fire extinguisher types
The five most widely used fire extinguisher types in UK workplaces, with the fire classes each one is designed for.
Foam Extinguishers
Cream label. For Class A solids and Class B flammable liquids such as petrol and solvents. The foam smothers the fire and helps stop liquids re-igniting.
Suitable for: Class A and Class B
CO2 Extinguishers
Black label. For electrical equipment and Class B flammable liquids. Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen and leaves no residue, so it suits live electrics.
Suitable for: Electrical and Class B
Dry Powder Extinguishers
Blue label. Multi-purpose across Class A, B and C fires, with special powder versions for Class D metal fires. Best avoided in small enclosed spaces.
Suitable for: Class A, B, C and gases
Wet Chemical Extinguishers
Yellow label. Designed for Class F cooking oil and fat fires, and also effective on Class A. The mist cools the oil and seals the surface to stop re-ignition.
Suitable for: Class F cooking oils
Choosing an extinguisher
How to choose the right fire extinguisher.
The right choice depends entirely on the class of fire and what is around it. Get it wrong, such as water on live electrics or a chip pan, and the extinguisher can spread the fire, cause an explosion or give you an electric shock instead of putting the fire out.
Our Fire Marshal Course teaches how to read the colour-coded labels and match each extinguisher to the fire, the same approach used by fire marshals and wardens across the UK.
- Class A, solids - water or foam
- Class B, flammable liquids - foam, CO2 or powder
- Electrical, live equipment - CO2 or dry powder
- Class F, cooking oils and fats - wet chemical
- Never use water on electrical or cooking oil fires
Class AWood, paper, textiles
Class BPetrol, solvents, paints
ElectricalLive equipment and cabling
Class FCooking oils and fats
CheckPressure gauge and seals
ServiceBy a competent person yearly
ReportDamage or low pressure
ReplaceDischarged or out of date units
Checks and servicing
Keeping extinguishers ready to use.
An extinguisher only protects you if it works when you need it. Give each unit a quick visual check regularly: confirm it is in place, the pin and seal are intact, the pressure gauge reads in the green and there is no damage or corrosion.
On top of these checks, extinguishers should be serviced each year by a competent person, following the manufacturer guidance and your fire risk assessment.
- Visual checks confirm the unit is ready
- Keep extinguishers mounted and unobstructed
- Never reuse a discharged or damaged extinguisher
Why extinguisher selection matters
Choosing the correct extinguisher is one of the most important things a fire marshal or warden can get right. Where the right extinguisher is selected, in good condition and used on the right class of fire, a small fire can often be controlled before it spreads. The wrong choice can make things dangerously worse.
Under UK fire safety law, the responsible person must provide appropriate firefighting equipment and ensure staff are instructed in its use. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places this duty at the heart of the legal framework, alongside the fire risk assessment that decides what equipment a building needs.
The safest extinguisher is the right extinguisher for the fire. Always ask, what is burning here, and is this the type made for it?
Understanding the fire classes
Every fire is grouped by what is burning, and the classes decide which extinguisher is safe to use:
- Class A, solids such as wood, paper, card and textiles - water or foam.
- Class B, flammable liquids such as petrol, solvents and paints - foam, CO2 or dry powder.
- Class C, flammable gases - dry powder, with the gas supply isolated where possible.
- Class D, metals such as magnesium and aluminium - special dry powder only.
- Electrical, live equipment and cabling - CO2 or dry powder, never water.
- Class F, cooking oils and fats - wet chemical, never water.
These classes are explained in our Fire Marshal Course and used by fire marshals across the UK to choose the right extinguisher in seconds.
Staff responsibilities
Everyone in a workplace has a role in fire safety. Trained staff should:
- Know which extinguishers are provided and where they are located.
- Read the colour-coded label so they match the extinguisher to the fire.
- Report extinguishers that are missing, damaged, discharged or out of date.
- Only tackle a small fire with a clear escape route, once the alarm is raised.
- Get out, stay out and call 999 if the fire is spreading or they are unsure.
Matching extinguishers to UK workplaces
Different settings need a different mix. Offices and shops rely on water or foam for paper and furnishings, with CO2 near electrical equipment. Kitchens and catering areas need wet chemical extinguishers for cooking oils. Workshops, plant rooms and stores combine foam, CO2 and dry powder for liquids, electrics and gases.
The right mix for your premises should come from your fire risk assessment and the experience of the people who work there. Our course shows teams how the fire classes point to the right extinguisher every time. Remember that hands-on practice with live extinguishers may also need separate practical training.
FAQ
Extinguisher questions, answered.
The three questions UK employers and workers ask most often about fire extinguisher types.
Does the Fire Marshal Course cover extinguisher types?
Yes. Our course includes a full module on fire extinguisher types and the classes of fire each one suits. It explains how to read the colour-coded labels and match the extinguisher to the fire. It is theory and awareness training; hands-on practice with live extinguishers may also be required for some roles.
Can I use any extinguisher on any fire?
No. Using the wrong type can make a fire far worse, such as water on an electrical or cooking oil fire. The extinguisher must match the class of fire, which is why every unit carries a colour-coded label showing what it is safe to use it on.
How often should fire extinguishers be checked?
Extinguishers should be given a quick visual check regularly, with a formal service by a competent person each year, following the manufacturer guidance and your fire risk assessment. Any extinguisher that is damaged, discharged or out of date should be taken out of use and replaced.
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Learn fire extinguisher types in context.
Our accredited course covers every extinguisher type in real UK workplace scenarios, with the fire classes, the PASS technique and an instant certificate on completion.
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