Fire Extinguishers

All new portable fire extinguishers are now coloured red and some have a zone of colour which indicates the contents of the extinguisher. This colour indication appears on the front of the extinguisher and above the operating instructions. It should be noted, however, that the existing fire extinguishers on which the entire body is coloured coded remain acceptable until such time as they need to be replaced.

All new portable fire extinguishers should conform to the appropriate British Standards (BS EN3 and BS 7863). Look for the 'Kitemark' or the special British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) mark.

Should a fire be discovered in its very early stages you may think that you can deal with it yourself. The first thing to remember is that even small fires spread very quickly, producing smoke and fumes which can kill in seconds. If you are in any doubt, do not tackle the fire, no matter how small it is.

Keep yourself between the fire and the means of escape to ensure your safety. Always call the Fire and Rescue Service even if you have managed to put the fire out. We are the experts and will make sure that the fire has been properly extinguished.

If You Do Tackle A Fire

Many people put out small fires in their homes quite safely. Sadly, however, some people die or are injured by tackling a fire which is beyond their capabilities. Here is a simple home fire code to help you decide whether to put out or get out.

• Only tackle a fire in its very early stages.
• Always put your own and other peoples safety first.
• Make sure you can escape if you need to and never let a fire block you exit.
• Fire extinguishers are only for fighting a fire in its very early stages.
• Never tackle a fire if it is starting to spread of has spread to other items in the room or if the room is filling with smoke.
• Around 70% of fire deaths are caused by people being overcome by smoke and fumes. Keep low so that your head is beneath the level of any fumes.
• If you cannot put out the fire or if the extinguisher becomes empty, get out and get everyone else out of the building immediately, closing all doors behind you as you go. Then telephone the Fire and Rescue Service.
• Do not move the object on fire.
• Never use fire extinguishers on chip or fat pan fires.

Siting Of Fire Extinguishers

• Fire Extinguishers should be located where they can be seen easily.
• The best place is on an escape route, that is near an outside door, or on the route from the living areas to an outside door, or close to any perceived fire risk. It should be properly fixed to the wall at a height where it can be reached.
• Keep fire extinguishers out of reach of children.
• Do not place them over cookers or heaters or in places of extreme heat.
• Maintain the extinguisher as per the manufacturers instructions.

Maintainence

The manufacturers instructions will tell you what you need to do to keep your extinguisher in good working order. After an extinguisher has been used, even if only partially, it must be recharged according to the manufacturers instructions.

The extinguisher should be properly serviced once a year. You should use a company registered by the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE). BAFE is a Government recognised national organisation. You can get details of approved products and advice from:

British Approvals for Fire Equipment,
48a Eden Street,
Kingston upon Thames,
Surrey,
KT1 1EE

They can also supply a list of companies approved by them to service portable fire extinguishers.

Always follow the manufacturers instructions. If you require any further information about the type of fire extinguisher or fire blanket you should buy, contact the Fire Safety Section on (01482) 565333. They will be glad to help you and their advice is expert and free of charge. They will also be able to provide you with more specific fire safety advice.

Types Of Extinguishers

The main types of extinguisher that you will come across are:

• Water (Red)
• CO2 (Black)
• Dry Powder (Blue)
• Foam (Cream)

These have been colour coded so that you can identify them quickly and you do not use the wrong extinguisher and put yourself in danger. The main body colour of the extinguisher have changed a couple of times over the past few years (any extinguishers that are not of the correct colour will be replaced when they become unserviceable), however the type colour has remained the same. Water extinguishers are usually coloured signal red.

Other types of extinguishers fall into a couple of catagories. Either the entire body of the extinguisher is coloured in the type colour OR Predominantly red with a 5% second colour to indicate the contents of the extinguisher OR Predominantly red with a bold coloured block in the relevant colour stating it's type. It is recommended that extinguishers within the same building conform to a single colour scheme to avoid confusion.