Fire Extinguishers — Which Band for Which Fire
Fire Extinguishers — Which Band for Which Fire
All red, told apart by a coloured band. Use the wrong one and you make it worse — water on an electrical fire can kill you. Which band for which fire, under AS/NZS 1841.
Fire classes (Australia)
| Class A | Ordinary combustibles — wood, paper, fabric, plastics |
| Class B | Flammable liquids — petrol, oils, paints, solvents |
| Class C | Flammable gases — LPG, propane, acetylene |
| Class D | Combustible metals — magnesium, sodium (industrial) |
| Class E | Electrical — switchboards, appliances, power tools |
| Class F | Cooking oils and fats |
By colour band (all on a red body)
| Red band — Water | Class A only. Never on electrical or liquids. |
| Blue band — Foam | Class A and B |
| White band — Dry chemical (ABE) | Class A, B and E — the all-rounder on most sites |
| Black band — CO₂ | Class B and E — clean, good for electrical |
| Oatmeal band — Wet chemical | Class F (and A) — kitchens, fryers |
Reference only. Match the extinguisher to the fire; pull, aim, squeeze, sweep — and only fight a fire if it is safe and you have an exit behind you. If in doubt, get out and call 000.
Sources: AS/NZS 1841 (portable fire extinguishers) · state fire & rescue services
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