Colour coding evolved in 1997 for The European Union as a result of the introduction of BS EN 3. Before BS EN 3 solid colours were utilised, but BS EN 3 introduced coloured bands instead.
Throughout Australia yellow halon fire extinguishers are against the law to possess or use. An exception to this is if a necessary use exemption has been granted.
There is not any formal standard in the States for fire extinguisher colours.
Nevertheless, they commonly use colour coded geometric shapes and pictograms depicting the types of fires which the extinguisher is approved to combat.
Given all the variants in fire extinguisher colours, what follows is easily the most common convention for today's fire extinguisher colours/pictograms in each geographical area.
Fire Extinguisher Colours in Europe
- Water - solid red
- Foam - red along with a cream panel
- Dry powder - red together with a blue panel
- Carbon dioxide - red along with a black panel
- Wet chemical - red together with a yellow panel
- Class D powder - red together with a blue panel
- Halon - (no longer utilised)
- Water - solid red
- Foam - red along with a blue band
- Dry powder - red together with a white band
- Co2 - red along with a black band
- Vaporising liquid - red along with a yellow band
- Halon - (no longer made)
- Wet chemical - red together with an oatmeal band
Geometric Symbols
- Ordinary solid combustibles - green triangle
- Flammable liquids and gasses - red square
- Energised electrical apparatus - blue circle
- Combustible metals - yellow star
- Cooking fats and oils - black hexagon
- Ordinary solid combustibles - rubbish can and wood heap burning
- Combustible liquids and gasses - fuel container and burning puddle
- Energised electrical apparatus - electrical plug and burning electric outlet
- Combustible metals - burning gear and bearing
- Cooking fats and oils - pan burning
It's really a shame there isn't an international standard for extinguisher colour coding but like most things, it is difficult to keep consistency across the world. This is mainly as a consequence of historical reasons.
Nonetheless, the colour coding shown above is a good guide and there are similarities between the various countries and continents so that it is easier to understand them.
If you'd like more information please click here: Fire Extinguisher Colours
Having a home fire extinguisher in your house for those emergencies can save lives and property. If a fire starts, grabbing your fire extinguisher can dramatically reduce damage to your home, stop the spread of the fire and may save lives.
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