In Australia, the letters and numbers represent the type and size of fire that an extinguisher can handle, formulating its rating. You should have the right fire extinguisher ratings for your home or business premises, or you may not meet current regulations.
Below is a detailed overview of what the letters and numbers on a fire extinguisher mean and what they indicate about its efficiency against certain types of fires.
3 | A | 40 | B | E |
Rating tested to a specific size of a wood fire | Fire type: combustible materials such as wood, paper, and fabric | Rating tested to a specific fuel load of a flammable liquid fire | Fire type: flammable liquids such as petrol, turpentine or paint | Fire type: electrical equipment such as appliances, computers, phones |
Letters classification: types of fire
In Australia, there are six classes or types of fire: A, B, C, D, E, and F.
- A fires rating: combustible materials such as wood, paper, and fabric.
- B fires rating: flammable liquids such as petrol, turpentine or paint
- C fires