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Fire safety equipment

Advice on having fire extinguishers in your home, how to dispose of old fire extinguishers, the types of fire extinguishers and information about fire blankets, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. 

You can find out more information about fire safety equipment for commercial premises or public buildings in our business safety section(link is external).

Fire extinguishers

You might be considering putting safety equipment such as a fire extinguisher in your home to help you feel more reassured if a fire occurs. But even the smallest of fires can rapidly get out of control.

If a fire starts in your home: get out, stay out and call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.

If you decide to buy a fire extinguisher, follow this safety advice.

  • Make sure that it has a Kitemark of British Approvals for Fire Equipment mark.
  • Keep them stored away from cookers, heaters or other extreme heat sources.
  • Recharge it after use.
  • Have your extinguishers regularly serviced by a qualified person.

Fire extinguisher maintenance

Information on how to find the age of your fire extinguishers(link is external), will help you decide if you need to refill, refurbish or replace your fire extinguishers.

Disposing of old fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers need to be disposed of carefully as they contain hazardous substances. Find your local hazardous waste disposal service(link is external)

Types of fire extinguishers

There are four types of fire extinguishers, and each contains different substances to deal with different types of fires. 

There is no single type of fire extinguisher that can deal with all types of fire.

 

Wood, paper, plastics, soft furnishings etc.

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  • AFF foam
  • Water
  • Wet chemical
  • Dry powder
 

Flammable liquids, petrol, oil etc.

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  • AFF foam
  • CO2
  • Dry powder
 

Flammable gases, propane, butane, methane etc.

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  • Dry powder
 

Metals: aluminium, magnesium, titanium, swarf (metal shavings) etc.

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  • L2 and M28 powder
 

Electrical apparatus, computers, phone chargers etc.

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  • CO2
  • Dry powder
 

Cooking oils and fats

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  • Wet chemical

Important things to know when using a fire extinguisher

  • Cooking oil fires - never use a fire extinguisher for a chip pan fire. The jet from the extinguisher can force burning fat out of the pan and spread the fire.
  • CO2 - gas from CO2 extinguishers can be harmful if used in confined spaces, as they displace oxygen in the air. Make sure to ventilate the area well after extinguishing the fire
  • Dry powder fire extinguishers should not be used in enclosed spaces. The powder can affect your breathing and reduce visibility for a safe evacuation.
  • Never hold the horn while using the extinguisher. The dry ice will cause your skin to stick to the horn with a burning sensation.
 

Common questions

 

How do I dispose of a fire extinguisher?

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Fire extinguishers need to be disposed of carefully as they contain hazardous substances. Find your local hazardous waste disposal service(link is external). 

 

What is an ABC fire extinguisher?

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There are six types of fires, which are divided into classes from A-F.  An ABC fire extinguisher is one that is suitable for extinguishing fires in the A, B and C categories. 

 

Can a fire extinguisher explode?

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Fire extinguishers can explode if they have not been maintained properly. If the case has been damaged, this can cause pressure to mount inside, making it more likely to explode.

 

How do you know if a fire extinguisher is still okay to use?

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Most fire extinguishers come with a pressure gauge that indicates the pressure level inside. If the gauge is too low, then you need to replace your extinguisher.

 

Other fire safety equipment for your home

 

Fire blankets

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Fire blankets are designed to put out small fires by smothering them. They’re good for extinguishing chip pan fires or to wrap around someone whose clothing is on fire. They’re made from a specially woven fabric that is fire retardant.

If you choose to buy a fire blanket, make sure to follow this safety advice.

  • Keep it in the kitchen. Over half of the fires we attend start in the kitchen.
  • Only use it to smother small fires.
  • Use it to put out fires on clothing by wrapping the blanket around the person on fire.
  • Always look for the British Standard mark (BS EN: 1869:1997 or BS 7944:1999).
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
 

Smoke alarms

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Read our smoke alarms guidance to find out about installing smoke alarms in your home.

 

Carbon monoxide alarms

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Read our carbon monoxide information to find out about carbon monoxide alarms.

What to do if there’s a fire

  1. Get out of the building, closing any doors behind you.

  2. Stay out of the building.

  3. Call 999 and ask for the fire service.