subject: Fire Extinguisher Colours and Their Meaning [print this page] Fire Extinguisher Colours and Their Meaning
Different fire extinguisher colour codes are used between Europe, Australia and America. There are also variations within each geographical location. For example some of the older extinguishers use different colour codes.
Colour coding changed in 1997 for Europe due to the introduction of BS EN 3. Before BS EN 3 solid colours were used, but BS EN 3 introduced coloured bands instead.
In Australia yellow halon fire extinguishers are illegal to own or use. An exception to this is if an essential use exemption has been granted.
There is no official standard in the United States for fire extinguisher colours.
However, they commonly use colour coded geometric shapes and pictograms depicting the types of fires that the extinguisher is approved to fight.
Given all of the variations in fire extinguisher colours, what follows is the most common convention for modern fire extinguisher colours/pictograms in each geographical area.
Fire Extinguisher Colours in Europe
Water - solid red
Foam - red with a cream panel
Dry powder - red with a blue panel
Carbon dioxide - red with a black panel
Wet chemical - red with a yellow panel
Class D powder - red with a blue panelHalon - (no longer in use)
Fire Extinguisher Colours in Australia
Water - solid red
Foam - red with a blue band
Dry powder - red with a white band
Carbon dioxide - red with a black band
Vaporising liquid - red with a yellow band
Halon - (no longer produced)
Wet chemical - red with an oatmeal band
Fire Extinguisher Colours in America
Geometric Symbols
Ordinary solid combustibles - green triangle
Flammable liquids and gasses - red square
Energised electrical equipment - blue circle
Combustible metals - yellow star
Cooking fats and oils - black hexagon
Pictograms
Ordinary solid combustibles - garbage can and wood pile burning
Flammable liquids and gasses - fuel container and burning puddle
Energised electrical equipment - electric plug and burning outlet
Combustible metals - burning gear and bearing
Cooking fats and oils - pan burning
When choosing the correct fire extinguisher to use for any given situation the colour coding is designed to make the different types of extinguisher easy to identify.
It's a shame that there isn't an international standard for extinguisher colour coding but like most things, it's difficult to maintain consistency throughout the world. This is mainly due to historical reasons.
However, the colour coding shown above is a good guide and there are similarities between the different countries and continents making it a little easier to learn them.
