Fire Classes & Extinguisher Selection Reference 2026

Fire classification systems organise fires by fuel type so that responders can select an appropriate extinguishing agent. Two major systems are in use: the US system defined by NFPA 10 (Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers) and the European/UK system defined by BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004 (Classification of fires) and the extinguisher performance standard BS EN 3. The systems differ principally in how cooking-oil fires are classified: the US system uses Class K; the UK/European system uses Class F. Both systems share Classes A (ordinary combustibles), B (flammable liquids), C (energised electrical equipment or, in Europe, flammable gases), and D (combustible metals). This dataset lists each fire class under both systems with its fuel type, the agents confirmed as suitable, agents that must not be used, the UK body-colour coding for portable extinguishers under BS 7863 and BS EN 3 (red body with a coloured band or label), and the equivalent US label convention. Each row cites the governing standard. Users must verify current edition status and any local regulatory requirements with the relevant authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before relying on this table for compliance purposes; extinguisher selection must always account for the specific hazard, occupancy type, and travel-distance requirements of the applicable standard. Sources: NFPA 10 (2022 edition), BS EN 2:1992+A1:2004, BS EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007, BS 5306-3:2017, and the UK Fire and Rescue Service guidance. Colour codes reflect BS EN 3 panel/band conventions as widely published by UK fire equipment manufacturers. Always verify against the current edition of the relevant standard and confirm with a competent fire safety professional before specifying extinguishers for a premises. Intended uses include: HSE training content, fire risk assessment reference tables, safety management software lookup data, and open-government linked-data publishing. Released under CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication).