Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:
Committee reference FSH/2
Draft for comment 19/30384739 DC

Foreword

Publishing information

This part of BS 5306 is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 31 October 2019. It was prepared by Technical Committee FSH/2, Fire extinguishers. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

This part of BS 5306 supersedes BS 7863:2009, which is withdrawn.

Relationship with other publications

BS 5306 is published in the following parts:

Part 0: Guide for selection of installed systems and other fire equipment;
Part 1: Hose reels and foam inlets;
Part 2: Specification for sprinkler systems1;
Part 3: Commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice;
Part 4: Specification for carbon dioxide systems;
Part 5: Halon systems:
- Section 5.1: Specification for Halon 1301 total flooding systems;
- Section 5.2: Halon 1211 total flooding systems;
Part 8: Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice;
Part 9: Recharging of portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice;
Part 10: Colour coding to indicate the extinguishing medium contained in portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice.

The present part of BS 5306 is related to BS EN 3, which allows an area of up to 10% of the surface area of the extinguisher to be colour coded subject to national regulations. It is the purpose of BS 5306‑10 to recommend the colours to be used to identify the contents of the extinguishers and define the location of such colours.

BS EN 3 is published in the following parts:

Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods;
Part 8: Additional requirements to EN 3‑7 for the construction, resistance to pressure and mechanical tests for extinguishers with a maximum allowable pressure equal to or lower than 30 bar;
Part 9: Additional requirements to EN 3‑7 for pressure resistance of CO₂ extinguishers;
Part 10: Provisions for evaluating the conformity of a portable fire extinguisher to EN 3‑7.

Information about this document

This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:

change of identifier to bring the standard within the BS 5306 series;
adding a colour code for Class D powder.

This publication can be withdrawn, revised, partially superseded or superseded. Information regarding the status of this publication can be found in the Standards Catalogue on the BSI website at bsigroup.com/standards, or by contacting the Customer Services team.

Where websites and webpages have been cited, they are provided for ease of reference and are correct at the time of publication. The location of a webpage or website, or its contents, cannot be guaranteed.

Use of this document

As a code of practice, this part of BS 5306 takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

Any user claiming compliance with this part of BS 5306 is expected to be able to justify any course of action that deviates from its recommendations.

Presentational conventions

The provisions in this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This part of BS 5306 gives recommendations for the colour coding used to identify the extinguishing medium used in portable fire extinguishers, and for the size and location of the colour indication.

NOTE The requirements of BS EN 3 and the recommendations of this British Standard concerning colour coding apply only to new extinguishers. Extinguishers conforming to withdrawn standard BS 7863 might still be found in service and are still acceptable.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Colour coding

5 Size and location of colour indication

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

Bibliography

BS 5306-10:2019

Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises - Colour coding to indicate the extinguishing medium contained in portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice

Current

Published:

31 Oct 2019