Publishing and copyright information

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

© The British Standards Institution 2012

Published by BSI Standards Limited 2012

ISBN 978 0 580 57262 3

ICS 13.220.10

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:
Committee reference FSH/2
Draft for comment 12/30152565 DC

Publication history

First published October 2000
Second (present) edition, October 2012

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 2012. 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This part of BS 5306 supersedes BS 5306‑8:2000, which is withdrawn.

Relationship with other publications

The other parts of BS 5306 published are as follows:

Part 0: Guide for selection of installed systems and other fire equipment;
Part 1: Hose reels and foam inlets;
Part 2 (obsolescent): Specification for sprinkler systems;
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: Specification for halon 1211 total flooding systems.

This part of BS 5306 is intended to be read in conjunction with BS EN 2 and BS EN 3 (see also Information about this document).

Information about this document

Well maintained and professionally installed fire extinguishers are fundamentally safe and easy to use. Research has shown that extinguishers are successful in a significant number of fires each year and make a major contribution to first aid fire safety.

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

recognition of changes in relevant legislation;
recommendations added on environmental impact;
information on the use of powder revised;
clarification on the requirements for class A hazards;
changes in the recommendations for class B and class C hazards;
erroneous reference to class E removed;
references to fire blankets removed;
travel distances revised;
changes to the recommendations on signs;
calculation examples updated;
advice on reducing vandalism added;
recommendations added on the preservation of service information;
advice added on extinguisher discharge characteristics.

The rating system of BS EN 3, in which the fire performance of extinguishers on class A and class B fires, as defined in BS EN 2, are assessed on the basis of their ability to extinguish specified test fires, is used in this part of BS 5306 for the determination of the distribution of extinguishers on premises. In this revision, class B ratings recommended are determined by direct readings from tables to give the same result as by calculation but more simply. Additional consideration is given to factors that could affect the type of extinguisher selected for class A fires. Special precautions for class C and class D fires are outlined. Specific recommendations are given for controlling class F fires. The provisions of the present part of BS 5306 could in general be applied to the needs of a building or on a building site.

Hazard warnings

WARNING — This British Standard calls for the use of substances and/or procedures that can be injurious to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and does not absolve the user from legal obligations relating to health and safety at any stage.

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.

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.

Attention is drawn to the following statutory regulations; this list is not to be taken as definitive or exhaustive:

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 [1] and associated Guidance Notes;
Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 [2] and associated Guidance Notes;
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 [3] and associated Guidance Notes;
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 [4];
Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 [5];
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 [6];
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 [7];
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 [8];
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 [9];
Transportable Pressure Vessels Regulations 2001 [10];
Transportable Pressure Vessels Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 [11];
Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 [12];
Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 [13];
Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 [14];
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 [15];
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 [16].

Introduction

It is important for the fire protection of a building to be considered as a whole. Portable fire extinguishers form an important part of such facilities, although it cannot be assumed that their provision entirely obviates the need for other protection, e.g. internal rising main, hose reels, sprinklers, other automatic or manual extinguishing systems, mobile extinguishing units, and fire alarm systems.

Portable fire extinguishers are valuable in the early stages of fire when their portability and immediate availability for use by one person enable a prompt attack to be made. They cannot be expected to deal with a large fire since they are essentially first aid fire-fighting appliances of a limited capacity.

The recommendations of this part of BS 5306 are intended to assist the person(s) responsible for the safety of the building in planning to control the consequences of possible fires.

It is a legal obligation to ensure that subsequent preventative and protective measures are carried out by a competent person. It is important to note that the carrying out of a fire risk assessment is part of the duty of care legally required of the responsible person having control of a workplace.

Advice on such matters can be obtained from fire engineering companies, fire authorities, the Health and Safety Executive, fire insurers and fire safety consultants.

1 Scope

This part of BS 5306 gives advice and guidance on the suitability and positioning of portable fire extinguishers, primarily those conforming to BS EN 3, that can be carried by one person and that are used for the protection of buildings, other premises, contents and to assist evacuation.

This part of BS 5306 is not applicable to aircraft, caravans or marine craft.

NOTE Portable fire extinguishers for use in aircraft are specified in BS 7867, their provision in caravans is dealt with in BS 3632 and BS EN 1645‑1, whilst those for marine craft and motor vehicles are the subject of a number of international agreements, government regulations and advisory publications.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Provision of extinguishers — General recommendations

4.1 Importance of early planning

4.2 The environment

4.3 Erection, refurbishment and demolition of buildings

4.4 Unoccupied buildings

4.5 Training in the use of extinguishers

4.6 Avoidance of multiplicity of types

4.7 Commissioning and maintenance

5 Extinguisher characteristics

5.1 General

5.2 Fire ratings

5.3 Temperature range

5.4 Discharge

5.5 Colour coding

5.6 Gaseous extinguishing media

6 Positioning of extinguishers

6.1 Location and accessibility

6.2 Visibility

6.3 Mounting

6.4 Travel distance

6.5 Protection against corrosion and vandalism

7 Suitability of extinguishers for various classes of fire

7.1 Classes of fire

7.2 Fires involving cooking media (class F fires)

8 Distribution of extinguishers according to fire classification and rating of extinguisher

8.1 General

8.2 Class A — Fires involving solid materials, usually of an organic nature in which combustion normally takes place with the formation of glowing embers

8.3 Class B — Fires involving flammable liquids

8.4 Class C — Fires involving gases

8.5 Class D — Fires involving metals

8.6 Class F — Fires involving cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats) in cooking appliances

8.7 Locations where more than one fire hazard type exists

9 Fires involving electrical equipment

9.1 General

9.2 Suitability of extinguishers for fires involving electrical equipment

9.3 Distribution of extinguishers for fires involving live electrical equipment

9.4 Travel distance

10 Provision of replacement extinguishers

Bibliography

BS 5306-8:2012

Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises - Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice

Published:

31 Oct 2012

Withdrawn:

8 Nov 2023