What are the colours of fire extinguishers in the UK? Every extinguisher made to BS EN 3 has a red body. A coloured band or panel shows what is inside: red for water, cream for foam, blue for dry powder, black for CO2 and canary yellow for wet chemical. The colour tells you the extinguishing agent. The label tells you which classes of fire it is rated for. Always check both before you use one.
This guide explains fire extinguisher colours and types, what each colour band is used for, and what you must not use it on. It also covers water mist and lithium-ion extinguishers, why extinguishers are red, and how to choose the right ones for your premises.
Fire extinguisher colours chart (UK)
| Colour | Extinguisher type | Fire classes | Use on | Do NOT use on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red (all red, or red label) | Water (incl. water with additive) | A | Wood, paper, textiles, cardboard and other solids | Flammable liquids, cooking oil, live electrical equipment (unless the label shows a pass of the 35 kV dielectric test) |
| Cream | Foam | A, B | Solids and flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel and paints | Deep-fat fryers and chip pans, flammable gases, metals, live electrics unless dielectrically tested |
| Blue | Dry powder (ABC) | A, B, C and electrical | Mixed risks, vehicles, plant, outdoor areas, gas fires (after isolating the gas) | Cooking oil fires, enclosed spaces where the powder cloud reduces visibility, metals (unless a Class D powder) |
| Black | CO2 (carbon dioxide) | B and electrical | Electrical equipment, server and comms rooms, offices, flammable liquids | Solids such as paper and wood (not A-rated), cooking oil, small unventilated rooms |
| Canary yellow | Wet chemical | F (often A as well) | Cooking oils and fats in commercial kitchens | Flammable liquids, gases, live electrics unless the label says otherwise |
| White (most makes) | Water mist | Varies by model, commonly A and F | Mixed solids risks; some models are rated for electrical equipment | Anything not shown on its label |
| Varies by maker | Lithium-ion battery | Varies by model (check the label) | Areas with battery risks, as stated by the manufacturer | Anything not shown on its label |
| Green | Clean agent (and old halon units) | Varies by model | Specialist applications | Anything not shown on its label |
Ratings such as 13A, 34B or 75F show the class of fire (the letter) and the size of test fire the extinguisher put out (the number). A bigger number means more fire-fighting capacity, so compare ratings, not just litres or kilograms.
Red band – water extinguisher
A water extinguisher is all red, or has a red label panel. It cools burning solids and is rated for Class A fires only: wood, paper, textiles and cardboard. Water-with-additive versions often achieve a higher rating for the same size. Never use a standard water extinguisher on flammable liquids, cooking oil or live electrical equipment. Some models have passed the 35 kV dielectric test, which is about safety if the extinguisher is accidentally used near live electrics; it does not make water a first choice for electrical fires. Check the label.
Example: the Jewel 6 litre water extinguisher (6WX) is rated 13A and has passed the 35 kV test. Browse all water fire extinguishers.
Cream band – foam extinguisher
A cream band means foam. Foam covers Class A solids and Class B flammable liquids, so one extinguisher can protect a mixed office and workshop risk. Foam is not suitable for deep-fat fryers or chip pans. Many current models use fluorine-free (PFAS-free) foam.
Example: the Commander FX-FFF-006-DCF 6 litre fluorine-free foam is rated 21A 144B. Browse all foam fire extinguishers.
Blue band – dry powder extinguisher
What colour is a powder extinguisher? A dry powder extinguisher has a red body with a blue colour panel. Standard ABC powder covers Class A, B and C fires and can be used on electrical equipment. It knocks a fire down quickly and works at low temperatures, so it is a common choice for vehicles, plant rooms, garages and outdoor sites.
Powder does not cool the fire, so re-ignition is possible. Discharged indoors, the cloud reduces visibility and can be breathed in, and the residue is hard to clean up. For this reason powder is generally not recommended for enclosed spaces. Specialist Class D powders (such as L2 or M28) are made for specific metal fires. Do not rely on colour for those: read the label.
Example: the Commander FX-PWD-006-DCF 6kg ABC powder is rated 27A 144B C. Browse all dry powder fire extinguishers.
Black band – CO2 extinguisher
What colour is a CO2 extinguisher? A carbon dioxide extinguisher has a red body with a black band, and usually a large horn instead of a hose nozzle. CO2 is the usual choice for electrical equipment because it leaves no residue. It is rated for Class B flammable liquids. It is not rated for Class A solids, cooking oil or metal fires. The horn gets extremely cold during discharge, so hold the extinguisher by its handle. Avoid discharging it in small, unventilated rooms.
Example: the Firechief XTR 2kg CO2 extinguisher (FXC2), an aluminium unit with a frost-free horn. Browse all CO2 fire extinguishers.
Yellow band – wet chemical extinguisher
What is a yellow band extinguisher used for? A canary yellow band means wet chemical, which is designed for Class F fires involving cooking oils and fats, for example in deep-fat fryers. The agent forms a layer over the burning oil that cuts off the oxygen and cools it. Many wet chemical extinguishers also carry an A rating. Commercial kitchens with fryers normally have a wet chemical extinguisher and a fire blanket.
Example: the Commander FX-WCH-006-FCF 6 litre wet chemical is rated 13A 75F. Browse all wet chemical fire extinguishers.
White band – water mist extinguisher
Water mist was not part of the original colour scheme, so there is no single official colour for it. Most manufacturers use a white colour panel. A water mist extinguisher discharges very fine droplets of de-ionised water, and its ratings depend on the model: many are rated for Class A and F fires. Models that have passed the 35 kV dielectric test can be used near electrical equipment within the limits printed on the label.
Example: the Firechief 6 litre PureSafe water mist (FFWM6), which has passed the 35 kV dielectric test. Browse all water mist fire extinguishers.
Lithium-ion battery extinguishers
Extinguishers for lithium-ion battery risks, such as e-bike and e-scooter storage and charging areas, are a newer category. They are not part of the BS colour scheme, so their colours, agents and ratings are manufacturer-specific. Check the label and data sheet against the risk in your fire risk assessment rather than the colour. For example, the CommanderEDGE LFX 6 litre is rated 27A and has passed the 35 kV dielectric test. See our lithium-ion battery fire safety guide and the full range of lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers.
Green label and silver fire extinguishers
A green colour zone indicates a clean agent extinguisher. Green was also the colour of old halon (vaporising liquid) extinguishers, which are now restricted to a few specialist uses. Silver, chrome or stainless steel extinguishers are made for appearance, for example in hotel lobbies and offices. BS EN 3 specifies a red body, so a silver extinguisher does not follow the standard's body colour. These models normally still carry the agent's colour panel and a full label. If you are considering them, check with your fire risk assessor.
Why are fire extinguishers red?
Before the European standard BS EN 3 was adopted in the UK in the late 1990s, extinguishers made to BS 5423 were coloured all over by type: a whole blue extinguisher for powder, a whole black one for CO2, and so on. BS EN 3 requires a red body for every type, so extinguishers are easy to spot as fire-fighting equipment. It allows a coloured zone of up to about 5% of the body's outer surface to identify the agent. UK guidance on the colours to use (now in BS 5306-10, which replaced BS 7863) kept the old colours for the bands, so the cream, blue, black and yellow you see today come from those fully coloured extinguishers.
Classes of fire and electrical fires
Under BS EN 2 there are five classes of fire: A (solids), B (flammable liquids), C (flammable gases), D (metals) and F (cooking oils and fats). Electrical fires are not a separate class in the UK, as there is no "Class E". For live electrics, CO2 is the usual choice and dry powder can also be used. Water-based extinguishers are only suitable if they are dielectrically tested and labelled for it. Our classes of fire guide explains each class, and our electrical fire extinguisher guide covers electrical risks in detail.
How to choose fire extinguishers, and how many you need
- Start with your fire risk assessment. It should identify the risks in each area and the type and number of extinguishers needed.
- Follow BS 5306-8. It is the British Standard code of practice for selecting and positioning portable extinguishers. It covers the fire rating needed for the floor area and how far people should have to travel to reach one. Government fire safety guidance for workplaces gives a simpler rule of thumb for Class A risks: roughly one water-based extinguisher per 200 m² of floor space, with at least two per floor. Your fire risk assessor or a competent installer should confirm the numbers for your building.
- Match each extinguisher to the risk. A typical office fire point pairs a water or foam extinguisher with a CO2 extinguisher for electrics. Kitchens add wet chemical, and plant or vehicle areas often add powder.
- Mount and protect them. Group them at fire points on escape routes, near exits. Use extinguisher stands or wall brackets indoors and cabinets outdoors.
- Service them. Have them serviced annually by a competent person in line with BS 5306-3, and check them visually between services.
Fire extinguisher signs
The colour band identifies an extinguisher at close range, but people also need signs. A location sign shows where the equipment is, especially where it is not in plain view. An identification sign above each extinguisher repeats its type and the fires it must not be used on. Our fire extinguisher signs guide explains which signs you need and where, and you can browse fire safety signs.
Frequently asked questions
What colour is a powder extinguisher?
Red, with a blue colour panel or band. The blue panel is how you identify a dry powder extinguisher.
What colour panel indicates a dry powder extinguisher?
Blue. Water is red, foam is cream, CO2 is black and wet chemical is canary yellow.
What is a yellow band extinguisher used for?
A yellow (canary yellow) band means wet chemical. It is used on Class F fires involving cooking oils and fats, such as deep-fat fryers, and many models are also rated for Class A.
What colour is a CO2 extinguisher?
Red, with a black band. CO2 is used on electrical equipment and Class B flammable liquids.
What is a cream fire extinguisher used for?
A cream band means foam, used on Class A solids and Class B flammable liquids such as petrol and paint. It is not for chip pan or deep-fat fryer fires.
What colour fire extinguisher is used for electrical fires?
Black (CO2) is the usual choice. Blue (dry powder) also works but leaves residue. Water mist or water models can only be used if the label shows they passed the 35 kV dielectric test.
What colour is a water fire extinguisher?
All red, or red with a red label panel. It is for Class A solids only.
If you are revising for a site-safety test such as the CSCS test, remember the five main bands: red water, cream foam, blue powder, black CO2 and yellow wet chemical.
You can compare every type in our full fire extinguishers range: genuine, brand-new, factory-sealed products with fast, tracked UK delivery.
This guide is general information. Follow your fire risk assessment and the advice of a competent person, and always read the extinguisher's label.