Fire Ratings Explained​
Fire Ratings are shown usually with a number in front of a letter which explains how much fire a product can extinguish and a letter that confirms the risk.
These ratings are tested on very large fires. They are usually witnessed by third party approval bodies under controlled conditions with professional firefighters covered from top to bottom with PPE and using appropriate breathing apparatus to stay safe.
If we take an example of a rating on a fire extinguisher such as the 9L Foam the rating achieved might be 34A 183B. This means the extinguisher can put out Class A (combustible materials) fires and Class B (Flammable Liquid Fires). The higher the number the larger the fire that the extinguisher can put out.
Below you can see two videos showing a 91 foam with a 34A and a 183B fire rating.
The key thing to focus on are that both fires are enormous, indeed the B Class Fire Test is so large it can only be attempted outside.
We must remember that a fire extinguisher is primarily installed to protect our means of escape.
It is not there to attempt to extinguish a 34A 183B Fire most of us would not go near a fire of this size (without appropriate PPE the extreme heat will be felt metres away).
So, when you are considering whether to choose a 113B, 144B, 183B or 233B you must ask yourself if this really matters.
Fire is unique and each fire behaves differently according to the conditions that are prevalent. All fires are unpredictable and if you do not want to try or are at any time not comfortable in trying to extinguish a fire you should simply walk away and leave it to the authorities to do their work.
*Approval Pending
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