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Class A: Fires involving solid materials of organic nature with the formation
of glowing ambers, eg. Paper, wood, etc
Class B: Fires involving liquids or liquefiable solids, eg. Petrol, kerosene,
diesel, etc
Class C: Fires involving gases, eg. Oxygen, LNG, LPG, etc
Class D: Fires involving metals, eg. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc
e.
f.
Water
Suitable for Class A fires
Foam
Suitable for Class A and Class B fires
Dry Chemical Powder
Suitable for Class A, B, C and E fires
Carbon Dioxide
Suitable for Class B and E fires
Water
Red
Foam
Cream
Dry Chemical Powder
Blue
Carbon Dioxide
Black
Halon
Golden Yellow
Note: Halon portable fire extinguishers are only allowed for military, aviation or
special applications only where permitted by Department of Environmental
Malaysia.
5.2.5 Label Marking
All portable fire extinguishers shall be marked as per labels attached. All label
markings shall be fully visible from the front (see Figure 5.2.5.1 and 5.2.5.2)
5.2.6 Installation
Generally, portable fire extinguishers should be located in conspicuous position
where they can be easily spotted by person following an escape route.
Siting position near to room exits, corridors, stairways, lobbies and landings are
most suitable. They should not be sited where a potential fire might prevent
access to them.
Extinguishers should be located preferably within recessed closets if they be
sited along protected corridors to avoid obstruction during evacuation.
They should be sited not more than 20 meters from a potential fire hazard.
5.2.7 Performance Design
Fire classes, fire hazard location, extinguisher distribution, extinguisher
performance as well as application should be the criteria for determining the size
and quantities of portable fire extinguishers.
For dry chemical powder extinguisher, vast improvement in chemical content has
increased the performance of the extinguisher. Weight is hence no longer the
criteria for selection but fire rating determines the performances eg. Minimum
fire performance rating of a 9kg extinguisher of 30% chemical powder is 27A and
144B. A 6kg extinguisher of 50% chemical powder can achieve a fire rating of
27A and 183B.
Gross weight of portable fire extinguishers should be kept to a minimum
(recommended to be below 12kg) to ensure portability. Current weight rating of
portable fire extinguishers is net weight of fire extinguishing medium excluding
the weight of the cylinder, valve body, metre and hose; eg. Gross weight of 5kg
CO2 extinguisher is 21kg.
It is recommend to design for 2 smaller extinguishers to achieve the same rating
instead of 1 extinguisher to increase the effectiveness of fire extinguishment.
Example 1
For a single storey building of floor area 1,600m 2, the minimum aggregated class
A rating is
0.065 x 1,600 = 104A
The total fire rating can be provided by:
8 x 13A PFE = 104A
4 x 6 kg PFE of 27A