Different Sizes of Fire Extinguishers

A fire extinguisher is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you can have in your home. Purchasing multipurpose extinguishers, placing them in strategic areas and know how to use them is critical. The National Fire Protection Association's website provides useful information on these subjects and more.

Fire extinguishers are sized by weight, not dimensions. They are also classed by the type of fire they extinguish and rated by the size of the fire they can handle. These three things must be considered when purchasing an extinguisher, but the main focus here is the size and capacity.

Fire Extinguisher Classes

Fire extinguishers are marked with their class. Extinguishers classed ABC are considered multipurpose because they can extinguish the three most common types of fires. This is the most appropriate extinguisher for home use.

• Class A: common combustible materials such as wood


• Class B: flammable liquids


• Class C: electrical fires


• Class D: specific types of flammable metals


• Class K: industrial grease and oil fires; used in restaurants applications
  
  

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Fire extinguishers are also given a rating that reflects the extinguisher capacity or the size of the fire it can extinguish. A larger number indicates more extinguishing power. Class C and class K extinguishers are not rated for size. Class D extinguishers are not rated because they must be specific to the flammable metal. When in doubt as to the appropriate capacity, round up. If you should ever find yourself facing a fire, you will see that the extinguisher is never too large.

• Ratings for class A extinguishers range from 1 to 40


• Ratings for class B extinguishers range from 1 to 640
  
  

Fire Extinguisher Sizes/Dimensions

Fire extinguisher sizes are described by weight.  Standard weights include 2.5 lbs., 5 lbs., 10 lbs, 15 lbs. and 20 lbs.  Other sizes are available from industrial retailers such as Grainger. The dimensions given here are approximate and may vary slightly by manufacturer.

Extinguisher lb size               Height                   Diameter

           2.5                               14.5"                       3.5"

             5                                  16"                       4.25"

            10                                 21"                         5"

            15                                 26"                       6.75"

            20                                 21"                        7.5

Fire extinguishers should never be hung with the top higher than five feet from the ground. Smoke collects in a room filling the space from the ceiling downward.  If the extinguisher is hung at eye level, it cannot be seen through the smoke.