Fire extinguisher colour chart: every band, every fire
The fastest way to get it right in an emergency is to recognise the band on sight. Here's the full UK colour chart — every band, what's inside, and the fires it's for — in one scannable place.
Every UK fire extinguisher has a red body with a coloured band showing what's inside. This chart maps each band to its extinguisher, the fires it's made for, and — just as important — what you must never use it on.
| Band | Extinguisher | Use on | Never use on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Water | Wood, paper, textiles (Class A) | Cooking oil, flammable liquids, live electrics |
| Cream | Foam (AFFF) | Class A + flammable liquids (Class B) | Cooking-oil fires, live electrics |
| Black | CO2 | Electrical equipment + flammable liquids (Class B) | Class A (little cooling — can reignite); avoid confined spaces |
| Blue | Dry Powder | Classes A, B, C and safe near electrics | Indoors/occupied rooms (wrecks visibility); cooking oil |
| Yellow | Wet Chemical | Cooking oils & fats (Class F) | Not a general-purpose unit — the kitchen specialist |
| White | Water Mist | Multi-class: A, F, and safe near electrics | Follow the maker's rating for liquid fires |
The golden rules the chart is built on
- Water and foam never go on cooking oil or live electrics. Water on hot oil throws a fireball; on electrics it conducts.
- There is no "Class E." Electrical suitability is shown by a spark pictogram, not a letter — CO2 and powder are the usual choices.
- CO2 doesn't cool, so a fire can reignite once the gas disperses. Powder is versatile but blinding indoors. Wet chemical is the one for the fryer.
How to use the chart
In a real incident you won't read labels — you'll recognise the band and the pictogram. That recognition, under pressure, is a trained reflex, not knowledge you look up. Print the chart, put it by the extinguishers, and drill it.
Want the reasoning behind each one? See our full guide to fire extinguisher colours & types, or work the other way round with which extinguisher for which fire.
Drill the chart in the game
Reading a chart is one thing; picking the right unit under a countdown is another. The Extinguisher Match drill turns the chart into a reflex.
Play Hazard Hunt →This guide is for learning and applies to England & Wales. Always work from the current standards and your own fire risk assessment; Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent regimes.