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Fire extinguishers in India: types, fire classes, colour codes, ratings, how to use one and what the law requires
Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
A portable fire extinguisher is a unit of 17 kg or less fully charged (IS 15683:2018, cl. 3.2); heavier wheeled units go up to 450 kg (IS 16018:2012). There are six types by medium: water, foam, powder, carbon dioxide, clean agent and water mist (cl. 4). Fires are sorted into Class A (solids), B (flammable liquids), C (gases), D (metals) and F (cooking oil), and the label must say which classes the unit is rated for (cl. 10.2.2.5). The body is red, with a band that tells the type: water red, foam yellow, powder blue, CO2 black, clean agent green (cl. 10.1).
To use one, release the safety device, aim at the base of the fire, operate it and sweep the medium across the fire (cl. 10.2.2.4), the four pictograph steps every Indian label must show. Match the type to the fire: only CO2, powder, clean agent or water mist units that are marked suitable go near live electrical equipment (IS 2190:2024, cl. 6.3.7). For how many you need, where to hang them and the refill and hydro test cycle, read IS 2190. The extinguisher itself must carry the BIS mark under the 2023 Quality Control Order.
- Body colour
- Red
- With a band of colour by type: yellow for foam, blue for powder, black for CO2
- Colour code
- Mark on the label
- BIS mark
- Compulsory under the 2023 Quality Control Order, S.O. 3585(E)
- ISI mark dates
Fire extinguisher in India: standards, weights and law at a glance
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Portable extinguisher | Fully charged mass not above 17 kg, discharged by stored pressure or by releasing a gas cartridge. Specification: IS 15683:2018 (cl. 3.2) | IS 15683:2018 |
| Wheeled extinguisher | Fully charged mass above 17 kg and not above 450 kg. Specification: IS 16018:2012 (cl. 1.2) | IS 16018:2012 |
| Selection, placement and upkeep | IS 2190:2024, the fifth revision (October 2024). It replaced IS 2190:2010, withdrawn on 9 April 2025 | BIS standards database |
| Types by medium | Water based, foam, powder (ABC, BC or D), carbon dioxide, clean agent and water mist. Wheeled units: water, powder, CO2 and clean agent (IS 15683 cl. 4; IS 16018 cl. 4.1) | IS 15683:2018 |
| Fire classes | A, B, C, D and F. India's standard has no separate electrical class: live equipment is handled by the unit's marking (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7) | IS 15683:2018 |
| Body colour | Red to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5, with a band of about 5 percent of the surface in a colour set by type (cl. 10.1) | IS 15683:2018 |
| Working temperature | Every unit works up to +60 °C; the lowest working temperature is +5, 0, -10, -20 or -30 °C and is marked on the unit (cl. 7.1, 10.2.1.4). The 2018 edition raised the upper limit from 55 °C | IS 15683:2018 |
| BIS mark | Compulsory for the product under the Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3585(E) of 9 August 2023, with export goods exempt | Gazette of India |
| Obsolete types | Soda-acid, chemical foam, CTC and chlorobromomethane types, and non-rechargeable units older than 5 years, are listed as obsolete (IS 2190 Annex D) | IS 2190:2024 |
Which fire extinguisher for which fire class: suitability by type
| Option | Class A (solids) | Class B (liquids) | Class C (gases) | Class D (metals) | Class F (cooking oil) | Live electrical | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water based | Yes, A rating | No | No | No | No | No | IS 15683:2018 |
| Foam | As rated | As rated, B rating | By B rating | No | No | No | IS 15683:2018 |
| ABC powder | Yes, A rating | As rated | By B rating | No | No | If marked suitable | IS 15683:2018 |
| BC powder | No A rating | As rated | By B rating | No | No | If marked suitable | IS 15683:2018 |
| Carbon dioxide | No A rating | As rated | By B rating | No | No | If marked suitable, no metal horn | IS 15683:2018 |
| Clean agent | As rated | As rated | By B rating | No | No | If marked suitable | IS 15683:2018 |
| Water mist | As rated | As rated | By B rating | No | Only if F rated | If marked suitable | IS 15683:2018 |
| Class D powder | No | No | No | Yes, marked D | No | No | IS 15683:2018 |
How to use a fire extinguisher: the PASS method in 4 steps
Release the safety device (Pull)
Pull the pin or disengage the locking device first (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.2.4 c 1).
Aim at the base of the fire (Aim)
Point the nozzle at the base from the distance shown on the label, holding the unit in the position the label shows (cl. 10.2.2.4 c 2).
Operate it (Squeeze)
Do whatever the label says to start discharge, such as squeezing the handle or striking a plunger (cl. 10.2.2.4 c 3).
Apply the medium across the fire (Sweep)
Move the medium over the burning area as the label shows, then retire the unit for recharge after any use (cl. 10.2.2.4 c 4, 10.2.1.5).
Classes of fire for extinguishers: A, B, C, D and F explained
India's extinguisher standard sorts fires into five classes by what is burning, and a unit is only as good as its match to the class.
- Class A
- Solid organic materials such as wood, paper, rubber and plastics, where the cooling effect of water is what puts the fire out (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.1). IS 15683:2018
- Class B
- Flammable liquids and liquefiable solids, where a blanketing effect is needed (cl. 3.1.2). Petrol, solvents and paint are typical. IS 15683:2018
- Class C
- Flammable gases under pressure, including liquefied gases such as LPG (cl. 3.1.3). There is no separate fire test for C: a unit with a Class B rating may be claimed suitable for C (cl. 8.1.3). C is not the electrical class, a common confusion. IS 15683:2018
- Class D
- Combustible metals such as magnesium, aluminium, zinc, sodium and potassium, which react with water and, in some cases, with CO2 and ordinary powder (cl. 3.1.4). They need special media; D units are usually not suitable for other classes (cl. 8.1.4). IS 15683:2018
- Class F
- Cooking media, meaning vegetable or animal oils and fats in cooking appliances, the kitchen fire (cl. 3.1.5). A unit must be rated F and pass a splash test to be sold for it (cl. 8.1.5). IS 15683:2018
- Energised electrical equipment
- Not a class. IS 2190 treats the hazard as Class A or B, sized on that basis, and allows only CO2, powder, clean agent or water mist units that are tested and marked suitable (cl. 7.5.2, 6.3.7). IS 2190:2024
Types of fire extinguisher: water, foam, powder, CO2, clean agent, water mist
IS 15683:2018 classifies portable units by the medium inside. Six types exist today, and each is rated for some classes and not others.
Water based
Water and water additives
Cooling for Class A. May hold plain water or water with wetting, viscosity or flame-retardant additives (cl. 4 note 1). Never on electrical, oil or metal fires. Band colour red. IS 15683:2018
Foam
Mechanical foam
Blankets a liquid surface for Class B and cools Class A. Foam of the AFFF or FFFP kind must not be used on water-soluble liquids unless the nameplate says so (IS 2190 cl. 6.4.3). Band colour yellow. IS 15683:2018
Powder
ABC, BC or D powder
ABC covers A, B and C; BC has no Class A rating (Table 3 note 1); D powder is for metals. Can be used on energised electrical equipment only if tested and marked suitable. Band colour blue. IS 15683:2018
Carbon dioxide
CO2
A gas that displaces oxygen, for Class B and for electrical equipment when fitted with a suitable horn: metal horns are not considered safe on live equipment (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7). Band colour black. The gas must meet IS 15222. IS 15683:2018
Clean agent
Halon substitutes
Electrically non-conductive gas agents, regulated under the Montreal Protocol and national rules (cl. 4 note 3). The label must carry the chemical name and a warning that the by-products can be toxic (cl. 10.2.1.8, 10.2.2.2). Band colour green. IS 15683:2018
Water mist
Fine water spray
Listed as a type in cl. 4 and one of four types IS 2190 allows near energised electrical equipment when tested and marked suitable (cl. 6.3.7). Band colour red. IS 15683:2018
Wheeled
Wheeled units
Water-based, powder, CO2 and clean agent types for high hazard areas, 17 kg to 450 kg fully charged (IS 16018 cl. 1.2, 4.1; IS 2190 cl. 6.4.4). IS 16018:2012
Fire extinguisher colour code in India: body red, band by type
Every extinguisher body is red; the band tells the medium. The 2018 standard names yellow for foam, so a cream foam band on a competitor page or an old label is not the current code.
| Band colour | Rated for | |
|---|---|---|
| Water based IS 15683:2018 | Red | Class A |
| Foam IS 15683:2018 | Yellow | Class A and B, as rated |
| Powder IS 15683:2018 | Blue | ABC: A, B, C. BC: B, C. D: metals |
| Carbon dioxide IS 15683:2018 | Black | Class B, and C by B rating |
| Clean agent IS 15683:2018 | Green | As rated, A or B |
| Water mist IS 15683:2018 | Red | As rated |
IS 15683:2018 cl. 10.1: body red to shade 536 or 538 of IS 5; band of about 5 percent of the surface. Colour is the standard's recommendation, so the label's rating letters (cl. 10.2.2.5), not colour alone, say what a unit may be used on. A competitor blog read on 26 October 2026 gives foam as cream: that contradicts the 2018 text.
Which fire extinguisher for electrical, kitchen, car and home fires
Start from what is burning, then read the label for the rating letters and the line that says suitable for live electrical equipment.
If An electrical fire in a panel, appliance or wiring
Use a CO2, powder, clean agent or water mist unit that is marked suitable for energised equipment, never a plain water unit, and cut the power as soon as it is safe so the fire cannot reignite (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7, 7.5.3). IS 2190:2024
If A kitchen fire in a pan or fryer of oil or fat
Use a unit with a Class F rating marked on it (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.6). A water unit throws burning oil; the smallest F rating is 5F (IS 15683 Table 9). IS 15683:2018
If A petrol, solvent or paint fire (Class B)
Use a foam, powder, CO2 or clean agent unit with a B rating such as 21B or 55B (IS 15683 Table 4). Foam on water-soluble liquids needs a nameplate that allows it (IS 2190 cl. 6.4.3). IS 2190:2024
If A fire in a car or other vehicle
IS 2190 excludes vehicles (cl. 1.4), and the vehicle rules for private cars were not confirmed. Flamekite's reading: choose a unit rated for B (fuel) and marked for energised electrical use (wiring), and check its marked working temperature range, since the standard's units work up to 60 °C (cl. 7.1). IS 2190:2024
If A home, with paper, cloth, cooking and wiring
No standard on this page sets a household type. A powder ABC unit carries A, B and C ratings (IS 15683 cl. 4, Table 3 note 1); add an F-rated unit near a deep-fat fryer and keep any unit away from heat sources (IS 2190 cl. 5.11). IS 2190:2024
If A fire in magnesium, aluminium or sodium
Use only a unit marked for Class D; these metals react with water and some other agents (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.4, 8.1.4). IS 15683:2018
Fire extinguisher mistakes: when the wrong type makes a fire worse
Eight mismatches that the standards warn about, and what to do instead.
If Water on live electrical equipment
Use only the four types marked suitable: CO2, powder, clean agent, water mist; de-energise as soon as possible (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7, 7.5.3). IS 2190:2024
If Water on burning cooking oil or a flammable liquid
Class B needs a blanketing effect and Class F needs a unit rated F (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.2, 3.1.5; IS 2190 cl. 6.3.6). IS 15683:2018
If Water or an ordinary powder unit on a metal fire
Class D metals react with water and in certain cases CO2, halogenated hydrocarbons and ordinary powder; use a unit marked D (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.4). IS 15683:2018
If A CO2 unit with a metal horn on live equipment
The standard does not consider metal horns safe on energised electrical equipment; use a unit whose horn is suitable (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7). IS 2190:2024
If AFFF or FFFP foam on a water-soluble liquid such as an alcohol
Do not, unless the nameplate says the foam suits it (IS 2190 cl. 6.4.3). IS 2190:2024
If A clean agent unit used in a shut room
The label warns the agent can produce toxic by-products: evacuate and ventilate the area (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.2.2). IS 15683:2018
If A discharged unit put back on the wall
Recharge immediately after any use, even a short burst (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.1.5; IS 2190 cl. 9). IS 2190:2024
If A locked cabinet or a unit hung above 1.5 m
No locks, except where vandalism is a risk and emergency access exists; top of a unit of 17 kg or less at most 1.5 m (IS 2190 cl. 5.3, 5.8). IS 2190:2024
Fire extinguisher rating 2A, 34B, 5F: what the numbers mean
A rating is a number and a class letter, such as 2A or 34B: the letter is the fire class, and the number is the size of fire the unit has put out in the maker's laboratory test.
IS 15683 requires the letters A, B and C on the unit for the classes it suits, with a number for size such as 2A or 21B (cl. 10.2.2.5). The maker declares the rating from a recognised laboratory's test report (Table 3 note 2); the standard sets only the minimum rating a given charge must reach.
Class C carries no number, because there is no C fire test: a Class B rating may be claimed for C (cl. 8.1.3). Class F ratings start at 5F, and a unit sold for F must also pass a splash test (cl. 8.1.5). A larger number means more fire put out, not a longer reach: for example 2A or higher must discharge for at least 13 seconds and throw at least 2 m, while 1A needs 8 seconds (cl. 7.2.1).
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Powder up to 2 kg | At least 1A (ABC powder) and 21B | IS 15683:2018 |
| Powder over 6 kg and up to 9 kg | At least 4A and 144B; over 9 kg reaches 6A | IS 15683:2018 |
| Water or foam up to 6 L | At least 1A; over 10 L reaches 3A | IS 15683:2018 |
| CO2 up to 2 kg | At least 21B; 5 kg and more reaches 55B; CO2 has no Class A rating | IS 15683:2018 |
| Powder over 2 kg and under 3 kg | At least 34B | IS 15683:2018 |
Fire extinguisher weight and size: portable up to 17 kg, wheeled to 450 kg
Size in India is set by fully charged mass, by the charge of medium inside, and by the pressure the shell must withstand.
17 kg
Maximum fully charged mass of a portable extinguisher (IS 15683 cl. 3.2) IS 15683:2018
450 kg
Maximum fully charged mass of a wheeled extinguisher, minimum above 17 kg (IS 16018 cl. 1.2) IS 16018:2012
1.5 m
Highest point for the top of a unit of 17 kg or less (IS 2190 cl. 5.8) IS 2190:2024
60 °C
Upper working temperature of every unit under IS 15683:2018 (cl. 7.1) IS 15683:2018
19 bar
Service pressure at or below which a unit counts as low pressure (cl. 3.5) IS 15683:2018
35 bar
Lowest test pressure of a low-pressure unit, at 1.43 times its maximum service pressure (cl. 6.1) IS 15683:2018
How many fire extinguishers do you need: four worked examples
Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.
Flamekite's own arithmetic from IS 2190 cl. 7: at least two per floor, one if the floor is under 100 m², and each unit covers a maximum floor area. Details and tables are on the IS 2190 page.
Case 1
A small shop
One floor of 80 m², light hazard
What applies Under 100 m², so one unit is the standard's minimum (cl. 7.2.2); two is the safer plan with two exits. IS 2190:2024
Case 2
A moderate hazard floor
450 m² with stock and packing
What applies At most 150 m² per unit gives 3 units, each at least 3A, within the travel distance on the plan (cl. 7.2, Table 1). IS 2190:2024
Case 3
A high hazard storeroom
250 m² with flammable stock
What applies At most 100 m² per unit gives 3 units, with B and C units rated at least 233B (Table 2). IS 2190:2024
Case 4
A restaurant kitchen
Fryer with a 0.04 m² cooking area
What applies Class F units are sized by cooking area; 15F covers up to 0.05 m², within 10 m (cl. 7.7, Table 3). IS 2190:2024
ISI mark and label check: what a compliant fire extinguisher shows
IS 15683:2018 cl. 10.2 lists what the marking on every unit carries. Eight items are quick to check at purchase or inspection.
- Media type, maker's name, model number, rating and classification of the extinguisher (cl. 10.2.1.1). IS 15683:2018
- A sequential serial number (cl. 10.2.1.2). IS 15683:2018
- The year of manufacture and the factory test pressure, marked permanently into the body or a non-transferable nameplate (cl. 10.2.1.3). IS 15683:2018
- The range of working temperatures, for example from a stated low to 60 °C (cl. 10.2.1.4). IS 15683:2018
- The words Recharge immediately after any use, or for disposable units Discard immediately after any use, or their equivalent (cl. 10.2.1.5). IS 15683:2018
- The gross mass, exact or as a minimum and maximum (cl. 10.2.1.7). IS 15683:2018
- Four numbered pictographs for use, and the use-code symbols only for the fire types the unit is classified for (cl. 10.2.2.4, 10.2.3.2). IS 15683:2018
- The BIS Standard Mark, governed by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. The product standard says the unit may carry it; the 2023 order makes it compulsory for sale (cl. 10.2.1.9; S.O. 3585(E)). Gazette of India
Fire extinguisher ISI mark law: the 2023 Quality Control Order and standards dates
The BIS mark became compulsory for extinguishers by order, and the standards under it were revised in 2018 and 2024.
30 April 2013
IS 16018:2012, the wheeled extinguisher specification, published. BIS standards database
31 December 2018
IS 15683:2018 published, replacing the 2006 edition for portable extinguishers. BIS standards database
9 and 10 August 2023
The Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3585(E), is signed on 9 August and published in the Gazette of India (No. 3431) on 10 August. It takes effect six months after publication, nine months for small and twelve for micro enterprises; export goods are exempt. Gazette of India
20 May 2024
IS 15683:2006 withdrawn; IS 15683:2018 is the current portable specification. BIS standards database
18 October 2024
IS 2190:2024 published, with its life table (Annex G) and an Annex C on the competence of servicing persons. IS 2190:2024
9 April 2025
IS 2190:2010 withdrawn by BIS, though tenders and state lists may still name it. BIS standards database
Fire extinguisher expiry, refilling and testing: the cycle at a glance
The standards give a service life and test cycle rather than a printed expiry date. This is the cycle in brief; the full interval table is on the IS 2190 page.
Check about every 90 days
Seals and tamper indicators intact, unit full by weighing or lifting, no damage or clogged nozzle, gauge in range (IS 2190 cl. 8.3.1; IS 15683 cl. 10.3). The 2024 edition removed the monthly check. IS 2190:2024
Maintain once a year
At least six months apart, and also at hydro test or when a check shows a problem (cl. 8.4.1). IS 2190:2024
Recharge after any use
Even a partial discharge; only the maker or its authorised agent, with dry nitrogen, never compressed air or mixed powders (IS 2190 cl. 9; IS 15683 cl. 10.2.4). IS 2190:2024
Test every 3 or 5 years
Water, foam and cartridge-type units run a 3 year cycle; CO2, stored-pressure powder and clean agent run 5 years. Hydro test pressure is 35 kg/cm² for most types and 225 kg/cm² for CO2 (Annexes E and F). IS 2190:2024
Change the safety device in 5 years
The seal or safety device check and replacement at 5 year maintenance (cl. 8.4.2.1). IS 2190:2024
Retire at 10 or 15 years
Water, foam, powder and clean agent units last 10 years from manufacture and CO2 15 years (Annex G). The year of manufacture is marked on the unit (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.1.3). IS 2190:2024
Cut it across the body
A rejected unit is cut across the body before disposal (cl. 13). IS 2190:2024
Fire extinguisher myths: ABC vs CO2, colour and the gauge
Six beliefs that cost owners money or safety.
You may have read
ABC powder is always better than CO2.
Myth
What the sources say
They suit different jobs. ABC carries A, B and C ratings; CO2 carries a B rating and no Class A rating, so it cannot be relied on for paper or wood (IS 15683 Tables 3, 4). Both can suit energised equipment if marked. IS 15683:2018
You may have read
Class C is the electrical class.
Myth
What the sources say
Class C is flammable gas under pressure. Electrical risk is handled by marking a unit suitable for energised equipment (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.3; IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7). IS 15683:2018
You may have read
Any red cylinder is certified.
Myth
What the sources say
Red is only the recommended body colour. Certification is the BIS mark under the 2023 Quality Control Order (IS 15683 cl. 10.1; S.O. 3585(E)). Gazette of India
You may have read
A needle in the green zone means the unit is fine.
Myth
What the sources say
The gauge is one of four checks on the unit; the others are seals, weight and damage (cl. 10.3). A gauge also needs calibration (IS 2190 cl. 9). IS 15683:2018
You may have read
Buckets of sand or water can replace extinguishers.
Myth
What the sources say
IS 2190's foreword does not recommend fire buckets in place of extinguishers, though they may be added. IS 2190:2024
You may have read
I can top up the powder myself.
Myth
What the sources say
Recharging must be done by the maker or its authorised agent; powders are never mixed and discharged powder is never reused (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.4; IS 2190 cl. 9). IS 2190:2024
Using a fire extinguisher safely: do and do not, in 4 steps and after
A portable unit is for the early stage of a fire and can be used by one or two people (IS 15683 cl. 3.2). Use, then retire it.
Do
- Release the safety device, aim at the base of the fire from the distance on the label, operate, and apply the medium across the burning area, the four pictograph steps of cl. 10.2.2.4. IS 15683:2018
- Pick a unit whose use-code symbols and rating letters match the fire (cl. 10.2.2.5, 10.2.3.2). IS 15683:2018
- De-energise electrical equipment as soon as you can so it does not reignite. IS 2190:2024
- Evacuate and ventilate after a clean agent discharge (cl. 10.2.2.2). IS 15683:2018
- Send every used unit, even a partly used one, to be recharged before it goes back on the wall (cl. 10.2.1.5). IS 15683:2018
Don’t
- Do not treat a portable unit as the answer to a large fire; the standard says it is not expected to deal with large fires (cl. 3.2). IS 15683:2018
- Do not use water on electrical, cooking oil, flammable liquid or metal fires. IS 15683:2018
- Do not use a CO2 unit with a metal horn on live equipment (IS 2190 cl. 6.3.7). IS 2190:2024
- Do not keep soda-acid, chemical foam or CTC units; they are listed as obsolete (Annex D). IS 2190:2024
- Do not mount units out of reach: the top of a 17 kg or lighter unit sits at 1.5 m or lower (cl. 5.8). IS 2190:2024
Check a fire extinguisher standard and its status: 3 BIS addresses
Three official BIS pages cover the standards behind this page. None of them sells extinguishers or lists sellers.
Status
BIS standards database (Know Your Standards)
Shows whether IS 15683, IS 16018 and IS 2190 are current, and which edition was withdrawn and when. BIS standards database
standards.bis.gov.inExplainer
BIS page on fire extinguisher standards
BIS's own explainer on classes A, B, C, D and F, the ISI mark and the 2023 order; it points to the BIS Care app to verify a licence. BIS blog
www.services.bis.gov.in/php/BIS_2.0/BISBlog/standards-on-fire-extinguishersRead the text
BIS standards download
The free download of IS 15683:2018 after registration; change the number to 16018 or 2190 for the other two. IS 15683:2018
standardsbis.bsbedge.com/BIS_SearchStandard.aspx?Standard_Number=15683&id=0
Questions about fire extinguishers in India
What are the types of fire extinguisher in India?
- IS 15683:2018 lists water based, foam, powder (ABC, BC, D), carbon dioxide, clean agent and water mist. Wheeled units under IS 16018 come in water, powder, CO2 and clean agent types.
What is the fire extinguisher colour code?
- The body is red. A band of about 5 percent of the surface shows the type: water red, foam yellow, powder blue, CO2 black, clean agent green, water mist red (IS 15683:2018, cl. 10.1).
Which fire extinguisher is used for an electrical fire?
- CO2, powder, clean agent or water mist types that are tested and marked suitable for energised equipment. Never water, and a CO2 unit with a metal horn is not considered safe (IS 2190:2024, cl. 6.3.7).
Which extinguisher is used on a kitchen fire?
- One with a Class F rating marked on it, for cooking oils and fats. Water makes an oil fire worse (IS 15683 cl. 3.1.5, 8.1.5).
How do I use a fire extinguisher?
- Release the safety device, aim at the base of the fire, operate the unit, and apply the medium across the fire. These are the four pictograph steps every label must show (IS 15683 cl. 10.2.2.4).
ABC vs CO2 fire extinguisher: which is better?
- Neither is better overall. ABC powder is rated for solids, liquids and gases; CO2 has a Class B rating and no Class A rating. Check the label for the class you need and, for live equipment, the suitability mark.
What does 2A or 34B on a fire extinguisher mean?
- The letter is the fire class and the number is the size of fire the unit extinguished in the maker's laboratory test. 2A is a Class A rating; 34B is a Class B rating.
How many fire extinguishers are required?
- At least two per floor, or one if the floor is under 100 m², and each unit may cover at most 300 m² (light hazard), 150 m² (moderate) or 100 m² (high hazard) (IS 2190 cl. 7.2). Your fire officer's NOC conditions may ask for more.
What is the refilling period and expiry of a fire extinguisher?
- There is no printed expiry. The unit is recharged after any use, tested every 3 or 5 years by type, and retired after 10 years (15 for CO2) from manufacture (IS 2190 Annexes E to G).
Is the ISI mark compulsory on fire extinguishers?
- Yes. The Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3585(E), makes BIS certification compulsory for the product, with export goods exempt.
How heavy is a portable fire extinguisher?
- A portable unit is 17 kg or less fully charged. Above 17 kg and up to 450 kg a unit is a wheeled extinguisher under IS 16018.
Keep reading
- Fire extinguisher MCQ45 practice questions, every answer cited to its IS clause.
- IS 2190: selection, installation, maintenanceCounts, travel distances, refill and hydro test intervals, life.
- IS codes for fire safetyThe core fire IS codes, their editions and QCOs.
- Fire AMCHow extinguisher servicing becomes a yearly contract.
- Fire auditHow an auditor checks extinguishers on site.
- Fire NOC for hospitalsExtinguisher duties in a high hazard occupancy.
- Fire NOC for restaurantsClass F and kitchen extinguisher needs.
- Fire NOC for warehousesExtinguishers in storage buildings.
Keep exploring
The codes and laws behind it
Also in Products
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources
- Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 15683:2018, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Performance and Construction, Specification (second revision) (free download after registration) (opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 16018:2012, Wheeled Fire Extinguishers, Performance and Construction, Specification (free download after registration) (opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 2190:2024, Selection, Installation and Maintenance of First-Aid Fire Extinguishers (Portable and Mobile), Code of Practice, fifth revision (free download after registration) (opens in a new tab)
- Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Gazette of India Extraordinary No. 3431, 10 August 2023: Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3585(E), 9 August 2023: IS 15683:2018 and IS 16018:2012 (opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Indian Standards, Know Your Standards database: Status records read 25 October 2026 for IS 2189, IS 2190, IS 15683, IS 16018, IS 3844, IS 13039, IS 15105, IS 15301, IS 9668, IS 12349, IS 3614, IS 2175 and IS 11360 (current or withdrawn, with dates) (opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS 2.0 blog): Standards on fire extinguishers: IS 2190, IS 15683:2018, IS 16018:2012, fire classes A, B, C, D and F, ISI Mark and the Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- Enggpro (trade blog): Fire Extinguishers: The Types and Their Uses (competitor page read for its section count and for the foam band colour it states) (opens in a new tab)
- Studio Matrx (consumer guide): Fire extinguishers India guide (competitor page read for its section count) (opens in a new tab)