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About portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers
Portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers contain substances that are discharged in a rapid stream to extinguish a small fire. These may include:
- water
- wet chemical
- foam
- powder.
Non-aerosol fire extinguishers can be refillable or non-refillable and can put out different types of fires, such as cooking oil or electrical fires.
They are usually hand-held and red in colour, with a coloured band that indicates the type of fire they are used for.
Risks and injuries from the product
You can suffer serious burns if a fire extinguisher fails to operate when there is a fire.
Incorrect labelling can also lead to the wrong type of fire extinguisher being used for a fire. This can cause a fire to spread and may cause serious burns.
Things to look for when buying the product
People can suffer serious burns if a portable non-aerosol fire extinguisher fails.
For this reason, there’s a mandatory standard that suppliers and retailers must comply with. These extinguishers must comply with the portable non-aerosol fire extinguisher mandatory standard.
There is currently no mandatory standard covering fire extinguishers intended for use on lithium-ion battery fires.
Fire extinguishers intended for use on lithium-ion battery fires should only be used by trained professionals and are not safe for the general public to use.
- Always buy and use the correct type of fire extinguisher for the job.
- Check the kind of fire/s that the extinguisher can put out. Portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers must state what type of fire they can be used for.
How to use the product safely
- Follow the user instructions listed on the fire extinguisher.
- Only use a fire extinguisher to fight a fire in its early stages. In any case of emergency call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
