It’s been a year since changes to the Ontario Fire Code required an upgrade in fire extinguishers used on fuel-fired industral lift trucks and in battery charging areas. Most of our clients are now in compliance but some confusion remains.
Prior to November 2007, battery charging areas and fuel-fired forklifts (gas, propane, diesel) were required to be equipped with fire extinguishers with a minimum rating of 1A:5:BC. Changes to the regulations now require a minimum rating of 2A:30:BC. Manufacturers do not (yet) build a 2A:30:BC. The fire code requires a fire extinguisher that does not exist; hence the confusion. To meet the code you now have to exceed it and use the next available size up which is a 3A:40:BC. This unit is physically twice the size of the original 1A:5:BC with 8 times more fire fighting capability.
The chart below provides an explanation of (A,B,C) fire extinguisher ratings.
| FIRE CLASS |
GEOMETRIC SYMBOL |
PICTOGRAM |
INTENDED USE |
MNEMONIC
|
| A |
GREEN TRIANGLE |
Garbage can and wood pile burning |
Ordinary solid combustibles
|
Think "A" for anything that leaves ash |
| B |
RED SQUARE |
Gasoline can with a burning puddle |
Flammable liquids and gases
|
Think "B" for anything in a barrel - gas, oil etc ... |
| C |
BLUE CIRCLE |
Electric plug with a burning outlet |
Energized electrical equipment |
Think "C" for current |
Ratings are described using numbers preceding the class letter, such as 1A:5:BC. The number preceding the A multiplied by 1.25 gives the equivalent extinguishing capability in gallons of water. The number preceding the B indicates the size of fire in square feet that an ordinary user should be able to extinguish. There is no additional rating for class C, as it only indicates that the extinguishing agent will not conduct electricity, and an extinguisher will never have a rating of just C.
click here to view/print the Ontario Fire Code regarding Lift Trucks
REMEMBER THE P.A.S.S. PRINCIPLE
Pull the Pin at the top of the extinguisher.
Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames
Squeeze the lever slowly.
Sweep from side to side.