Fire Extinguisher Awareness

About this course.

This course raises awareness of the different types of fire extinguisher used in the UK and how to use them safely. Knowing which extinguisher to use on which type of fire — and, just as importantly, when not to tackle a fire at all — can save lives and prevent a small, manageable fire from becoming a disaster. Fire spreads with frightening speed: a small waste-paper-bin fire can fill a room with thick, toxic smoke within two to three minutes, and it is smoke and toxic gases, not flames, that cause the majority of fire deaths in the UK. Acting correctly in the first moments matters enormously. The course explains the fire triangle and how fires are extinguished, the UK fire classification system, the five main types of portable fire extinguisher and exactly what each is used for (and never used for), the BS EN 3 colour-coding system, and how to use an extinguisher safely using the P.A.S.S. technique. It also covers the safe use of fire blankets and the decision of whether to tackle a fire at all.

Throughout, it relates the practice to UK law — principally the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is an awareness course, not a hands-on practical qualification. It gives you the knowledge to make a safe, informed decision and to use the right equipment correctly if you ever need to. It does not replace face-to-face practical training with live extinguishers, which some roles (for example designated fire wardens or marshals) will also require. Above all, remember the single most important rule: in any fire your first priority is always to raise the alarm and get yourself and others to safety. Tackling a fire is always optional and always secondary to your own life.