Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Choosing the right fire extinguisher is more complex than most people realise. You’re weighing up different types, understanding fire classifications and matching the correct extinguisher to your environment. This guide provides practical guidance to help you navigate the fire extinguisher market with confidence, avoid costly mistakes and make decisions that could save lives and property.

Making the right choice requires a systematic evaluation of your environment and fire risks. Use this framework to identify the most suitable extinguisher type for your needs:

Understanding each extinguisher type reveals their strengths and limitations.

One consideration cuts across almost every environment on this list. Lithium-ion batteries are now everywhere: laptops, tablets, smartphones, power tools, e-bikes and scooters. When these batteries fail, they can enter thermal runaway: a self-sustaining reaction that generates intense heat and is notoriously difficult to extinguish with a standard unit. Wherever lithium-ion devices are regularly charged or stored, a specialist lithium-ion extinguisher must be considered.

Homes

Domestic homes benefit most from 1-3 litre water mist extinguishers. They handle the majority of household fire risks including electrical equipment. Add a fire blanket for kitchen areas. Got a deep fat fryer? Include a wet chemical extinguisher alongside the water mist unit.

Offices

Office environments typically require water or foam extinguishers for paper fires paired with CO2 units near server rooms and electrical distribution boards. Position extinguishers along escape routes and near exits.

Commercial Kitchens

You’ll need wet chemical extinguishers rated for your specific fryer capacity. Size depends on the volume of cooking oil you’re dealing with.

Industrial Workshops and Garages

These perform best with dry powder extinguishers. They tackle flammable liquids and gases common in these settings, but adequate ventilation is essential.

Vehicle Protection

This varies by type. Cars and motorcycles suit compact powder extinguishers that fit easily into vehicles. Vans and small trucks benefit from larger powder units. HGVs and vehicles carrying dangerous goods require substantial capacity units with secure mounting.

Marine Applications

You must specify MED-approved extinguishers designed for the harsh marine environment. Powder or CO2 types for engine bays. Water mist for cabin areas.

Server Rooms and Data Centres

These demand CO2 or water mist extinguishers that won’t damage sensitive electronic equipment. We prefer CO2 where equipment density is high.

Schools and Public Buildings

Prioritise water mist extinguishers for their broad-spectrum capability and minimal user risk. They’re non-toxic and safe around children.

Care Homes and Hospitals

You need extinguishers that residents and staff can operate easily. Lighter water mist units are ideal with clear signage and regular training.

Portable fire extinguishers form the foundation of fire safety. But several alternatives address specific challenges.

Fire blankets provide an essential complement in kitchens. They smother small pan fires and provide wrap-around protection for clothing fires. They lack the range and power of extinguishers for larger incidents though.

Automatic extinguishers suit unmanned areas: engine compartments, electrical cabinets and server racks. They activate when temperature thresholds are exceeded without human intervention.

Wheeled extinguishers serve industrial premises, warehouses and car parks where fire loads are substantial. These heavy-duty units typically range from 25kg to 50kg, though larger capacity units are available for high-risk applications. They provide extended discharge times and greater firefighting capacity than portable units.

Need something ultra-compact? Aerosol extinguishers offer protection for vehicles, boats and caravans where space is limited. Their capacity restricts them to very small fires though.

Lithium-ion extinguishers represent new technology. They use Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) to cool battery fires and control thermal runaway. Essential for premises with electric vehicles, e-bikes or significant battery storage.

Fire suppression systems provide automatic protection for commercial kitchens, computer rooms and industrial processes. They detect and suppress fires before they spread.

Stainless steel fire extinguishers combine full functionality with premium aesthetics. They blend into modern offices and hospitality environments and offer complete corrosion resistance.

For landlords managing multiple properties, service-free P50 extinguishers eliminate the administrative burden and cost of coordinating annual maintenance visits across numerous sites.

Fixed installation systems using clean agent technology suit environments where water or powder damage would be catastrophic: museums, archives and telecommunications facilities.

We’ve established ourselves as the UK’s leading fire safety provider through an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, environmental responsibility and technical expertise. With ISO9001 certification, BAFE-certified engineers and membership in the Fire Industry Association, we deliver comprehensive fire safety solutions backed by award-winning customer service.

Our specialist team provides fire risk assessments, free test reminders, and log books. Our 100% renewable electricity operations and innovative service-free extinguisher range demonstrate genuine environmental stewardship. Whether you need a single smoke alarm or a nationwide contract, we combine competitive pricing with technical knowledge that’s secured partnerships with major institutions including the Church of England.

For personalised guidance on selecting the optimal fire extinguishers for your specific needs, contact our expert team. We’ll ensure your fire safety provisions meet both legal requirements and best practice standards.

What do we do to maintain our emergency lighting? It’s a question that doesn’t get asked nearly enough. Emergency lighting maintenance is one of those things nobody prioritises until they really, really need it. The power cuts out and suddenly those glowing green exit signs are the most important things in the building. Not to mention the fact that the law requires you to maintain emergency lighting in your building, and the stakes are higher than most people realise.

Whether you are responsible for a busy office, a bustling shop, a rented property or a sprawling commercial site, this guide covers everything you need to know when it comes to properly maintaining your emergency lighting.

  💡In This Guide

• What Is Emergency Lighting?
• What Is the Purpose of Emergency Lighting?
• Where Is Emergency Lighting Required?
• How Often Should Emergency Lighting Be Tested?
• How to Test Emergency Lighting
• Who Can Test Emergency Lighting?
• What Do We Do to Maintain Our Emergency Lighting?

Emergency lighting is a battery-backed lighting system that activates automatically when the mains power supply fails. Unlike standard light fittings, these do not rely on the grid. They have their own internal power source, so when the likes of a powercut happen, people can still see where they are going.

There are two main types: escape route lighting illuminates the path people need to follow to get out safely, while standby lighting allows normal activities to continue during a power failure. This is most common in places such as hospitals or control rooms where work simply cannot stop. Most systems are either Maintained (on all the time) or non-maintained (only activating when the mains fails). The type you need depends on how your building is used.

💡Where Is Emergency Lighting Required?

Emergency lighting is required anywhere that a loss of mains lighting would put people at risk. In practice, that means most areas of most commercial buildings. The fittings are typically needed in:

• Escape routes, including corridors and stairwells
• Open plan areas where people work or gather
• Changing rooms and toilet facilities above a certain size
• Locations housing fire fighting equipment
• Areas around fire alarm call points
• Any spot containing a hazard that someone might walk into in the dark

That last one is worth thinking about carefully. A poorly lit plant room or a stairwell with an awkward turn can be seriously dangerous without adequate lighting during an emergency.

Most commercial and public buildings will need some form of it. This includes:

• Offices and retail premises
• Schools, hospitals and care homes
• Hotels and leisure facilities
• Places of worship
• HMOs and buildings with shared communal areas

If you are unsure, a professional fire risk assessment for your premises is the right way to establish your specific requirements. Standard single-occupancy homes are generally exempt, but properties with shared areas, such as blocks of flats, will almost certainly need it in common parts like corridors and stairwells.  

Emergency lighting should be tested more often than most people realise. Emergency lighting is not a fit-and-forget installation; it needs regular, documented testing to remain compliant and, more importantly, to actually work when it is needed.

BS 5266-1:2025 (the British Standard that governs emergency lighting, updated in October 2025 to replace the previous 2016 edition) sets out a clear schedule. Here is what it looks like:

The monthly test is a quick check to confirm the system activates. The annual test is the proper stress test; it runs the batteries down to their full rated duration to confirm they can sustain the system when it counts.

Some modern systems come with self-testing functionality, where each luminaire carries out its own checks automatically and logs the results. For larger sites, this can be a genuine time-saver and is well worth considering.  

Good emergency lighting maintenance comes down to a consistent process, carried out by people who know what they are looking for every single time.

Here is what a solid regime looks like in practice:

• Monthly: A short functional test confirms all luminaires and exit signs activate correctly. Results go into the log book the same day.
• Annually: A full rated discharge test is completed, batteries are assessed, any faults are repaired and the system is certified as compliant with BS 5266-1.
• Ongoing: Any faults spotted during routine checks are dealt with promptly. A dim luminaire, a cracked fitting or a failing exit sign LED should never be left for the next scheduled test. Emergency lighting faults are not the kind of thing to add to a to-do list and forget about.

It’s also worth carrying out a visual inspection as part of your regular fire safety walkround. Fittings should be clean, undamaged, unobstructed and positioned correctly. If someone has moved a cabinet in front of an exit sign, or a new partition has been put up that leaves a dark patch in an escape route, those problems need fixing outside of the formal test schedule.

Keeping Records

This deserves its own mention, because it is the part that most often gets overlooked. A testing log is not a bureaucratic formality, but your evidence of compliance. Without it you have very little to show anyone who asks.

Your log should record every test carried out: the date and time, the name of the person responsible, the outcome and any remedial actions taken. Safelincs offers free fire safety log books to help with exactly this, ready for download instantly.

A system that has not been tested, has failing batteries or leaves dark spots in an escape route is a real risk to real people. The good news is that maintaining it properly is not complicated. A clear testing schedule, a reliable log book and competent people carrying out the checks will cover the vast majority of what you need.

If you need support, whether that is sourcing the right emergency lighting fittings and luminaires, getting clarity on your legal obligations or arranging a fire risk assessment, the Safelincs team is here and genuinely happy to help. Feel free to get in touch and we’ll answer any query you may have.  

You may not realise it, but lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are everywhere. Your phone, your laptop, the power drill in the garage, your kid’s e-scooter – they all run on the same rechargeable technology. Most of the time, they’re perfectly safe. When something goes wrong, however, the fire risk is a very different beast to anything we’ve traditionally dealt with. So, can you extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire? And if so, how? Let’s take a look at what fire safety technology exists to help.

This is a question that’s had the fire safety industry scratching its head for years, simply because it’s not always been clear. Traditionally, fires are split into classes based on the fuel type: Class A for solids, Class B for flammable liquids, Class D for metals, and so on. Lithium-ion battery fires never sat neatly in any of these boxes.

Unlike conventional fires, a Class L fire is driven by electrochemical reactions happening inside the battery, not just surface combustion. The battery essentially becomes its own fuel source, which is what makes it so tricky to deal with. While Class L does not currently create new UK legal duties on its own, it does mean your fire risk assessment should now explicitly consider the presence of lithium-ion batteries. If it doesn’t, it’s likely out of date.

Given that Class L fires are self-oxygenating and can reignite even after appearing extinguished, the goal shifts from “put it out” to “cool it down and contain it.” There are now products specifically designed for exactly that.

Lithium-Ion Fire Extinguishers

There are two types of extinguisher designed specifically for li-ion battery fires.

The Lithco LB6 Fire Extinguisher is a water-based extinguisher containing a special additive called P Foam. Unlike standard water extinguishers, the agent in the LB6 is designed to penetrate through the outer casing of an electrical device and reach the battery itself. It’s been rigorously third-party tested up to 360Wh battery capacity and is proven effective on li-ion fires in handheld devices, laptops and power tools. It’s also safe to use on live electrical equipment up to 1,000V, and handles Class A fires too, making it a versatile unit to have around.

The second type uses an Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) agent. Rather than simply suppressing flames, AVD works by surrounding the burning battery cells and forming a crust around the device, cutting off the fire and acting as a physical barrier that stops it spreading beyond the battery or device itself.

AVD extinguishers are increasingly the recommended choice for lithium-ion fire risks. Compact aerosol versions are well suited to home and workshop use, while larger AVD extinguishers can replace an entire commercial fire point, handling the same risks covered by water and CO2 units as well as Class L lithium-ion fires.

Worth noting: neither type of li-ion extinguisher is suitable for electric car fires. The sheer quantity of extinguishing agent needed makes that a job for the fire service.

If your assessment doesn’t currently account for Class L hazards, now is a good time to revisit it. If you’re not sure what equipment you need, our team at Safelincs is on hand to help, just get in touch via live chat or give us a call.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. It does not constitute professional fire safety advice. Always consult a qualified fire safety professional and follow the latest UK regulations, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, when assessing fire risks or selecting fire safety equipment.  

A class A fire is a fire involving solid combustible materials, such as wood, paper, textiles, cardboard or plastics. These are the most common types of fire in both domestic and commercial settings. The right extinguisher, used promptly and correctly, can bring a class A fire under control before it spreads. Browse suitable options in our foam fire extinguishers category.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key takeaways:

• A class A fire involves solid combustible materials such as wood, paper, textiles and cardboard
• Class A fires are the most common fire type in homes and workplaces
• Water, water-mist, foam and dry powder extinguishers are all rated for use on class A fires
• CO2 extinguishers are not suitable for class A fires
• Class A fires can start and spread quickly if combustible materials are left near ignition sources
• Reducing combustible material in a space is one of the most effective ways to lower class A fire risk

We stock a full range of fire safety equipment at Safelincs. If you want to make sure you’re prepared, take a look at our P50 Water Mist fire extinguisher and browse our complete range to find the right extinguisher for you.  

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. It does not constitute professional fire safety advice. Always consult a qualified fire safety professional and follow the latest UK regulations, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, when assessing fire risks or selecting fire safety equipment.  

A class B fire is a fire involving flammable liquids, such as petrol, diesel, paint, solvents or methylated spirits. These fires are common in garages, workshops, industrial premises and anywhere flammable liquids are stored or used. The right extinguisher, used correctly, can suppress a class B fire effectively. You can browse suitable options in our CO2 fire extinguishers category.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key takeaways:

• A class B fire involves flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, paint and solvents
• Class B fires are distinct from other fire classifications, which cover solids, gases and electrical hazards
• CO2 and foam extinguishers are the most effective types for class B fires
• Water extinguishers must never be used on a class B fire
• Class B fires are most common in garages, workshops and industrial environments
• Proper storage of flammable liquids is the most important step in preventing class B fires

We stock a full range of fire safety equipment at Safelincs. If you want to make sure you’re covered, take a look at our Ultrafire 2kg CO2 fire extinguisher and browse our complete range to find the right extinguisher for your needs.  

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. It does not constitute professional fire safety advice. Always consult a qualified fire safety professional and follow the latest UK regulations, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, when assessing fire risks or selecting fire safety equipment.  

A class C fire is a fire involving flammable gases, such as methane, propane, butane or hydrogen. These fires are common in domestic, commercial and industrial environments where gas is present. The safest first step is to shut off the gas supply, if it’s safe to do so. You can find suitable extinguishers in our dry powder fire extinguishers category.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key takeaways:

• A class C fire involves flammable gases such as methane, propane and butane
• Class C fires are distinct from other fire classifications, which cover solids, liquids and electrical hazards
• Isolating the gas supply is the priority before attempting to extinguish a class C fire
• Dry powder extinguishers are the main extinguisher type used on class C fires
• Water and foam extinguishers must never be used on class C fires
• Preventing class C fires relies on regular maintenance of gas appliances and pipework

We stock a full range of fire safety equipment at Safelincs. If you want to make sure you’re prepared, take a look at our 1kg dry powder fire extinguisher and browse the rest of our range today.