Water Fire Extinguishers

Water fire extinguishers should not be used on live electrical equipment unless they have been di-electrically tested and shown to be suitable for use on electrical equipment up to 1000 volts. Water mist extinguishers contain only de-ionised water, making them safe to use on live electrical equipment up to 1000V at a distance of 1m. 

Look for the 'safe for use on electrical equipment' symbol on the extinguisher label to confirm that it has been adequately tested.

The law requires that all fire extinguishers in commercial and public buildings be serviced at least once a year by a qualified technician. This annual servicing must be conducted by a competent person, typically from a professional fire protection company accredited by a recognised body, such as the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE). 

For water, foam, and powder extinguishers, you'll need to arrange an extended service every 5 years. Between professional services, you should conduct monthly visual checks yourself to ensure the extinguisher hasn't been tampered with, the pressure gauge reads normally, and there's no visible damage.

Water fire extinguishers are suitable for use on fires involving solid combustibles, such as wood, paper, fabrics and other class A fire risks. The water cools the fire and extinguishes it, penetrating burning fabrics and deep into the core of the fire.

However, water fire extinguishers should not be used on anything that isn't a class A fire - this means never use them on flammable liquids like petrol or oil, cooking oil fires, or gas fires. Using a water extinguisher on Class B, C, D, and Class F fires is ineffective and may worsen the fire.

Water fire extinguishers are non-toxic and contain no harmful chemicals. This makes them safe for use in kitchens, in areas where children or pets are present, and near vulnerable adults. Unlike powder or foam extinguishers that can leave messy residue, water extinguishers create no harmful aftermath. 

Water mist fire extinguishers contain only de-ionised water, making them non-toxic and safe to use around children and animals. They leave no messy residue to clean up after discharge. This makes them an excellent choice for homes, schools, and care facilities where safety around vulnerable people is a priority.

Water mist extinguishers contain water, but what makes water mist different from standard water extinguishers is that the nozzle on the extinguisher disperses 'dry' water mist particles at a microscopic scale. Water mist fire extinguishers provide the best broad-spectrum solution for landlords. Water mist can tackle most common fire risks in the home and is dielectric tested for use on live electrical equipment up to 1000V at a distance of 1m. 

Standard water extinguishers create a continuous stream, whilst water mist creates fine droplets that cool fires more efficiently and safely. Water mist extinguishers are versatile, multi-purpose fire extinguishers capable of tackling the most common types of fires, including those involving live electrical equipment, making them more effective than traditional water extinguishers.

For specific applications, consider our 6-litre UltraFire water extinguisher for smaller areas or the robust 9-litre stainless steel water extinguisher for larger commercial environments.

A water fire extinguisher is designed to tackle solid combustible fires in buildings. It is a standard choice for schools, offices, care homes, retail premises and residential properties (anywhere that wood, paper, textiles and similar materials present the greatest everyday fire risk).

Water fire extinguishers are red. In the UK, all fire extinguisher bodies are red as standard. The label panel on a water extinguisher is also red: the colour code assigned to water under BS EN 3. This makes it the only extinguisher type where both the body and panel share the same colour.

Water fire extinguishers should be used on anything that is a class A fire such as fires involving solid combustibles, e.g. paper and wood. Water extinguishers should not be used on Class B, C, D and class F fires – they won't be effective and could make the fire worse.

It is safe to use water extinguishers on live electrical equipment if they have been di-electrically tested, and therefore shown to be suitable to use on electrical equipment up to 1000 volts.

Water extinguishers are the right choice when solid combustible materials are the source of the fire and there is no risk of flammable liquids, cooking oil or live electrical equipment being present. If in doubt about the fire type, evacuate and call 999 rather than attempting to fight the fire.

A water fire extinguisher is a stored-pressure device containing water under compressed air or nitrogen. When you squeeze the handle, pressurised water is forced through the hose and nozzle toward the fire. Most models deliver a focused jet stream, allowing precise targeting of burning material at the seat of the fire.