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We all hope we never have to use one, but fire extinguishers are incredibly important devices to own – whether this is in your house, your place of work, a holiday home, or something like a caravan or campervan. In certain instances, you also have a legal obligation to keep these units and make them easily accessible. Having an extinguisher available gives you peace of mind and allows you to react should the need ever arise. If you do not currently own one, we have selected seven of the top models available on the market.
How We Compared Fire Extinguishers
To find the right fire extinguishers, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Extinguishing Method
- Size
- Ease of Use
- Certifications
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
Fire Extinguisher Reviews
Premium FSS UK 1 KG (Editor’s Choice)
For flexibility to deal with multiple types of fires and additional problems, this device and its included fire blanket are an ideal choice. It is an ABC solution and can extinguish combustible material, flammable liquids, and electrical fires.
We like the simple and easy-to-use design of the Premium FSS UK Fire Extinguisher, as the instructions are clearly printed on the side. Moreover, it has a pressure gauge on the top to show how much operating force you have left.
Aside from the device, you receive a high-quality 1m x 1m fire blanket, too, which can help greatly in dangerous situations. The device is BSI Kitemarked, and the fire blanket is CE marked, meaning they are reliable and have been diligently tested. In terms of size, it has a 1kg dry powder capacity and includes a wall mounting bracket.
Pros:
- Works on Class A, B, and C materials
- It has an ample dry powder capacity of 1kg
- Includes a certified fire blanket for extra protection
- Suitable for home, mobile van, car, caravan, and kitchen use
- Kitemarked and EN3 approved
Cons:
- The initial packaging could be damaged
- Some customers may have reported the fire blanket missing
Firexo 6 Litre (Luxury Choice)
The versatility this device offers could be a potential lifesaver for home and office use. It can extinguish all types of fires, including Class A, B, C, D, E, and F. Combine this with the generous 6-litre capacity, and it is essentially your one-stop fire protection unit.
The Firexo Extinguisher’s contents are made from all-natural ingredients that are safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Therefore you don’t have to worry as much about contamination.
We also like the simple design, which includes a pressure gauge on the top and a hook on one side that allows you to hang the device safely if needed. Due to the wide range of fires covered, it is ideal for larger family homes, restaurants, and medium to larger-sized offices.
Pros:
- Works on every fire class from A to F
- Huge 6L capacity for great longevity
- Made with natural ingredients for a reduced environmental impact
- Recommended for larger homes and small businesses
- Includes a gauge to show the remaining capacity
Cons:
- It could be quite heavy to move and lift
- Some of the instructions relating to the tags could be confusing
AA 950g AA1547 (Best Value)
This small but effective model is a great choice to keep in your vehicle, as it has a narrow chassis that could potentially fit inside a glove compartment or boot, for example. Combine this with its BC class operation, and you have a flexible device.
The AA Fire Extinguisher has a decent powder capacity of 950g and can handle electrical, gas, and flammable liquid fires. Moreover, it is BSI Certified to BS6165 2002 and Kitemarked for your peace of mind.
The instructions are printed on the device’s chassis and delivered with secure wrapping to protect the head and nozzle. We also like that it includes a simple plastic mounting bracket to secure it in your vehicle.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight for use in cars and boats
- BC powder works on flammable gas, liquid, and electrical fires
- BSI Certified to BS6165 2002 and Kitemarked
- It also includes a plastic mounting bracket
- Decent discharge distance of 2-3 metres
Cons:
- The mounting bracket could be a little brittle
- Some customers may have reported damaged carrying straps
LifeSafe Technologies (Best for Practicality)
This handheld aerosol design is fantastic if you want a portable extinguisher to take on-site or in your home workshop and don’t have much space. It essentially looks like a spray can, and you could easily store it in a toolbox or drawer for quick access.
The LifeSafe Technologies Fire Extinguisher has a quick action mechanism – simply remove the cap and spray the contents over a fire. It works within seconds and is suitable for electrical, cooking oil, textile, petrol, and paper fires.
We also like the non-toxic composition and environmentally friendly design of the contents, which helps reduce external damage. Moreover, the casing itself is made from recyclable materials. This is a versatile and much more convenient product to carry than a traditional metal upright fire extinguisher.
Pros:
- Works using an aerosol extinguishing method
- It can put out five different types of fires
- A simple and effective operation to use in seconds
- The fluid is non-toxic and environmentally friendly
- Compact handheld size to place in cars and work vans
Cons:
- It may not be suitable as your main home extinguisher
- You might need multiple bottles for larger fires
Kidde KS1KG (Best for Versatility)
This device has a brilliant 4-metre discharge range for safe usage, so you can operate it without exposing yourself to heat and fire. Additionally, it offers a continuous ejection time of 8 seconds before it has to build up pressure again.
The Kidde KS1KG Fire Extinguisher has a capacity of 1kg and is a dry powder unit that can tackle Class A, B, and C fires. As a result, it is suitable for portable use in vehicles, holiday homes, caravans, and small offices, for example.
It is BSI certified to BS EN3 and CE tested and certified. There is a pressure gauge attached to the nozzle for operation, and simple instructions are printed on the side, together with what you can use it for. If you intend to keep it in a static position, this fire extinguisher also comes with a mounting bracket.
Pros:
- Suitable for Class A, B, and C fires
- It has a pressure gauge so you can see the remaining contents
- Excellent 4-metre discharge range for improved safety
- BSI Certified to BS EN3 standards
- Decent discharge duration of 8 seconds
Cons:
- The mounting bracket might not be easy to install
- The bracket may not fit on the extinguisher
Smartwares FEX-15112 (Best for Sturdiness)
This fire extinguisher is excellent for quick and convenient usage due to the clearly printed instructions on the side. They show what types of fire the device is suitable for, together with a usage guide and all relevant certification marks.
The Smartwares FEX-15112 is a dry powder model classified for use on ABC fires – combustible materials, flammable liquids, and gases. As a result, it is great for offices or as a portable device in cars or caravans, thanks to its compact size.
This product is BSI certified, too, which gives you peace of mind. It comes with a wall bracket and mounting materials that allows it to be free-standing or mounted on a wall. In terms of usage, there is also a pressure gauge, which complies with all European legal and regulatory requirements.
Pros:
- It can be used on ABC fires (combustible, flammable liquids and gases)
- Small size for transport in cars and caravans
- It includes a wall bracket for secure installation
- BSI Certified
- Instructions available in English, Spanish, and Italian
Cons:
- It could be a little heavy to lift
- Some customers may have reported a faulty pressure gauge
FireShield Small (Best for Ease of Use)
If you want a fire extinguisher that you can take on your travels, such as in a car, motorhome, campervan or boat, this device’s small size and functionality are perfect. It is compact enough to fit inside a car boot or cupboard, for example.
The FireShield Small Powder Fire Extinguisher has an ample capacity of 1kg which should be enough for multiple occursions. Furthermore, it can tackle Class A, B, and C fires. On the top, a gauge shows when the device is ready and how much substance is left inside.
In terms of authentication, it is Kitemarked to BS EN3 and CE certified. We also like that the instructions are clearly printed on the side and that if you want to install it inside, a mounting bracket is included, providing extra stability.
Pros:
- Ideal for use in cars, taxis, vans, motorhomes, caravans
- Works with Class A, B, and C fires
- Excellent 1kg dry powder capacity
- It also includes a mounting rack
- Kitemarked to BS EN3 and CE Certified
Cons:
- Some customers might have reported damaged tops
- The safety pin may be initially broken
How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher
As you can see from above, there are many different designs of fire extinguishers – they all perform the same primary function, but how they do this and their practicality vary greatly. This can make selecting a suitable device difficult. To help, we have written a buying guide below with key considerations to look at.
Extinguishing Method
Several methods are used for these devices, including dry powder, water, water mist, AFFF foam, CO2 and wet chemicals. It is important to research these different materials as they can have drastically varying effectiveness against numerous burning threats.
For example, a water-based extinguisher is only really useful for putting out fires on solid combustibles. In contrast, dry powder can work on solid combustibles, flammable liquids and gasses. Consider your safety and look at which type of device you would prefer.
Size
The size of the fire extinguisher is also vital in terms of the device’s extinguishing capacity and physical dimensions.
Firstly, these items typically state a capacity in terms of kg or litre – this relates to the substance inside that is used to put out fires. For example, a 1kg dry-powder model contains approximately 1kg of material to squirt out of the pipe – the larger the number, the more theoretical fire the device can extinguish.
Secondly, look at the physical dimensions of the unit. This trait is important so you can store it conveniently and within regulations, if you buy it for a workplace.
Ease of Use
Next, we recommend looking at the ease of use of the extinguisher. Virtually all of these devices have safety features to prevent accidental operation, making them tricky to wield.
Look at the operation and see if you think it would be suitable. Furthermore, once you have made a purchase, we advise watching instruction videos so that you are 100% clear on how it works in an emergency.
Certifications
Lastly, we would only recommend using fire extinguishers with some certification. These are potential life-saving items, and thus corners should not be cut.
Firstly, look at what Class materials they are certified to use. Secondly, check for Kitemarked approvals and British Standard CE certification. Ideally, the product should have undergone intense testing too.
Summary
Our top pick is the Premium FSS UK Fire Extinguisher due to its versatility, excellent certification credentials, and large capacity. This device can put out fires on Class A, B, and C materials and has an ample dry powder volume of 1kg. Additionally, it has an 8A/21B rating, is Kitemarked EN3 approved, and the included fire blanket is built to British Standard and CE marked. We also like the wall bracket so that you can conveniently hang it in your place of work or home.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.