BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

3-1:1996

Portable fire
extinguishers —
Part 1: Description, duration of
operation, Class A and B fire test

The European Standard EN 3-1:1996 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 13.220.30
BS EN 3-1:1996

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to Technical

Committee FSH/2, Fire extinguishers, upon which the following bodies were
represented:

Association of Metropolitan Authorities

British Compressed Gases Association
British Fire Protection Systems Association
British Fire Services’ Association
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers’ Association
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Fire Brigades Union
Fire Extinguishing Trades Association
Home Office
Institution of Fire Engineers
London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
Loss Prevention Council
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.
Trades Union Congress

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Health and
Environment Sector Board,
was published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes
into effect on Amendments issued since publication
15 May 1996

© BSI 11-1999
Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference FSH/2
Draft for comment 93/301889 DC

ISBN 0 580 25853 X

 BS EN 3-1:1996

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
Text of EN 3-1 3
List of references Inside back cover

© BSI 11-1999 i
BS EN 3-1:1996

National foreword

This British Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee FSH/2 and is
the English language version of EN 3-1:1995 Portable fire extinguishers —
Part 1: Description, duration of operation, class A and B fire test published by the
European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
EN 3-1 was produced as a result of international discussion in which the
United Kingdom took an active part.
Together with BS EN 3-2 to BS EN 3-6, BS 7863 and BS 78671) it supersedes
BS 5423:1987 which will be withdrawn on January 1st 1997.
The Parts of BS EN 3: Portable fire extinguishers are as follows:
— Part 1: Description, duration of operation, class A and B fire test;
— Part 2: Tightness, dielectric test, tamping test, special provisions;
— Part 3: Construction, resistance to pressure, mechanical tests;
— Part 4: Charges, minimum required fire;
— Part 5: Specification and supplementary tests;
— Part 6: Provisions for the attestation of conformity of portable fire
extinguishers in accordance with EN 3-1 to EN 3-5.

Cross-references
Publication referred to Corresponding British Standard
BS EN 3: Portable fire extinguishers
EN 3-2:1996 Part 2:1996 Tightness, tamping test, special provisions
EN 3-4:1996 Part 4:1996 Charges, minimum required fire
EN 3-5:1996 Part 5:1996 Specifications and supplementary tests
ISO 657-1:1989 BS 4848 Hot-rolled structural steel sections
Part 4:1972 Equal and unequal angles

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 10, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

1)
In preparation.

ii © BSI 11-1999
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 3-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
February 1996
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

ICS 13.220.30 Supersedes EN 3-1:1975

Descriptors: Fire fighting, fire equipment, fire extinguishers, movable extinguishers, portable equipment, designation, loads, forces,
operating time, standard fire places, tests, effectiveness, testing conditions

English version

Portable fire extinguishers — Part 1: Description, duration

of operation, class A and B fire test

Extincteurs d’incendie portatifs — Tragbare Feuerlöscher —

Partie 1: Appellation, durée de fonctionnement, Teil 1: Benennung, Funktionsdauer,
foyers-types des classes A et B Prüfobjekte der Brandklassen A und B

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1995-09-14. CEN members

are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1996 All rights of reproduction and communication in any form and by any means reserved to CEN and
its members.
Ref. No. EN 3-1:1996 E
EN 3-1:1996

Foreword Contents
This European Standard was prepared by Technical Page
Committee CEN/TC 70, Manual means of fire Foreword 2
fighting equipment, the secretariat of which is held
1 Scope 3
by IBN.
2 Normative references 3
This European Standard supersedes EN 3-1:1975.
3 Definitions 3
This European Standard is one Part of EN 3
prepared by CEN/TC 70. 3.1 Extinguisher 3
This European Standard EN 3 consists of 6 Parts 3.2 Portable extinguisher 3
and has the generic title Portable fire extinguishers 3.3 Extinguishing medium 3
and the following different subtitles: 3.4 Charge of an extinguisher 3
— Part 1: Description, duration of operation, 3.5 Duration of operation 3
class A and B fire test;
4 Description of an extinguisher 3
— Part 2: Tightness, dielectric test, tamping test,
5 Specifications and tests of
special provisions;
extinguishers 3
— Part 3: Construction, resistance to pressure,
mechanical tests; 6 Duration of operation and
residual charge 3
— Part 4: Charges, minimum required fire;
6.1 Duration of operation 3
— Part 5: Specification and supplementary tests;
6.2 Residual charge 4
— Part 6: Provisions for the attestation of
6.3 Commencement of discharge 4
conformity of portable fire extinguishers in
accordance with EN 3-1 to EN 3-5. 7 Efficiency tests 4
This European Standard shall be given the status of 7.1 General 4
a national standard, either by publication of an 7.2 Class A fire tests 4
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by 7.3 Class B fire tests 4
August 1996, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 1997. Annex A (normative) Duration
of operation test 5
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, the national standards organizations Annex B (normative) Test fire 5
of the following countries are bound to implement Annex C (normative) Measurement
this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, of moisture content of wood 9
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Figure B.1 — Front view (identical
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, for all test fires) 7
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Figure B.2 — Side view (variable
the United Kingdom. according to size of fire). Example
of class A fire — fire 13A 8
Table 1 4
Table B.1 5
Table B.2 5
Table B.3 9

2 © BSI 11-1999
 EN 3-1:1996

1 Scope 3.4
charge of an extinguisher
This standard specifies the characteristics of
description, of duration of operation, of residual mass or volume of the extinguishing agent
charge and of the efficiency test applicable to contained in the extinguisher. The charge of
portable fire extinguishers. appliances based on water is expressed in volume
(litres) and that of other appliances in mass
2 Normative references (kilograms)
This European Standard incorporates by dated or 3.5
undated references, provisions from other duration of operation
publications. These normative references are cited the time during which the extinguishing agent is
at the appropriate places in the text and the discharged, without any interruption in the
publications are listed hereafter. For dated discharge and with valve fully opened not including
references, subsequent amendments to or revisions the residual propellant gas
of any of these publications apply to this European
Standard only when incorporated in it by 4 Description of an extinguisher
amendment or revision. For undated references the
An extinguisher shall be described by the type of
latest edition of the publication referred to applies.
extinguishing medium it contains. At present, there
EN 3-2:1995, Portable fire extinguisher — are:
Part 2: Tightness, tamping test, special provisions.
— water type extinguishers;
EN 3-4:1995, Portable fire extinguisher —
— foam type extinguishers;
Part 4: Charges, minimum required fire.
— powder type extinguishers;
EN 3-5:1995, Portable fire extinguisher —
Part 5: Specifications and supplementary tests. — carbon dioxide type extinguishers;
ISO 657-1:1989, Hot rolled steel sections — — halogenated hydrocarbon type extinguishers.
Part 1: Equal leg angles, Dimensions. Halons employed in extinguishers shall comply with
ISO 4470:1981, Sawn timber: determination of the the regulations in force in the country in which the
average moisture content of a lot. appliances are to be used.

3 Definitions 5 Specifications and tests of

extinguishers
For the purposes of this standard the following
definitions apply. Extinguishers for testing shall be stored for at
least 24 h at a temperature of 20 °C ± 5 °C before
3.1
the tests are carried out and shall be maintained
extinguisher
within this temperature range until tested.
appliance containing an extinguishing agent which
Prior to this storage period, all powder type
can be expelled by the action of internal pressure
extinguishers shall be prepared in accordance with
and be directed on to a fire. This pressure may be clause 5 of EN 3-2:1995, except for the tests defined
stored pressure or by the release of an auxiliary gas in clause 3 of EN 3-5:1995.
3.2
portable extinguisher 6 Duration of operation and residual
extinguisher which is designed to be carried and charge
operated by hand and which in working order has a 6.1 Duration of operation
mass of not more than 20 kg
6.1.1 Minimum duration
3.3
extinguishing medium The duration of operation shall be greater than or
equal to the appropriate value given in Table 1
the substance contained in the extinguisher which when the extinguisher is tested according
causes extinction to Annex A.

© BSI 11-1999 3
EN 3-1:1996

Table 1 For extinguishers which are activated by a single

Charge (X) of the extinguishing Minimum duration of operation (in accordance with 4.1 of EN 3-5:1995) of
medium contained operation the control valve, the discharge of the extinguishing
kg or l s medium shall commence within 4 s of the control
valve being opened.
Xk3 6
3<Xk6 9 7 Efficiency Tests
6 < X k 10 12 7.1 General
10 < X 15 An extinguisher satisfies the requirements when
NOTE See Table 4 EN 3-4:1995, for minimum duration two fire tests of a series are extinguished. A series is
requirements related to fire rating. complete after three fires, or when the first two fires
are extinguished or not. Each series shall be
6.1.2 Spread of measurements completed before the next is commenced. There is no
The duration of operation of each extinguisher shall restriction on the number of series that may be
not be less than ± 15 % of the mean value when carried out on the same type of extinguisher without
three extinguishers are tested in accordance modifications, but a series consists of consecutive
with Annex A. fires and results shall not be discounted (see B.1).
6.2 Residual charge 7.2 Class A fire tests
The residual charge of extinguishing medium shall The class A fire test rating shall be determined in
not be more than 10 % of the nominal charge when accordance with B.2.
tested in accordance with Annex A. Prior to the fire test, the moisture content of the
6.3 Commencement of discharge wood shall be checked in accordance with Annex C.
For stored pressure units, the discharge of the 7.3 Class B fire tests
extinguishing medium agent shall commence Class B fire test shall be achieved in accordance
within 1 s of the control-valve being opened. with B.3.

4 © BSI 11-1999
 EN 3-1:1996

Annex A (normative) To provide adequate support for the wooden sticks

Duration of operation test for fires larger than 13A, metal cross members shall
be added to the frame positioned as for 8A and 13A
NOTE See 6.1.1.
fires.
A.1 Method of Test
For example a 21A frame shall have cross members
Hold the extinguisher in its normal working positioned 800 mm from each end.
position (i.e. hand-held) and keep it immobile for the
The wooden sticks shall be of Pinus silvestris
duration of the test.
containing 10 % to 15 % of moisture by mass; they
For those extinguishers supplied with a trigger and shall be sawn and of square section of
an independent activation system, pressurize when side (39 ± 2) mm. The density of the wood shall
the trigger is closed. Open this trigger 6 s after the be 0,40 kg/dm3 to 0,65 kg/dm3.
commencement of pressurization of the equipment.
The wooden sticks are to be stacked in fourteen
For extinguishers which are activated by a single layers on the metal frame, as shown in Figure B.1
operation (see 4.1 of prEN 3-5:1995) of the control and Figure B.2.
valve, open the control valve and leave open for the
The sticks in each layer shall be spaced at regular
duration of the test.
intervals with gaps of 6 cm between the sticks.
Annex B (normative) The sticks laid transversely (layers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Fire test and 14) shall have a fixed length of (500 ± 10) mm.
The sticks laid longitudinally (layers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
B.1 General
and 13) shall have fixed lengths which vary
NOTE See 7.1. according to the test fire as given in Table B.2, again
To carry out these tests the operator shall be with a limit deviation of ± 10 mm.
dressed in normal work-wear, having no special NOTE When the test fire is constructed using smaller fires, the
heat proofing characteristics. The use of a helmet, tolerance applies to the length of the individual sticks.
gloves and approved non-reflective visor is allowed. A fire size beyond 55A shall not be accepted
Cartridge type extinguishers shall be pressurized (see Table B.2).
during the period of pre-combustion. Each test fire is designated by a number followed by
B.2 Class A test fire the letter A. The designating number of the test fire
NOTE See 7.2. represents:
B.2.1 Characteristics — the length of the test fire in decimeters,
Class A test fires shall consist of a crib of wooden i.e., the length of the wooden sticks arranged in
sticks supported on a metal frame 250 mm the longitudinal direction of the test fire;
high, 900 mm wide and of a length equal to that of — the number of 500 mm wooden sticks for each
the test fire. The metal frame (see Figure B.1 layer arranged in the transverse direction of the
and Figure B.2) shall be constructed test fire.
from (50 × 50) mm2 angle sections as specified in Table B.2
ISO 657-1.
Designation of Number of 500 mm Length of test
Test fires greater than 27A shall be constructed test fire wooden sticks in each fire
using smaller fire, sizes (fires, frames and trays), transverse layer
see Table B.1. The ends of the longitudinal sticks m
shall touch. 5A 5 0,5
Table B.1 8A 8 0,8
Fire size Fire construction
13A 13 1,3
5A 5A 21A 21 2,1
8A 8A 27A 27 2,7
13A 13A 34A 34 3,4
21A 21A 43A 43 4,3
27A 27A 55A 55 5,5
34A 21A + 13A NOTE Each test fire is designated by a number in a series in
which each term is equal to the sum of the two preceding terms,
43A 8A + 27A + 8A i.e. this series is equivalent to a geometrical progression having
a common ratio of about 1,62. The additional fire 27A and 43A
55A 21A + 13A + 21A represent the product of the preceding term and 1,62.

© BSI 11-1999 5
EN 3-1:1996

B.2.2 Test Conditions The crib shall then be permitted to burn for a
The test fire shall be located indoors and shall be further 6 min, making a total pre-burn time
sheltered from draughts. The test chamber shall not of 8 min, at which the test fire is established and
impede the natural development of the test fire or extinction may be commenced.
effective fire fighting. The operator shall then bring the extinguisher into
The lighting tray shall have a width of 600 mm and use, and direct the jet on the test fire while moving
a depth of 100 mm. round it at his own discretion in order to obtain the
best result. The entire contents of the extinguisher
The length of the tray shall be 100 mm greater than
may be discharged either continuously or in
the fire size. In the case of multiple frames being
successive bursts.
used to construct the fire, it is accepted that the
overall length will be increased by 200 mm The maximum extinguishing time shall not
to 300 mm. exceed 5 min for fires up to and including 21A
and 7 min for fires of a greater size. The operator
The lighting tray shall be placed symmetrically
shall indicate when the extinguisher is fully
beneath the crib forming the test fire.
discharged or when the fire is extinguished within
Water shall be added to the tray to a depth the permitted time.
of 30 mm. Heptane of a quality identical to that
In both cases the fire shall be observed for 3 min
used for the Class B fires (in accordance with 7.3)
from that point.
shall then be added, the quantity being sufficient to
give a burning time of 2 min 30 s. For the test to be successful, it is essential that all
flames shall be extinguished and that there shall be
The heptane is ignited.
no recurrence of flames during the 3 min
After the fire has burnt for 2 min, the tray shall be observation period.
withdrawn from beneath the crib.

6 © BSI 11-1999
 EN 3-1:1996

Figure B.1 — Front view (identical for all test fires)

© BSI 11-1999 7
EN 3-1:1996

Figure B.2 — Side view (variable according to size of fire).

Example of class A fire — fire 13A
B.3 Class B fire test The trays are used with a water base with the
NOTE See 7.3. following proportion: 1/3 water, 2/3 fuel. The depth
B.3.1 Characteristics of water is then approximately 10 mm, and the
Class B test fires shall be made in a range of welded depth of fuel 20 mm.
sheet steel cylindrical trays, the dimensions of The minimum height from the surface of the fuel to
which are given in Table B.3. The base shall be the the rim of the tray shall be 100 mm for fires up to
same nominal thickness as the walls and the and including 70B and 140 mm for fires of larger
thickness tolerance of the base and wall material sizes.
shall comply with the relevant national standard. The height from the ground to the rim of the tray
Stiffening bars or sections may be welded to the shall not exceed 350 mm. The construction of the
underside of the base with a minimum distance tray shall prevent the flow of air under the tray, or
of 200 mm between substantially parallel stiffeners. sand or earth shall be built around the tray up to but
All tolerances specified relate to the tray at its time not above the level of the base.
of manufacture. After each test, a minimum of 5 mm of fuel shall
Fire size beyond 233A shall not be accepted remain.
(see Table B.3). For successive tests using powder and CO2 type
These test fires are designated by a number followed extinguishers only, fuel may be added to the
by the letter B, this number represents the volume existing test fire.
of liquid, in litres, contained in the tray. At the discretion of the test laboratory, when testing
The surface area of the tray, in square decimeters, powder extinguishers, fresh fuel and water shall be
is equal to the product of the test fire size and Ï. used if it is considered that contamination of the fuel
is influencing the results.

8 © BSI 11-1999
 EN 3-1:1996

B.3.2 Test Conditions The test shall begin during the 10 s following the
The wind speed shall be no greater than 3 m/s. free-burning of the fire for a full 60 s.
The fuel for the Class B test fire is an aliphatic
Annex C (normative)
hydrocarbon commonly called industrial heptane in
accordance with the following characteristics: Measurement of moisture content of
wood
— distillation curve : 84 °C to 105 °C
NOTE See 7.2.1.
— difference between initial : k10 °C
The moisture content of wood shall be determined in
and final points of distillation
accordance with ISO 4470:1981. The measurements
— aromatic contents (V/V) : k1 % shall be taken from 5 samples of (500 ± 10) mm
— density at 15 °C : 0,680 to 0,720 long.

Table B.3
Volume of liquid Dimensions of tray
Designation (1/3 water + 2/3
of test fire Internal diameter Depth ± 5 Thickness of walls Approximate area
fuel)
at rim of fire
l mm mm mm m2
21B 21 920 ± 10 150 2,0 0,66
34B 34 1 170 ± 10 150 2,5 1,07
55B 55 1 480 ± 15 150 2,5 1,73
70B 70 1 670 ± 15 150 2,5 2,20
89B 89 1 890 ± 20 200 2,5 2,80
113B 113 2 130 ± 20 200 2,5 3,55
144B 144 2 400 ± 25 200 2,5 4,52
183B 183 2 710 ± 25 200 2,5 5,75
233B 233 3 000 ± 30 200 2,5 7,32
NOTE Each test fire is designated by a number in a series in which each term is equal to the sum of the two preceding terms,
i.e. this is equivalent to a geometrical progression having a common ratio of about 1,62. The additional fires 70B, 113B and 183B
represent the product of the preceding term and Æ1,62.

© BSI 11-1999 9
10 blank
 BS EN 3-1:1996

List of references

See national foreword.

© BSI 11-1999
BS EN
3-1:1996
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