British Standard

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 | BS 7863 : 1996
BRITISH STANDARD |
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Recommendations for |
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Colour coding to indicate the |
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extinguishing media contained |
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in portable fire extinguishers |
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Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

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ICS 01.070; 13.220.10 |
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NO COPYING WITHOUT BSI PERMISSION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW
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 BS 7863 : 1996 Issue 3, October 1997

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 Aerosol Manufacturers' Association
British Compressed Gases Association
British Fire Consortium
British Fire Services Association
British Telecommunications plc
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
Consumers' Association
Department of the Environment (The Buying Agency)
Fire Extinguishing Trades Association
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Home Office
Independent Fire Equipment Distributors' Association
Institution of Fire Engineers
London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
Loss Prevention Council
National Association of Fire Officers
Nationwide Fire Services
Society of Chemical Industry
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Health and Safety
Environment Sector Board, was
published under the authority of
the Standards Board and comes
into effect on
15 May 1996
Amendments issued since publication
 BSI 1997
Amd. No. Date Text affected

9299 November Indicated by a sideline in the margin

1996
9740 October Indicated by a sideline in the margin
1997
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference FSH/2/11
Draft for comment 95/542662 DC

ISBN 0 580 25845 9

 Issue 2, October 1997 BS 7863 : 1996

Summary of pages
The following table identifies the current issue of each page. Issue 1 indicates that a page has been introduced
for the first time by amendment. Subsequent issue numbers indicate an updated page. Vertical sidelining on
replacement pages indicates the most recent changes (amendment, addition, deletion).

Page Issue Page Issue

Front cover 3 ii 2
Inside front cover 3 1 2
a 2 2 blank
b blank Inside back cover 2
i original Back cover original
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

 BSI 1997 a
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

b
blank
 BS 7863 : 1996

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
Recommendations
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Colour for extinguishers 1
Table
1 Colour coding 1
List of references Inside back cover
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

 BSI 1996 i
 BS 7863 : 1996 Issue 2, November 1996

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee FSH/2 and gives
recommendations for colour coding to indicate the extinguishing media contained in
| portable fire extinguishers. Together with BS EN 3, Part 1 to Part 6 and BS 78671) it
supersedes BS 5423 : 1987 which is withdrawn.
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 Part 1 to Part 5

BS 5423 provided a number of options for the colour of portable fire extinguishers. Not
all of these were consistent with 7.1 of EN 3-5 : 1996. This standard is intended to
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

provide effective guidance on the use of appropriate colours which are consistent with
the requirements of BS EN 3-5.
Industrial and commercial work is becoming more complex, resulting in an increase in
fire hazard. The range of fire-fighting equipment and media is also increasing and in an
emergency the untrained user is in danger of selecting the wrong equipment for the
situation. Against this background, it is considered that a need exists to provide, for
the general user, a means whereby the contents of fire extinguishers are indicated.
Colour references may have to be modified if international agreement is reached on a
unified convention. Appropriate action should immediately be taken in the event of
any such modifications.
The following extract is taken from 7.1 of BS EN 3-5 : 1996 and states the requirements
for the colour of fire extinguishers.
`Subject to national regulations, the colour of the body shall be red, but in addition
to the marking, a zone of colour of area up to 5 % of the external area of the body
may be used to identify the extinguishing agent in accordance with national
specifications.'
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

1) In preparation.

ii  BSI 1996
 Issue 2, October 1997 BS 7863 : 1996

Recommendations

1 Scope 3 Definitions
This British Standard gives recommendations for the For the purposes of this British Standard the
specific red colour to be used for the body of a definitions of BS EN 3-1 : 1996 apply, together with
portable fire extinguisher, and for the colour coding the following.
to be used to identify the extinguishing medium. extinguisher body shell
NOTE. The requirements of EN 3 and the recommendations of this The outer case of the extinguisher without body
standard concerning colour coding apply only to new fittings.
extinguishers.

4 Colour for extinguishers

2 References The red colour of the body of a portable fire |
2.1 Normative references extinguisher should be signal red (BS 381C ref 537 or |
This British Standard incorporates, by dated or RAL 3000). |
undated reference, provisions from other The colour coding used to denote the extinguishing |
publications. These normative references are made medium should be as given in table 1. |
at the appropriate points in the text and the cited This colour indication should appear on the front of |
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

publications are listed on the inside back cover. For the portable fire extinguisher, in accordance with the |
dated references, only the edition cited applies; any requirements of 7.1 of BS EN 3-5 : 1996, and should |
subsequent amendments to or revisions of the cited be immediately above, but may include the |
publication apply to this British Standard only when background to the marking of part 1 of 7.2 of |
incorporated in the reference by amendment or BS EN 3-5 : 1996. The area of any text or symbols |
revision. For undated references, the latest edition of appearing within the coloured area should be |
the cited publication applies, together with any discounted. The colours should be visible through a |
amendments. horizontal arc of 180 Ê when the extinguisher is |
correctly mounted. The area of the colour indication |
2.2 Informative references
should be up to 5 % of the body area, but in no case |
This British Standard refers to other publications less than 3 % of the body area. |
that provide information or guidance. Editions of All text in section 1 of the label should be in a |
these publications current at the time of issue of this colour in contrast to the background colour. |
standard are listed on the inside back cover, but Examples of contrasting colours are given in table 1 |
reference should be made to the latest editions. of BS 5378 : Part 1 : 1980. |
NOTE. Following these recommendations will necessitate |
modifications to the marking. In order to allow manufacturers and |
suppliers time to implement the recommendations in this clause, it
only applies to extinguishers for which orders are placed after
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30 April 1998. |

Table 1. Colour coding

Extinguishing agent Colour to indicate BS 381C reference Equivalent RAL colour
| extinguishing medium reference1)
Water Red 537 RAL 3000
| Foam Pale cream 352 RAL 1014
Powder (all types) Blue 166 RAL 5002
Carbon dioxide Black Ð RAL 9005
Vaporizing liquid (including Green 228 RAL 6016
halons)
| 1)For RAL colours see: Farbregister RAL 841-GL, RAL Deutsches Institut fuÈr GuÈtesicherung und Kennzeichnung, Siegberger Strasse
39, D-53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany. [1]

 BSI 1997 1
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

2
blank
 Issue 2, November 1996 BS 7863 : 1996

List of references (see clause 2)

Normative references

BSI publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

BS 381C : 1988 Specification for colours for identification, coding and special
purposes
BS EN 3: Portable fire extinguishers
BS EN 3-1 : 1996 Description, duration of operation, class A and B fire test
BS EN 3-5 : 1996 Specification and supplementary tests

Informative references
Licensed Copy: KEO International, KEO International, 12 August 2004, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BSI publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

| 2)BS7867 : 1996 Recommendations for portable fire extinguishers for aircraft

BS EN 3-2 : 1996 Tightness, dielectric test, tamping test, special provisions
BS EN 3-3 : 1996 Construction, resistance to pressure, mechanical tests
BS EN 3-4 : 1996 Charges, minimum required fire
BS EN 3-6 : 1996 Provisions for the attestation of conformity of portable fire
extinguishers in accordance with EN 3 Part 1 to Part 5

Other references

[1] Farbregister RAL 841-GL, RAL Deutsches Institut fuÈr GuÈtesicherung und Kennzeichnung,
Siegberger Strasse 39, D-53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany.

2) In preparation.

 BSI 1996
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