Class K Fire Extinguishers

Evolving cooking appliances have created a more severe fire hazard. Learn how Class K fire extinguishers offer improved fire control and be sure to replace your Class B fire extinguishers.

1. FIRE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION                                  Executive Director: THOMAS  ASSOCIATES,  INC. 

1300 Sumner Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115‐2851   •   Telephone: 216‐241‐7333   •   Fax: 216‐241‐0105 
E‐Mail:  [email protected]  •  www.femalifesafety.org  •  www.rackhosetraining.com  •  www.firesystemstraining.org  


STATEMENT ON CLASS K EXTINGUISHERS

Fire extinguishers for the protection of cooking media fires (vegetable or animal oils and
fats) traditionally required a minimum 40-B rated sodium bicarbonate or potassium
bicarbonate dry chemical extinguisher as specified for extra (high) hazard requirements of
Table 3-3.1 of NFPA 10. The evolution of high-efficiency cooking appliances and the
change to hotter-burning vegetable shortening has created a more severe fire hazard and has
prompted the creation of a new classification of fire, Class K. Testing by Underwriters
Laboratories has shown that wet chemical extinguishers with a K classification have several
times the extinguishing capability of a 40-B rated sodium bicarbonate or potassium
bicarbonate extinguisher in controlling cooking fires.

The Class K extinguisher offers improved fire control for this type of hazard by:
• Creating a foam blanket by saponifying the hot cooking oils.
• Cooling both the appliance and the hot cooking oils.
• Offering improved visibility during fire fighting.
• Minimizing splash hazard.
• Providing easier clean-up than when using dry chemical agents.

Accordingly, the Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association, Inc. [FEMA]
recommends that all Class B extinguishers used to protect cooking appliances/kitchens
be replaced by the owners with Class K extinguishers as soon as possible. The travel
distance of 30 feet as previously described in NFPA 10 is still recommended.



Prepared by the members of FEMA’s Portable Division

Visit FEMA’s website at www.femalifesafety.org
for a list of members