[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR34.50-5]

[Page 459-460]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 34_FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart 34.50_Portable and Semiportable Extinguishers
 
Sec. 34.50-5  Classification--TB/ALL.

    (a) Portable and semiportable extinguishers shall be classified by a 
combination letter and number symbol. The letter indicating the type of 
fire which the unit could be expected to extinguish, and the number 
indicating the relative size of the unit.
    (b) The types of fire will be designated as follows:
    (1) ``A'' for fires in ordinary combustible materials such as 
mattresses, piles of wood, shavings, canvas, etc., where the quenching 
and cooling effects of quantities of water, or solutions containing 
large percentages of water, are of first importance.

[[Page 460]]

    (2) ``B'' for fires in combustible or flammable liquids such as 
gasoline, lubricating oil, diesel oil, greases, etc., where a blanketing 
or smothering effect is essential.
    (3) ``C'' for fires in electrical equipment where the use of non-
conducting extinguishing agent is of first importance so that electrical 
shock is not experienced by the firefighter.
    (c) The number designations for size will start with ``I'' for the 
smallest to ``V'' for the largest. Extinguishers which have a gross 
weight of 55 pounds or less when fully charged are considered portable. 
Extinguishers which have a gross weight of more than 55 pounds when 
fully charged are considered semiportable and shall be fitted with 
suitable hose and nozzle or other practicable means so that all portions 
of the space concerned may be reached. Examples of size graduations for 
some of the typical portable and semiportable extinguishers are set 
forth in Table 34.50-5(c).

                            Table 34.50-5(c)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Soda-acid              Carbon      Dry
  Classification type (Size)    and water     Foam     dioxide  chemical
                                (Gallons)  (Gallons)  (Pounds)  (Pounds)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-II..........................    2\1/2\     2\1/2\   ........  ........
B-I...........................  .........    1\1/4\          4         2
B-II..........................  .........    2\1/2\         15        10
B-III.........................  .........        12         35        20
B-IV..........................  .........        20         50        30
B-V...........................  .........        40    \1\ 100    \1\ 50
C-I...........................  .........  .........         4         2
CC-II.........................  .........  .........        15       10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For outside use, double the amount shall be carried.