TYPE	COLOUR	HOW IT WORKS	DANGER	HOW TO USE
		STANDARD DRY POWDER - Knock down flames.  Best for liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol (except chip pan or fat fires). MULITY-PURPOSE DRY POWDER- Knocks down flames and on burning solids, melts to form a skin smothering the fire. Provides some cooling effect. Best for  wood, cloth, paper, plastic, coal etc.  Fires involving solids.  Liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol etc. (except chip or fat pan fires)	This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and care has to be taken that the fire does not re-ignite.  Additionally, although it is safe to use on live electrical equipment, it does not readily penetrate spaces inside the equipment and similar care has to be taken to ensure that the fire does not re-ignite,  the simplest method of which is usually to isolate the power supply. Smouldering material in deep seated fires such as upholstrey or bedding can cause the fire to start up again.	Point the jet discharge horn at the base of the flame and with a rapid sweeping motion, drive the fire towards the far edge until all the flames are oout. If the extinguisher has a shut-off control wait until the air clears and if the flames are still visable, attack the fire again
		WATER - works mainly by cooling burning material, Best for wood, cloth, paper, plastics, coal etc.  Fires involving solids	Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances.	Point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of fire.   Ensure that all areas of the fire are out.
		AFFF (AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING)  [MULTI-PURPOSE] Forms a fire extinguishing film on the surface of the burning liquid.  Has a cooling action with a wider extinguishing application than water on solid combustible materials. Best for wood, cloth, paper, plastics, coal etc.  Fires involving solids liquids such as grease, fats, oils, paint, petrol etc. (except chip or fat pan fires).		For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Ensure that all areas of the fire are out. For fires involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid.  Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid.  Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.
		FOAM forms a blanket of foam over the surface of the burning liquid and smothers the fire. Best for  a limited number of liquid fires - check manufacture's instructions for suitability of use on fires involving liquids.	These extinguishers are generally not recommended for home use.	Point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire.  Ensure that all areas of the fire are out.  For fires involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid.  Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid.  Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.
		CARBON DIOXIDE CO2  vaporising liquid gas which smothers the flames by displacing the oxygen in the air. Best for liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol etc. (except chip or fat pan fires).  Clean, effective and save on live electrical equipment.	This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and you need to watch that the does not start up again.   Gas from the CO2 extinguisher  can be harmful is used in confined spaces as it displaces the oxygen in the air.  Ventilate the area as soon as the fire has been extinguished.	The discharge horn should be directed at the base of the flames and the jet kept moving across the area of the fire.
		VAPORISING LIQUID (including H  Halon*)   vaporising liquid gas which gives rapid lnock down by chemically inhibiting combustion. Best for liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol etc. (except chip or fat pan fires).	This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and care should be taken to ensure that the fire does not re-ignite. Fumes from the vaporising liquid gas extinguisher can be harmful if used  if used in confined places, particularly if used on hot metal.  The area should be well ventilated as soon as the fire has been extinguished	The vaporising liquid gas is expelled in a  jet which should  not be aimed into  burning liquids as this risks spreading the fire.  The discharged nozzle should therefore be aimed at the flames and kept moving across the area of the fire.  * Owing to the ozone depleting potential of halon, its future use and availability will be restricted to “Essential uses”.   Production and consumption of new of new halon  ceased in 1994.