SS EN 3-7 : 2012

EN 3-7 : 2004+A1, MOD

(ICS 13.220.10)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Portable fire extinguishers

– Part 7 : Characteristics, performance
requirements and test methods
This national standard is the modified implementation of EN 3-7 : 2004+A1 and is adopted
with permission of CEN, Avenue Marnix 17, 1000 Brussels

Incorporating Corrigendum No. 1

Published by
SS EN 3-7 : 2012
EN 3-7 : 2004+A1, MOD
(ICS 13.220.10)

SINGAPORE STANDARD
Portable fire extinguishers
– Part 7 : Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

ISBN 978-981-4353-32-8
SS EN 3-7 : 2012

This Singapore Standard was approved by the Building and Construction Standards Committee on
behalf of the Standards Council of Singapore on 10 July 2012.

First published, 2012

The Building and Construction Standards Committee appointed by the Standards Council consists of
the following members:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Goh Peng Thong Member, Standards Council

st
1 Dy Chairman : Er. Lee Chuan Seng Member, Standards Council
nd
2 Dy Chairman : Mr Tan Tian Chong Member, Standards Council
Secretary : Ms Wang Wei Ting SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Boo Geok Kwang Singapore Civil Defence Force
Er. Chan Ewe Jin Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Mr Chan Kok Way Individual Capacity
Er. Chee Kheng Chye Housing & Development Board
Mr Chng Chee Beow Real Estate Developers’ Association of
Singapore
Mr Paul Fok Land Transport Authority
Mr Anselm Gonsalves National Environment Agency
Mr Desmond Hill Singapore Contractors Association Ltd
Er. Ismadi Mohd Ministry of Manpower
Mr Benedict Lee Khee Chong Singapore Institute of Architects
Ms Andris Leong Building and Construction Authority
Assoc Prof Leong Eng Choon Nanyang Technological University
Dr Lim Lan Yuan Association of Property and Facility
Managers
Er. Lim Peng Hong Association of Consulting Engineers
Singapore
Mr Larry Ng Lye Hock Urban Redevelopment Authority
Assoc Prof Gary Ong Khim Chye National University of Singapore
Mr Davis Ong Wee Choon Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
Dr Tam Chat Tim Individual Capacity
Er. Tang Pei Luen JTC Corporation
Mr Teoh Wooi Sin Singapore Institute of Surveyors and
Valuers
Co-opted
Member : Prof Choo Yoo Sang National University of Singapore

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 SS EN 3-7 : 2012

The Technical Committee on Building Maintenance and Management appointed by the Building and
Construction Standards Committee and responsible for the preparation of this standard consists of
representatives from the following organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Dr Lim Lan Yuan Member, Building and Construction

Standards Committee
Dy Chairman : Er. Tang Pei Luen Member, Building and Construction
Standards Committee
Secretary : Ms Barbara Bok SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Chan Kim Mun Eric Association of Property and Facility
Managers
Mr Bernard Cheng Kwang Meng SETSCO Services Pte Ltd
Mr Chue Fook Chee CNA Group Ltd
Er. Fan Foo Whai Housing & Development Board
Mr David Goh Fire Safety Managers’ Association
(Singapore)
Dr Kang Kok Hin Institution of Facilities Management
Mr Kua Soo Chong EM Services Pte Ltd
Er. Callan Lam Association of Consulting Engineers
Singapore
Mr Lee Wee Keong Singapore Civil Defence Force
Mr Leo Hee Long Energy Market Authority
Mr Lim Chong Yong Building and Construction Authority
Mr John Min Singapore Institute of Building Limited
Er. Ng Eng Kiong Singapore Green Building Council
Assoc Prof Chandra Sekhar National University of Singapore
Mr Ramahad Singh Public Utilities Board
Dr Sun Qiqing TÜV SÜD PSB Pte Ltd
Mr Tan Ann Kiong Singapore Contractors Association Ltd
Mr Tan Chee Hoon Public Utilities Board
Er. Joseph Toh Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Co-opted
Members : Mr K Ramanathan Individual Capacity
Er. Yeow Mei Leng Individual Capacity

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SS EN 3-7 : 2012

The Working Group appointed by the Technical Committee to assist in the preparation of this
standard comprises the following experts who contributed in their individual capacity:

Name

Convenor : Mr K Ramanathan
Members : Er. Gn Chiang Yam
Mr David Goh
Maj Han Fook Kuang
Ms Kee Su Yin
Mr Kenneth Lim Kok Kheng
Mr Thomas Ng
Mr Tan Kim Heng
Mr Tan Yang Yang

The organisations in which the experts are involved are:

Fire Armour Pte Ltd (Singapore)

Fire Safety Managers' Association (Singapore)
Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Lingjack Engineering Works Pte Ltd
National Environment Agency
Singapore Civil Defence Force
Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
The Institution of Fire Engineers (Singapore Branch)
TÜV SÜD PSB Pte Ltd

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 SS EN 3-7 : 2012

National Foreword
This Singapore Standard was prepared by a Working Group appointed by the Technical Committee
on Building Maintenance and Management which is under the purview of the Building and
Construction Standards Committee.

The review of the SS 232 series of standards on portable fire extinguishers resulted in the
development of the SS EN 3 series of standards which comprises the following parts under the
general title ‘Portable fire extinguishers’:

Part 7 : Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

Part 8 : Additional requirements to SS EN 3-7 for the construction, resistance to pressure and
mechanical tests for extinguishers with a maximum allowable pressure equal to or
lower than 30 bar
Part 9 : Additional requirements to SS EN 3-7 for pressure resistance of CO2 extinguishers
Part 10 : Provisions for evaluating the conformity of a portable fire extinguisher to SS EN 3-7

The four parts replace the SS 232 series of standards.

This SS EN is the modified implementation of EN 3-7 : 2004+A1 ‘Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7 :
Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods’ (incorporating Amendment A1 : 2007,
denoted by AC> <AC) and is adopted with permission of CEN, Avenue Marnix 17, 1000 Brussels.

The following deviations apply:

Clause/Subclause Modifications

1 Scope Replace the text of para 2 with the following:

Reference to the suitability of an extinguisher for use on gaseous fires

(Class C fires), the manufacturers shall be required to provide evidence of
suitability for the purpose to the relevant authority and the certification body
before the listing process.

16.1 Colour Insert the following after para 2:

The extinguisher should be marked with a zone of colour, in the form of a

band on the extinguisher body, above the operating instructions, to identify
the extinguishing agent.

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SS EN 3-7 : 2012

The colour of such zone shall be based on the following colours:

Extinguishing agent Colour RAL colour ref:*

Water Red RAL 3000

Foam Pale cream RAL 1014

Powder Blue RAL 5002

Carbon dioxide Black RAL 9005

Clean agent Green RAL 6016

Wet chemical Yellow RAL 1023

* The RAL colour reference shall be as specified in Farbregister RAL-841-GL

16.2 Marking Replace this subclause with the following (text in italics are the
modifications):

The marking on the extinguisher shall be in contrasting colour(s) to the

background. The marking shall be divided into five parts as shown in Figure
2.

The marking may be permanently printed on the extinguisher. For example,

silkscreen type print is acceptable and the lettering shall be white with the
background in red.

If stick-on type label/frame is provided, it is recommended that the

background be white with black letterings. The stick-on label/frame shall not
cover more than 30% of the surface area of the extinguisher body.

The markings required under Parts 1, 2 and 3 shall be visible through a

horizontal arc of 180 degrees when the extinguisher is correctly mounted.

The markings required for Part 4 and Part 5 (as shown in Figure 2) may be
placed elsewhere on the extinguisher.

The value of H, for calculating the height of the lettering (which shall be
determined by reference to an upper case letter E), except when the
marking is in more than one language, shall be not less than:

– 3 mm for extinguishers having a charge  3 kg or 3 l;

– 5 mm for extinguishers having a charge  3 kg or 3 l.

If the marking is in more than one language, the minimum value of H shall
be 2 mm.

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 SS EN 3-7 : 2012

The height of the lettering in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be as follows subject to

a tolerance of ± 10 %.

– Part 1: 1,5 x H for the words ‘fire extinguisher’;

– 0,75 x H for the other information;

– Part 2: 1 x H;
As
amended – Part 3: 1,5 x H;
May 14

– Part 4: 0,5 x H.

The height of the frame containing Part 5 shall not exceed 1/3 of the total
height of Parts 1, 2 and 3.

NOTE – The circled numbers indicate the parts of the marking and the numbers to
the right of each part indicate the height of the lettering as a proportion of H (see
16.2).

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Note – The circled numbers indicate the parts of the marking and the numbers to the right of each part indicate
the height of the lettering as a proportion of H (see 16.2)

Figure 2 – Example of marking of an extinguisher

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Part 1 shall contain the following information in sequence:

– the words ‘FIRE EXTINGUISHER’; or ‘EXTINGUISHER’ plus

medium, or `FIRE EXTINGUISHER’ plus medium;

– the type of extinguishing medium and the nominal charge;

– the fire rating or ratings of the extinguisher (see 6.4, Clause 15,
Annex I and Annex L)

Part 2 shall contain the following information:

– the instructions for use, which shall include one or more pictograms
each with an explanation;

The text of the instructions for use shall be in the language or languages of
the country where the extinguisher is to be used, the different actions to be
carried out being shown one after another vertically from top to bottom.

The pictograms shall all be located in the same position with regard to the
relevant texts and the direction of the movements to be carried out shall be
indicated by arrows.

– pictograms representing the type of fires are shown in Figure 3 and
Figure L.1. Class A, Class B and Class F pictograms shall only be
used where the corresponding fire rating is shown on the marking.
Class C pictogram shall only be shown on powder extinguishers
where Class C suitability is shown on the marking. These pictograms
shall be arranged horizontally on one line under the instructions for
use;

– for extinguishers having additionally passed the requirements of

Annex M the words: "also suitable for use on polar solvents."
immediately under the pictograms representing the types of fire.

The pictograms representing the types of fire shall appear in square boxes
of side 20 mm minimum for portable fire extinguishers with a charge of less
than or equal to 3 kg or 3 l and 25 mm minimum for portable fire
extinguishers with a charge of more than 3 kg or 3 l. A square containing a
code letter shall appear at the corner of each pictogram as shown in Figure
3.

The code letter representing the class of fire, either A, B, C or F within the
alphabet box shall be 0.45H subject to a tolerance of +/- 1% (refer to Figure
3). The square pictogram box shall be 0.9H. The H here is referring to
either the 20 mm or 25 mm sides of the square pictogram box as shown in
Figure 3.

Extinguishers claiming class D suitability shall not be marked for suitability

of any other fire class.

Part 3 shall contain information relating to any restrictions or dangers of

use, in particular in relation to toxicity and electrical risk.

The caption “Caution” in Part 3 and the relevant contents shall be 1.5 x H.

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Portable fire extinguishers using water or foam and not tested to, or not
meeting the requirements of, clause 9 shall be marked with the following
warning: "WARNING: Do not use on live electrical equipment".

The warning statement “WARNING: Do not use on live electrical equipment”

shall be placed in Part 3.

Portable fire extinguishers using other agents and water based

extinguishers meeting the requirements of clause 9 shall be marked to
indicate that they are suitable for use on live electrical equipment e.g.
"suitable for use on live electrical equipment up to 1 000 V at a distance of
1 m".

The wordings “Suitable for use on live electrical equipment up to 1000 V at a

distance of 1 m” shall be placed immediately under the pictograms within
Part 2. The lettering height shall be 0.75 x H (refer to page 21). A
precautionary statement: “Use with care for live electrical equipment” shall
be indicated in Part 3.

For dry powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers which are safe for use
on live electrical equipment, a precautionary statement “Use with care for
live electrical equipment” shall be indicated in Part 3.

Part 4 shall contain at least the following:

– an instruction to refill after any operation;

– an instruction to check periodically and to use only products and

spare parts in conformity with the agreed model for refilling and
maintenance;

– the identification of the extinguishing medium and, in particular,

identification and percentage of additives for water based media;

– if applicable, the identification of the propellant gas;

– the number(s) or reference(s) relating to the approval of the

extinguisher;

– the manufacturer’s model designation;

– the operating temperature range;

– a warning against the risk of freezing for water based extinguishers;

– a reference to the SS EN 3.

Part 5 shall contain:

– the name and address of the portable fire extinguisher manufacturer

and/or supplier.

In addition, the year of manufacture shall be marked somewhere on the

portable fire extinguisher.

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Figure 3 – Pictograms

Annex L, Table L.1 Replace ‘See Figure L.2’ under rating 5F with ‘See Figure L.2 - dia. = 300’.

Attention is drawn to the following:

– In EN Standards, the comma has been used throughout as a decimal marker whereas in
Singapore Standards, it is a practice to use a full point on the baseline as the decimal marker.

– Where applicable, the words ‘European Standard’ should be read as ‘Singapore Standard’.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. Enterprise Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

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EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 3-7:2004+A1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2007

ICS 13.220.10 Supersedes EN 3-7:2004

English Version

Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics, performance

requirements and test methods

Extincteurs d'incendie portatifs - Partie 7: Caractéristiques, Tragbare Feuerlöscher - Teil 7: Eigenschaften,

performances et méthodes d'essai Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfungen

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 5 March 2003 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 30 June 2007.

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 CEN Management Centre 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 CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2007 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 (E)

Contents

Foreword..............................................................................................................................................................4
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................5
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................5
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................5
4 General....................................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Description of a portable fire extinguisher .........................................................................................7
4.2 Control of discharge..............................................................................................................................8
4.3 Operating position .................................................................................................................................8
4.4 Hose assembly.......................................................................................................................................8
4.5 Propellants .............................................................................................................................................8
4.6 Stored pressure extinguishers.............................................................................................................8
5 Testing of portable fire extinguishers .................................................................................................9
6 Nominal charges, filling tolerances and minimum fire performance ...............................................9
6.1 Nominal charges ....................................................................................................................................9
6.2 Filling tolerances ...................................................................................................................................9
6.3 !Design of the filling opening, excluding carbon dioxide fire extinguishers ..............................9
6.4 Minimum fire ratings .............................................................................................................................9
7 Duration of operation, residual charge and operating temperatures.............................................12
7.1 Duration of operation ..........................................................................................................................12
7.2 Residual charge ...................................................................................................................................13
7.3 Commencement of discharge ............................................................................................................13
7.4 Effective range of operating temperature .........................................................................................13
8 Retention of propellant .......................................................................................................................14
8.1 Verification ...........................................................................................................................................14
8.2 Acceptance levels................................................................................................................................14
8.3 Production leak tests ..........................................................................................................................14
9 Dielectric test for water based extinguishers ...................................................................................15
9.1 General..................................................................................................................................................15
9.2 Required performance ........................................................................................................................15
10 Requirements for components...........................................................................................................15
10.1 General..................................................................................................................................................15
10.2 Operation and emission control mechanisms/devices ...................................................................15
10.3 Safety devices ......................................................................................................................................16
10.4 Filter for water based portable fire extinguishers ............................................................................16
10.5 Hose and coupling systems ...............................................................................................................16
10.6 Control valve ........................................................................................................................................16
11 Means of pressure indication .............................................................................................................17
11.1 Pressure gauge ....................................................................................................................................17
11.2 Pressure indicator ...............................................................................................................................18
12 Horns for carbon dioxide portable fire extinguishers......................................................................18
13 Portable fire extinguisher mounting bracket ....................................................................................19
14 Resistance to corrosion......................................................................................................................19
14.1 Resistance to external corrosion .......................................................................................................19
14.2 Resistance to extinguishing medium of extinguishers using water based media .......................19
15 Fire performance..................................................................................................................................20

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 EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 (E)

15.1 General..................................................................................................................................................20
15.2 Class A fire rating ................................................................................................................................20
15.3 Class B fire rating ................................................................................................................................20
15.4 !Class F fire rating ...........................................................................................................................20
16 Portable fire extinguisher identification............................................................................................20
16.1 Colour ...................................................................................................................................................20
16.2 Marking .................................................................................................................................................20
17 Maintenance .........................................................................................................................................24
Annex A (normative) Duration of operation, residual charge tests .............................................................25
Annex B (normative) Range of operating temperature .................................................................................26
Annex C (normative) Dielectric test ................................................................................................................27
Annex D (normative) Operation and emission control mechanisms/devices ............................................29
Annex E (normative) Test for performance of the hose................................................................................30
Annex F (normative) Control valve test ..........................................................................................................31
Annex G (normative) Tests on the horn .........................................................................................................32
Annex H (normative) Resistance to corrosion...............................................................................................33
Annex I (normative) Fire tests .........................................................................................................................34
Annex J (normative) Measurement of moisture content of wood................................................................42
Annex K (normative) Compaction procedure ................................................................................................43
Annex L (normative) !Specific requirements for Class F fire extinguisher ............................................45
Annex M (normative) !Polar solvents .........................................................................................................50
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................................................52

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EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 70 “Manual means of
firefighting equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.

This document shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by
endorsement, at the latest by February 2008 and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by
February 2008.

This document includes Amendment 1, approved by CEN on 2007-06-30.

This document supersedes EN 3-7:2004.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags ! ".

EN 3 consists of the following parts, under the general title "Portable fire extinguishers":

!deleted text"
)
⎯ Part 61 : Provisions for the attestation of conformity of portable fire extinguishers in accordance with EN 3 part
1 to part 5

⎯ Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

⎯ Part 8: Additional requirements to EN 3-7 for the construction, resistance to pressure and mechanical tests for
extinguishers with a maximum allowable pressure equal or lower than 30 bar

⎯ Part 9: Additional requirements to EN 3-7 for pressure resistance of CO2 extinguishers

⎯ Part 102): Provisions valuating the conformity of a portable fire extinguisher to EN 3 part 7

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

1) EN 3-6 will be superseded by EN 3-10.

2) EN 3-10 will update and amend EN 3-6. EN 3-10 will supersede EN 3-6.

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 EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 (E)

1 Scope
This standard specifies the characteristics, performance requirements and test methods for portable fire
extinguishers.

Reference to the suitability of an extinguisher for use on gaseous fires (class C fires) are at the manufacturer’s
discretion, but are applied only to powder type extinguishers which have gained a class B or class A and class B
rating.

Suitability of extinguishers for use on class D fires (fires involving flammable metals) is outside the scope of this
standard in respect of test fires. However, extinguishers claiming class D suitability are covered in all other respects
by the requirements in this standard for powder extinguishers.

!It is considered hazardous for powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers to be used on Class F fires. For
this reason powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are excluded for conformance with regard to Class F in
this European Standard."

NOTE The extinction of a metal fire presents a situation so specific (in terms of the metal itself, its form, the configuration of
the fire etc.) that it is not possible to define a representative standard fire for the purposes of testing. The efficiency of
extinguishers on class D fires needs to be established on a case by case basis.

2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. These
normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For
dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this European
Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies (including amendments).

EN 2, Classification of fires

ISO 9227, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests

ISO 657-1, Hot-rolled steel sections — Part 1: Equal-leg angles — Dimensions

ISO 4470, Sawn timber — Determination of the average moisture content of a lot

Farbregister RAL-841-GL.