🔍 Key Concepts
• Portable fire extinguisher classification system (letters vs numbers)
• Difference between class of fire (A, B, C, etc.) and physical size/capacity rating
• Meaning of combinations like B-II on Coast Guard-approved extinguishers
💭 Think About
• What does the letter in a designation like B-II usually refer to in firefighting terminology? Think about the type of materials burning.
• What does the number or Roman numeral typically indicate about an extinguisher—its location, its size, or something else that can be measured?
• On a vessel, how is location of extinguishers normally shown—by a code on the extinguisher itself, or by markings/signs on the bulkhead and in the safety plan?
✅ Before You Answer
• Verify what the letter part (A, B, C, D, K) stands for in standard fire classifications.
• Verify what the number or Roman numeral part (I, II, III, etc.) represents in USCG/Coast Guard extinguisher ratings—pay attention to capacity/size, not where it’s mounted.
• Confirm how the location aboard is normally identified on a vessel and whether that is built into the extinguisher’s code or handled separately.