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The purpose of this page is to provide further information regarding the provision of Class F cover in accordance with the recommendations of BS 5306-8:2012. Readers are referred to the British Standard itself for full details and reminded that this is a summary only.

Throughout, references to the pertinent parts of the British Standards and/or other legislation have been included as footnotes.

All fire hazards involving vegetable or animal oils and fats in cooking appliance (including pans)¹ (e.g. deep fat frying, shallow frying, etc.) should be covered by one or more class F extinguishers² and possibly a fixed system^{3, 4} as set out below (but refer to notes):

Class F Hazard Surface Area	Cover Required 5
not in excess of 0.11m²	One 75F extinguisher
not in excess of 0.4m²	Two 75F extinguishers
in excess of 0.4m²	Fixed system3, plus extinguisher(s)6

Please note that 0.11m² = 1 sq ft, or a rectangular area 0.3×0.36m (or 30×36cm, 12”×14”), or a circular area of diameter 0.37m (or 37cm, 14½”).
The larger area, 0.4m² = 4sq ft, or a rectangular area 0.3×1.33m (or 30×133cm, 1’×4’), or a circular area of diameter 0.71m (or 71cm, 28”).

Even where such fire hazards require a fixed system (e.g. where cooking arrangements might restrict access by a class F extinguisher⁴ or where the surface area in excess of 0.4m²³, a class F extinguisher(s) is nonetheless also required to cover the risk of spillage or fires outside of the fixed system’s coverage⁶.

The only extinguishers that should be selected for such fire hazards are those with a class F rating⁷. Use of other extinguisher types on Class F fires can be hazardous and may spread the fire.

Class F extinguishers should be sited such that there is not necessary to travel further than 10m to the site of any potential class F fire⁸. These travel distances should be reduced if there are doorways on this route⁸.

Full Copies of Standards

The British Standards are covered by copyright and are not available freely. However, these can be purchased at British Standard Online or alternatively, some libraries may carry copies of the more common standards.

1. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 7.1 - the fire merely needs to involve vegetable or animal oils and fats in a cooking appliance. That pans are included is clear from example 5 at clause 8.6.2.
2. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 8.6.2.
3. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 8.6.1.
4. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 8.6.2 note.
5. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 8.6.2 Table 2. Note that ratings of 5F, 15F and 25F are discussed in the full table. These are not available items and so not included here. The reader is referred to the Standard for full details
6. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 8.6.3.
7. As per BS 5306-8:2012, 7.2 warning.
8. As per BS 5306-8:2012, clause 6.4.