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Best Fire Extinguisher for Homes in Australia

Selecting the best fire extinguisher for home must be made based on the size of the property, and the type and amount of fuel available. In most cases, a multi-purpose fire extinguisher in combination with a fire blanket is the best option.

We believe every home in Australia should have at least one portable fire extinguisher and one fire blanket. So we created a combination pack of a fire extinguisher and fire blanket for your home. For a small investment these devices will help protect you and your home from fire.

All Fire Extinguisher Types - Carbon Dioxide, Dry Chemical Powder, Wet Chemical, Air-Water, Air-Foam

Fires are classified according to the type of fuel present and if live electrical equipment is nearby. The classification of a fire is important, as it influences the selection and use of the correct extinguisher required to extinguish a fire. The six classes of fire are:

  • Class A - Combustibles, paper, wood, cloth, plastic, etc.
  • Class B - Flammable and combustible liquids
  • Class C - Flammable gases
  • Class D - Combustible metals
  • Class E - Electrically energised equipment
  • Class F - Cooking oils and fats

Choosing the Best Fire Extringuisher for Home

Firewize provides a premium range of high performance portable fire extinguishers and blankets (below) that have been carefully selected to cover most homes.

The fuel found around a home typically involves combustibles materials (Class A) such as paper, wood, cloth, plastics, etc as well as small quantities of flammable and combustible liquids (Class B) such as solvents and small engine fuel, stored in containers of up to 5 litres and live electrical equipment (Class E).

For this reason, a multi-purpose fire extinguisher with a performance rating of between 2A:20B:E (1.0Kg) and 4A:40B:E (2.5Kg), along with a fire blanket for home use is ideal.

Rating: 2A:20B:E
This multipurpose AB(E) class Dry Chemical Powder fire extinguisher has an industry leading performance rating of 2A:20B:E - Ideally suited for small self-contained units or flats.
Rating: 2A:30B:E
With a size to performance rating that is second to none, this Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher as a industry leading performance rating of 2A:20B:E - Ideally suited for the standard size family home.
Rating: 4A:40B:E
The most popular fire extinguisher used in large homes and home workshops this 4A:40B:E multi-purpose dry powder fire extinguisher includes a hose, vehicle or wall mounting bracket is easy to handle and use
Size: 1.2m x 1.8m
Fire Blanket
A fire blanket is a must-have item of fire safety for the home. The fire blanket is useful for kitchen and stove-top fires that a multi-purpose fire extinguisher may not be compatible.

Book your FREE Fire Extinguisher Service

Every week Firewize hosts a free fire extinguisher service clinic. When you arrive for your booking a friendly member of our team will greet you and conduct the service. When we complete the service, we will mark the fire extinguisher service record, completing the service.

Common locations and causes of a fire around the home

Mounting a fire extinguisher in your home is fairly logical, and relates to the fire risks that could occur.  According to the Country Fire Authority ("CFA") the most common place in the home where fires start is the kitchen.

Many kitchen fires are caused by cooking that has been left unattended. Others are caused by electrical faults and flammable items like paper towels and curtains that are too close to sources of heat like the stove or toaster. If the cooking area is not kept clean a fire that starts on the stove can very quickly spread to built-up grease and fat around the stove and range hood, with the fire travelling up into the roof and to the rest of the house.Country Fire Authority, Fires in the Home, (August 30, 2022),

Other common places where fires can start include;

  • Bedrooms;
  • Living rooms;
  • Laundry;
  • Garage or Home Workshop;
  • Outside Areas (Fire Pit or BBQ).

In addition to specific locations where a fire could start, there are also appliances and ignition sources that could cause a fire.

  • Cooking & Heating Appliances & Toasters;
  • Electrical Wiring Faults;
  • Candles, Smoking, Incense Burner & Christmas Trees;
  • Chemical Fires.

Tiny Homes

Tiny-homes are fully equipped homes, typically on wheels that are designed for a minimalist lifestyle, emphasising the simplification of living spaces and often eco-friendly features.

According to the definition of a Tiny House on the Australian Tiny House Association, "Tiny houses is a moveable dwellings up to 50m2 that are suitable for residential use. Tiny houses can be largely grouped into 3 categories: on wheels, on skids or shipping containers."

Like all homes, a Tiny Home should be fitted with a smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and ideally a fire blanket.

Portable Fire Extinguisher & Fire Blanket

We recommend a fire extinguisher and fire blanket because together they are useful for first response fire safety around the home. We also recommend the fire extinguisher and fire blanket be installed in an accessible location, preferably near the entry door to the tiny home.

The capacity (size) and performance rating of a fire extinguisher for home is an. important consideration.  Given we are talking about a tiny home, we recommend the minimum performance rating for a fire extinguisher and fire blanket be at least "2A:30B:E" or an agent capacity of 1.5kg.  For a fire blanket, we recommend a minimum Fire Blanket size of at least 1.2m x 1.2m manufactured from fire resistant woven fibreglass fabric certified to Australian Standard AS/NZS 3504.

Smoke Alarms

Currently (October 2024) tiny homes are not listed in the Building Classification System for buildings and structures in the National Construction Code (NCC), rather they are more likely to be classified as a type of trailer covered by Vehicle Standards".  That said, a reasonable person would heed the requirements from the National Construction Code, State and Local authorities and take the high-ground in respect to the installation of a smoke alarm in a Tiny Home.

The Objective of the National Construction Code for a Class 1a (Home or Dwelling) is to safeguard the occupants from illness or injury by alerting them of a fire in the building so that they may safely evacuate; and avoid the spread of fire.1

To achieve this, the NCC requires that all Class 1a Dwellings be "provided with safeguards so that occupants are warned of a fire in the building so that they may safely evacuate."

If you need more information, we have further details about the selection, type, location and installation of smoke alarms in Class 1a Dwellings on the Firewize website.

  • 1

    National Construction Code (NCC), Volume 2, 2022. Part H3 - Fire Safety

Best location to mount your fire extinguisher at home!

The best location to mount your fire extinguisher at home is somewhere that you can access it in the event of an emergency. The most logical place based on the common locations for a fire in the home is near the kitchen, close enough that it is accessible but not so close that in the event of a fire you cannot access it.

Kitchen Fire Blanket and Fire Extinguisher

Given that a kitchen is the most common place for a fire, we recommend that at least a fire blanket and one dry-powder portable fire extinguisher be located no closer than 2m away from your kitchen stovetop or oven adjacent to your kitchen.

Workshop or Garage Fire Extinguisher

A home handyman or hobbiest who is tinkering in the home workshop or garage or carries engine fuel, paint, paint thinners or other chemicals should have a portable fire extinguisher nearby. We recommend adjacent to the door so that is readily accessible from outside and close to the point of entry.

Large Houses

Having two or more portable fire extinguishers adjacent in a large home or two storey home may be beneficial. With at least one near the kitchen and the other strategically located at an alternate location (such as a laundry) for easy access in the event of an unplanned fire.

    Disclaimer

    Firewize policy is one of continuous improvement, details of products, procedures or methods described within this document are subject to change without notice. All information provided here is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information which is provided in good faith nothing contained herein is intended to incorporate any representation or warranty, either express or implied or to form the basis of any legal relations between the parties hereto, additional to or in lieu of such as may be applicable to a contract of sale or purchase.

    This website is provided solely on the basis that users will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information. Firewize does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information.

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