EN-3 (BSI)

British Standards Institution

What is EN-3 ?

EN3 is a European standard for portable fire extinguishers, this standard was set by European Committee for Standardisation.

Compliance with the standard is legally required for the construction of all fire extinguishers in the European Union. In the UK this standard is certified by the British Standards Institution.

The EN3 standard has been published in 10 parts

EN 3-1. Description, duration of operation, class A and B fire test.
EN 3-2. Tightness, dielectric test, tamping test, special provisions.
EN 3-3. Construction, resistance to pressure, mechanical tests.
EN 3-4: Charges, minimum required fire.
EN 3-5: Specification and supplementary tests.
EN 3-6: Provisions for the attestation of conformity of portable fire extinguishers in accordance with EN 3-1 to 3-5. Amendment 1
EN 3-7. Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods.
EN 3-8. Additions to 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.
EN 3-9. Additional requirements to EN 3-7 for pressure resistance of CO₂ extinguishers.
EN 3-10. Provisions for evaluating the conformity of a portable fire extinguisher to EN 3-7.

As the UK’s National Standard’s Body, The BSI certify that product/service is compliant to the standards set by CEN/TC 70.

As certified by BSI, Cannon’s Eco-Foam, CO2, Water mist & Water extinguishers are compliant to the EN3 standard.

What is the aim of EN-3 ?

The purpose of the EN3 standard is to ensure that extinguishers are fit for purpose.

Are constructed to cope with pressure changes as well as other atmospheric/physical changes that may prevent an extinguisher from working correctly.

More about EN-3

EN 3 replaces the older BS 5423:1987, which was withdrawn in 1997. Until then the UK had a unique colour coding system to identify the various Fire Extinguishers. BS EN3 requires that at least 95% of the body of the extinguisher MUST be coloured red, allowing only 5% colour coded zones on the extinguisher.

BSI is a business standards company that helps organizations make excellence a habit – all over the world. They are the UK’s National Standards Body. Which represents the UK at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the European Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI). Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body.

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