CEN/TC 70/WG 5 - Revision of EN 3

This document specifies, as far as the pressure risk is concerned, the rules of design, type testing, fabrication and inspection control of portable fire extinguishers with a metallic body which comply with the requirements of EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007.
This part of EN 3 applies to portable fire extinguishers of which the maximum allowable pressure PS is lower than or equal to 30 bar and containing non-explosive, non-flammable, non-toxic and non-oxidising fluids.
This document also applies to the marking of metallic propellant gas cartridges (see Annex E).
This document does not apply to carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.

This European Standard specifies the minimum requirements for attesting the conformity of portable fire extinguishers to EN 3-7, as well as the requirements for the quality and production control of the fire extinguishers.
It specifies the documentation to be provided regarding:
-   identification of the applicant;
-   identification of the manufacturer, if not the applicant;
-   identification of subcontractor(s), if applicable;
-   identification of the extinguisher;
-   documents provided with the extinguisher;
-   CE marking;
-   quality management system;
-   extinguishing media toxicological information.
It specifies methods for:
-   type testing;
-   factory assessment;
-   controls during production.
NOTE 1   A test report and a satisfactory audit supporting documentation could form the basis for an applicant to request a certification of his product from an EA accredited certification body. Additional requirements can be made by national regulations and/or quality marks.
NOTE 2   Where appropriate, component family testing could be applied.

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.