Hang this poster beside your fire extinguisher, so the decision and the four steps are in front of whoever reaches for it.
What is on the poster
Decide in seconds, then PASS
- Fight it only if it is small, you are trained, and allowed. A fire in a beaker or a small area under the hood. Move students away. Explosive fumes, heavy smoke, or any doubt: evacuate and call the fire department.
- P - Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher upright with the nozzle pointed away from you.
- A - Aim low, at the base of the flame. Stand 6 to 10 feet back, with your exit behind you.
- S - Squeeze the handle. The extinguisher empties in 5 to 25 seconds.
- S - Sweep from side to side. Across the base of the fire until it is out.
Which extinguisher
| Class | Fuel | Extinguisher |
|---|---|---|
| A | Wood, paper, cloth, plastics | ABC dry chemical |
| B | Flammable liquids: solvents, oils, greases | ABC dry chemical |
| C | Energized electrical equipment | ABC dry chemical |
| D | Burning metals: magnesium, sodium, potassium, lithium | Class D dry powder only |
Watch the spot: a smoldering fire can flare again. Report every fire and replace the used extinguisher at once. Never use water or an ABC extinguisher on a burning metal. It makes a Class D fire worse.
Built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard
This poster carries the SSTS mark. Like every Science Safety course, it is built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard (SSTS): every rule on it is taken from the body that governs it, at its current edition, and the source is printed on the poster, so you can check it yourself.
Stay current
When you get this poster, it is saved to your Science Safety account. If we revise the poster, or the Fires and Fire Extinguishers module it comes from changes, we will email you, and the latest version will be waiting under Downloads in your account. Every revision carries its revision number and date at the bottom of the poster, so you can tell at a glance whether the copy on your wall is current.
Printing and hanging
- One-page PDF, US letter (8.5 by 11 inches).
- White background, so it prints clearly on any office or classroom printer without using much ink.
- Hang it on the wall beside the fire extinguisher, at eye level.
- The QR code in the blue title band opens this page, so anyone can get their own copy.
- The QR code at the bottom opens the Fires and Fire Extinguishers module.
Learn more
The Fires and Fire Extinguishers module teaches the full topic this poster comes from.
Sources:
- NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers – National Fire Protection Association (reviewed September 30, 2026)
- NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals, section 6.3 – National Fire Protection Association (reviewed September 30, 2026)
Poster SSP-0013, Rev. 1, September 2026.
