Portable fire extinguishers can be commonly found in workplaces, schools, hotels and other public places. It is also strongly recommended to have them on hand in homes. Their ease of use, their immediate availability and their effectiveness have made them a popular firefighting tool.
Portable fire extinguishers must be CE marked in accordance with the EU's pressure equipment directive. Contrary to what most consumers think, this CE marking does not attest to the device's extinguishing performance. It only guarantees a minimum safety level at high pressure, so that it can be sold in the European Union. This is why BENOR certification of fire extinguishers remains the benchmark for guaranteeing extinguisher performance.
The ANPI Certification Division certifies powder, CO2 and water spray portable fire extinguishers, according to BENOR-ANPI requirements, which attest to their compliance with tests outlined by BENOR specifications (compliance with Belgian standards NBN S 21-011 to NBN S 21-017 and/or EN3) and ANPI specifications (compliance with ANPI-NT 105).
