FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS 866
First Edition
2009-mm-dd
 
 
Reference numbe r
FDUS 866: 2009
 © UNBS 2009 
  
Classification of fires 
 FDUS 866: 2009 
ii © UNBS 2009 – All rights reserved
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2006  
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Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
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Uganda 
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 FDUS 866:2009 
© UNBS 2009 All rights reserved  iii
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established by the Act of Parliament of 198 3, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co-
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
Committee membership 
The following organisations were represented on t he Mechanical engineering and Metallurgy Standards 
Technical Committee UNBS/TC 4 in the preparation of this standard:  
• Fire Masters Ltd  
• International Fire Services Ltd 
• Makerere University 
• Mukwano Industries Ltd 
• Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development 
• Ministry of Education and Sports 
• Safety Systems Ltd 
• Uganda Police – Fire Brigade 
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards FDUS 866: 2009 
iv © UNBS 2009 – All rights reserved
  
Introduction 
This Uganda Standard defines classes of  fires according to the nature of the material undergoing combustion. 
In consequence, it does not define a particular class of fire involving an electric shock. 
 
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 FINAL DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD FDUS 866:2009
 
© UNBS 2009– All rights reserved  1
 Classification of fires 
1 Scope 
This Uganda Standard classifies, in five categories, the di fferent kinds of fires wh ich can be defined in terms of 
the nature of the fuel. Such a classifica tion is particularly useful in the cont ext of fire-fighting by means of an 
extinguisher. 
2 Definitions and designations of classes of fire 
The following designations are for the purpose of classi fying fires of different natures and of simplifying 
spoken and written reference to them: 
Class A:  Fires involving solid materials, usually of an organic nature, in which combustion normally takes 
place with the formation of glowing embers; 
Class B:  Fires involving liquids or easily liquefiable solids; 
Class C:  Fires involving gases; 
Class D:  Fires involving metals. 
Class F:   Fires involving cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats) in cooking appliances. 
 FDUS 866: 2009 
2 © UNBS 2009– All rights reserved
 Bibliography 
ISO 3941, Classification of fires. FDUS 866:2009 
© UNBS 2009– All rights reserved  3
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be  marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is gove rned by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licens ed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in co njunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and  testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National  Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of  licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 FDUS 866: 2009
 
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