prEN 3-7

Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

This document 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 document in respect of test fires. However, extinguishers claiming Class D suitability are covered in all other respects by the requirements in this document 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 document.
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 is established on a case by case basis.

Tragbare Feuerlöscher - Teil 7: Eigenschaften, Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfungen

Dieses Dokument legt die Eigenschaften, Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfverfahren für tragbare Feuerlöscher fest.
Eine Angabe zur Eignung eines Feuerlöschers für den Einsatz bei Gasbränden (Brandklasse C) liegt im Ermessen des Herstellers und gilt nur für Pulver-Feuerlöscher, die die Mindestanforderungen an das Löschvermögen für die Brandklasse B oder Brandklasse A und B erreicht haben.
Die Eignung von Feuerlöschern für die Brandklasse D (Brände von Metallen) liegt nur im Hinblick auf die Prüfobjekte außerhalb des Anwendungsbereiches dieses Dokuments. Alle anderen Anforderungen dieses Dokuments an Pulver-Feuerlöscher gelten auch für Feuerlöscher, die die Eignung für die Brandklasse D beanspruchen.
Der Einsatz von Pulver- und Kohlendioxid-Feuerlöschern bei Bränden der Brandklasse F wird als gefährlich erachtet. Aus diesem Grund sind Pulver- und Kohlendioxid-Feuerlöscher von der Übereinstimmung hinsichtlich der Brandklasse F in diesem Dokument ausgenommen.
ANMERKUNG   Das Ablöschen eines Metallbrandes stellt eine derartige Besonderheit dar (in Bezug auf das Metall selbst, seine Form, die Brandentwicklung usw.), dass es nicht möglich ist, ein repräsentatives Prüfobjekt festzulegen. Das Löschvermögen für ein Prüfobjekt der Brandklasse D ist Gegenstand von besonderen Falluntersuchungen.

Extincteurs d'incendie portatifs - Partie 7: Caractéristiques, performances et méthodes d'essai

Le présent document spécifie les caractéristiques, exigences de performances et les méthodes d’essai pour les extincteurs d’incendie portatifs.
La mention de l’utilisation possible d’un extincteur pour des foyers gazeux (feux de classe C) est laissée à la discrétion du fabricant, mais n’est possible que pour des extincteurs à poudre qui ont obtenu des foyers-types sur feux de classe B ou sur feux de classes A et B.
L’aptitude des extincteurs à être utilisés sur les feux de classe D (feux impliquant des métaux inflammables) ne fait pas partie du domaine d’application du présent document en ce qui concerne les foyers-types. En revanche, tous les autres aspects des extincteurs déclarés utilisables sur les feux de classe D sont couverts par les exigences du présent document pour les extincteurs à poudre.
Il est considéré comme dangereux d’utiliser des extincteurs à poudre ou au dioxyde de carbone sur les feux de classe F. Pour cette raison, le présent document exclut de procéder à l’évaluation de la conformité des extincteurs à poudre ou au dioxyde de carbone par rapport à la classe F.
NOTE   L’extinction d’un feu de métaux présente une situation spécifique (en termes du métal lui-même, de sa forme, de la configuration du feu, etc.) au point qu’il n’est pas possible de définir un feu type représentatif pour les besoins de l’essai. L’efficacité des extincteurs sur les feux de la classe D doit être évaluée au cas par cas.

Prenosni gasilniki - 7. del: Lastnosti, zahteve za delovanje in preskusne metode

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 28-Apr-2027
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 70 - Manual means of fire fighting equipment
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 70/WG 5 - Revision of EN 3
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 01-May-2025
• Due Date: 11-Dec-2025
• Completion Date: 01-May-2025
• Directive: 2008/68/EC - Directve 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of the dangerous goods
• Mandate: M/TDG - Standards for referencing in the RID-ADR
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 3-7:2025 - Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

Relations

• Revises: EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 - Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 30-Mar-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 3-7:2004+A1:2008
Prenosni gasilniki - 7. del: Lastnosti, zahteve za delovanje in preskusne metode
Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test
methods
Tragbare Feuerlöscher - Teil 7: Eigenschaften, Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfungen
Extincteurs d'incendie portatifs - Partie 7: Caractéristiques, performances et méthodes
d'essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 3-7
ICS:
13.220.10 Gašenje požara Fire-fighting
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2025
ICS 13.220.10 Will supersede EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
English Version
Portable fire extinguishers - Part 7: Characteristics,
performance requirements and test methods
Extincteurs d'incendie portatifs - Partie 7: Tragbare Feuerlöscher - Teil 7: Eigenschaften,
Caractéristiques, performances et méthodes d'essai Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfungen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 70.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 3-7:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General. 7
4.1 Description of an extinguisher . 7
4.2 Control of discharge . 8
4.3 Operating position . 8
4.4 Hose assembly . 8
4.5 Propellants . 9
4.6 Internal pressure of stored pressure extinguishers . 9
4.7 Maximum mass . 9
4.8 Serviceability . 9
5 Nominal charges, filling tolerances, design of filling opening . 9
5.1 Nominal charges . 9
5.2 Filling tolerances. 9
5.3 Design of the filling opening, excluding carbon dioxide fire extinguishers . 10
6 Testing of extinguishers . 10
6.1 General. 10
6.2 Minimum fire ratings . 11
6.2.1 General. 11
6.2.2 Ratings for Class A fires . 11
6.2.3 Ratings for Class B fires . 12
6.2.4 Ratings for Class F fires . 14
6.3 Duration of operation, residual charge . 14
6.3.1 Duration of operation. 14
6.3.2 Residual charge . 14
6.3.3 Commencement of discharge . 14
6.4 Minimum range of operating temperature . 15
7 Retention of propellant . 15
7.1 Verification . 15
7.1.1 General. 15
7.1.2 Weighing . 15
7.1.3 Pressure measuring methods. 15
7.2 Acceptance levels . 16
7.3 Production leak tests . 16
8 Dielectric test for the discharge of extinguishers . 16
8.1 General. 16
8.2 Class F fire extinguishers . 16
8.3 Dielectric performance . 17
9 Requirements for components . 17
9.1 General. 17
9.2 Operation and control device(s) . 17
9.3 Safety devices . 17
9.4 Hose, hose connectors and nozzle . 18
9.4.1 General . 18
9.4.2 Hose resistance test . 18
9.5 Control valve . 18
10 Means of pressure indication . 19
10.1 Pressure gauge . 19
10.2 Pressure indicator . 20
11 Horns for carbon dioxide extinguishers . 20
12 Extinguisher wall bracket . 21
13 Resistance to corrosion . 21
13.1 Resistance to external corrosion/deterioration . 21
13.2 Resistance to extinguishing medium of extinguishers using water based and gaseous
extinguishing media . 22
13.3 Material compatibility . 22
14 Fire performance . 22
14.1 General . 22
14.2 Class A fire rating . 22
14.3 Class B fire rating . 22
14.4 Class F fire rating . 22
15 Extinguisher identification . 23
15.1 Colour . 23
15.2 Marking . 23
16 Maintenance . 27
17 Documentation . 27
Annex A (normative) Duration of operation, residual charge tests . 28
Annex B (normative) Range of operating temperature . 29
Annex C (normative) Dielectric test . 30
Annex D (normative) Operation and emission control mechanisms/devices . 32
Annex E (normative) Test for performance of the hose . 33
Annex F (normative) Control valve test . 34
Annex G (normative)
...