Portable fire extinguishers are extinguishers weighing a maximum of 20 kg. The operational and extinguishing properties of portable fire extinguishers and their markings shall comply with the European EN 3 series of standards in effect or with a standard of equal requirements. The following are some of the requirements applicable to portable fire extinguishers:
• the extinguisher shall contain a minimum of 1 kg of extinguishing agent
• the extinguisher shall be refillable
• the extinguisher shall have a valve allowing cut-off of the flow of extinguishing agent
Some 200,000 portable fire extinguishers are sold every year in Finland. Some 95% of the portable fire extinguishers on the market are dry powder extinguishers, 3% are water-based liquid extinguishers and 2% are CO2 extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers are also classified as pressure equipment.