16/11/2020
Mabuhay!
Bureau of Philippine Standards
Product Focus –
Fire Extinguisher
Products Under the
Mandatory
Certification Scheme
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
 The BPS and its Mandate
 BPS Organizational Chart
 Fire Extinguishers
• Product Overview
• Classification of Fires
• Fire Triangle
• Dry Chemical Portable Fire Extinguisher
• Carbon Dioxide Portable Fire Extinguisher
• Foam Portable Fire Extinguisher
• Clean Extinguishing Agent – Halon Substitute Portable Fire
Extinguisher
 Labels / Markings
 BPS Certification Schemes
• ICC
• PS
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 RA 4109 – Standards Law
- An Act to Convert the Division of Standards
Under the Bureau of Commerce into a Bureau
of Standards
 RA 7394 – Consumer Act
of the Philippines
- Declares that it is the duty of the State to
develop and provide safety and quality
standards for consumer products, including
performance or use-oriented standards, codes
of practice and methods of tests.
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 Memorandum Circular No . 20-02
series of 2020
- List of products and systems under
mandatory certification which covers the
portable fire extinguishers
Chemical, Consumer and Other
Products Section
- Section under Standards Conformity
Division
(SCD)
responsible
for
the
certification of medical grade oxygen in
cylinder
Fire
Extinguishers
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PRODUCT OVERVIEW
 Portable Fire Extinguisher
– A first-aid firefighting appliance which is designed carried and
operated by hand.
 Exempted fire extinguishers:
 Fire Extinguisher Balls
 Ceiling Mounted Fire Extinguisher
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
 Exempted fire extinguishers:
 Wheeled Fire Extinguishers
 Aerosol Generator Fire Extinguisher
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PRODUCT OVERVIEW
 Exempted fire extinguishers:
 Automatic Fire Extinguishers
 Fire Suppression System
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
 Exempted fire extinguishers:
 Spray Type:
 Empty Fire Extinguisher
Cylinders / Empty Cylinders
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PRODUCT OVERVIEW
“DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN
APPLICATION TO THE BPS???”
- Since the mentioned fire extinguishers are not
covered by mandatory certification of the Bureau of
Philippine Standards (BPS), an application for a
Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety
Certification Mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC)
is not required prior to selling or distribution of the said
products.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
“DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN
APPLICATION TO THE BPS???”
- Imported empty fire extinguisher cylinders,
on the other hand, are required to be subjected for
verification once a month. The first shipment of the
month will be inspected and verified. A “Certificate of
Exemption” may be issued after the verification is
conducted.
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PRODUCT OVERVIEW
 Sub-types:
Stored Pressured Type: A fire extinguisher in
which both the extinguishing agent and expellant gas
are kept in a single container, and that includes a
pressure indicator or gauge.
Gas Cartridge Type: A fire extinguisher in which
the expellant gas is in a separate container from the
agent storage container.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Stored Pressure Type
Gas Cartridge Type
*The labels of the extinguishing mediums from the original images were change to
“Extinguishing agent”.
Images. NFPA 10. Standard for
Portable Fire Extinguishers. 2013 Edition.
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Pressure Gauge
 Recharge Zone: If the arrow is pointing to the left, in
the “recharge” zone, then the fire extinguisher has
either been used or the pressure is leaking from the
canister and needs to be fixed. This area of the
pressure gauge is red.
 Green Zone: If the pressure gauge arrow is pointing
in the middle of the green zone then the fire
extinguisher is properly pressured and is ready to be
used if needed.
 Overcharged Zone: If the arrow is pointing to the
right, in the “Overcharged” zone then the fire
extinguisher needs to be reserviced because the fire
extinguisher won’t work properly under that kind of
pressure.
Image. “Fire Extinguisher NFPA 10
Monthly Check”.
http://campserv.emory.edu/fm/firesafety/code-and-policy/fire-ext-monthlycheck.html. Accessed 09 November 2020.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES
In general, portable fire
extinguishers covered by the
BPS mandatory certification
are mostly used against fires
of classes A B, and C.
Class A Fires:
- Class A fires are fires in
ordinary combustible materials,
such as wood, cloth, paper,
rubber, and many plastics.
Class B Fires:
- Class B fires are fires in
flammable liquids, combustible
liquids, petroleum greases, tars,
oils, oil-based paints, solvents,
lacquers,
alcohols,
and
flammable gases.
Class C Fires:
- Class C fires are fires that
involve energized electrical
equipment.
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FIRE TRIANGLE
- The fire triangle identifies the three
needed components of fire:
 FUEL (something that will burn);
 HEAT (enough to make the fuel burn);
 and AIR (oxygen)
Source. “Reporter’s Guide: All about fire”. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). https://www.nfpa.org/News-andResearch/Publications-and-media/Press-Room/Reporters-Guide-to-Fire-and-NFPA/All-about-fire
DRY CHEMICAL
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 The dry chemical portable fire extinguishers put out fire by
coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust, separating the fuel
from the oxygen in the air. The powder also works to interrupt
the chemical reaction of fire.
 Dry Chemical for ABC Fires. E.g., MAP, MAP + Ammonium
Sulfate, etc.
 Dry Chemical for BC Fires. E.g. Sodium Bicarbonate,
Potassium Bicarbonate (Purple K), etc.
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DRY CHEMICAL
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 It is important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of
fuel! Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to re-ignite
after apparently being extinguished successfully.
CARBON DIOXIDE
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 The carbon dioxide portable fire extinguishers contains dry
compressed carbon dioxide. It works by displacing oxygen, or
taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. The
carbon dioxide is also very cold as it comes out of the
extinguisher, so it cools the fuel as well.
 Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers do not leave any residue.
 Fire classes: Effective on Classes B and C Fires
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CARBON DIOXIDE
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 𝐶𝑂 ′s may be ineffective at extinguishing Class A fires as it can
cause a fire to spread.
 𝐶𝑂 ′s may cause asphyxiation if used in very confined spaces.
FOAM
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 The foam portable fire extinguisher put out liquid fires by
sealing the surface of the burning fuel element of the fire
triangle.
 Foam extinguishers also help to absorb heat, since the cool
foam they release contains a lot of water.
 Fire classes: Effective on Classes A and B Fires
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FOAM
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
 Since water is a good conductor of electricity, it is not used
for Class C Fires.
CLEAN EXTINGUISHING AGENT –
HALON SUBSTITUTE PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
 The clean extinguishing agent portable fire extinguishers
covered by the BPS mandatory certification contain halon
substitutes. This kind of extinguisher works by interrupting the
chemical reaction and/or removing heat from the fire triangle.
 **NFPA 2001 has defined the term “clean agent” as an
electrically nonconductive, volatile, or gaseous fire
extinguishing agent that does not leave a residue upon
evaporation.
**National Fire Protection Association
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CLEAN EXTINGUISHING AGENT –
HALON SUBSTITUTE PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
 Fire Class: Effective on Classes A, B and C fires.
 In accordance with the amended Montreal Protocol and U.S.
regulations, the manufacturing of new Halon has ceased as of
January 1, 1994. Halons 1301 and 1211 have served well as
excellent fire suppression agents in systems and hand
extinguishers; however, the destructive effect they may have
on the ozone layer has led to their demise.
 Other ozone-depleting substances: CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC113. CFC-114, CFC-115, Halon 2402.
CLEAN EXTINGUISHING AGENT –
HALON SUBSTITUTE PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
 Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program of United
States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). SNAP was
established under Section 612 of the Clean Air Act to identify
and evaluate substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. The
program looks at overall risks to human health and the
environment of existing and new substitutes, publishes lists
and promotes the use of acceptable substances, and provides
the public with information.
 Acceptable substitutes: https://www.epa.gov/snap/substitutesfire-suppression-and-explosion-protection
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CLEAN EXTINGUISHING AGENT –
HALON SUBSTITUTE PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
 FIRE RATING: Shows the extinguishing potential of the
medium used in the fire extinguisher
Ex. 1A1BC < 2A2BC
Other Information
Dry Chemical
Reference
Standard
PNS 15-1:1989
Carbon
Dioxide
Foam
Clean
PNS 15-3:1991
PNS 15-4:1991
PNS 15-5:1996/
Amendment
01:1997
Color of Cylinder
Red
Red
Red
Green
Band Color
White
Black
Blue
White
Covered
Capacity of
Extinguishing
Medium
1 kg - 14 kg
< 23 kg
< 20 kg
1 kg - 14 kg
A, B & C; or
B&C
B&C
A, B
A, B & C
Fire Classes
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Other Information
Dry Chemical
Covered
Extinguishing
Agents
MAP, MAP +
Ammonium
Sulfate, Sodium
Bicarbonate,
Potassium
Bicarbonate,
Urea-Potassium
Bicarbonate
Expelling
method
Gas Cartridge or
Stored Pressure
Carbon
Dioxide
Foam
Clean
Halon substitute
Aqueous Film
(as listed in
Forming Foam,
**US EPA
Alcohol-Resistant
Carbon Dioxide Foam Concentrate,
**SNAP LIST).
Fluoroprotein-Foam E.g. HFC-236fa,
Concentrate
HCFC-123
Stored Pressure
Gas Cartridge or
Stored Pressure
Stored Pressure
**US EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency
**SNPA: Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program
Cylinder and Band Colors
Band Color
Color of the
Cylinder
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LABELS /
MARKINGS
REQUIRED INFORMATION
(For all types)
 Name and address of the manufacturer
 Trade name and/or Trademark
 Brand name
 Chemical Contents
 Instructions for Operation (Area: at least 40 𝑚𝑚
for dry chem and
clean agent, and at least 4000 𝑚𝑚 for 𝐶𝑂 and foam)
 The words "Made in the Philippines" or country of origin if
imported
 Embossed year of manufacture of cylinder
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REQUIRED INFORMATION
Markings
Dry Chemical
Carbon
Dioxide
Foam
Clean
Unspecific general
terms (i.e. multi,
general, or universal)
Shall not appear
on the body
-
-
Shall not
appear on the
body
Working Pressure
kPa at 28 ˚C
MPa
MPa
kPa at 28 ˚C
Periodic Test Pressure
MPa
MPa
MPa
MPa
kg
kg
kg & L
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
Capacity in terms of
mass of extinguishing
medium
Overall mass of
extinguisher when
fully charged
Other Required Information
(Dry Chemical)
o “Dry Chemical” followed by either “Gas Cartridge” or “Stored
Pressure”
o Chemical Contents: e.g. Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP),
𝑁𝐻 𝐻 𝑃𝑂
o If gas cartridge type, name of expelling medium and mass in g
o Instruction for Recharging must include the following:
“It is important that only those recharging materials
specified on the extinguisher nameplate be used. The
use of other recharging materials may impair the
efficiency or cause malfunction of the extinguisher.”
o The words "RECHARGE AFTER USE" and "DANGEROUS TO
USE OTHER THAN THE RECOMMENDED REFILL"
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Other Required Information
(Carbon Dioxide)
o The words “Carbon Dioxide Portable Fire Extinguisher”
o The words “Recharge After Use”
o Filling or recharging details: Empty & full masses of the
extinguisher (hose & discharge horn assembly are not
included
• Tare mass in kg
• Gross mass in kg
• Intended mass of CO2 in kg that shall be used in recharging
Other Required Information
(Foam)
o The words “Foam (Stored Pressure) Type” or “Foam (Gas
Cartridge) Type”
o Instructions for operation which shall include the statement
“Not For Electrical Fires”
o The name of extinguishing medium (e.g. Aqueous Film Forming
Foam (AFFF)) and expellant used (e.g. Nitrogen, 𝑁 )
o Temperature range over which the extinguisher operates
satisfactorily
o The words “Recharge After Use” and legible instructions for
recharging
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Other Required Information
(Clean Extinguishing Agent)
o The name of chemical:
• HCFC-123 / 2,2-Dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane /
Dichlorotrifluoroethane / 𝐶 𝐻𝐶𝑙 𝐹
• HFC-236fa / 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoropropane / 𝐶 𝐻 𝐹
o The ff. words as applicable, in upper-case letters having a
height of ≥ 4 mm:
• “FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL ONLY” or
• “FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS
AND/OR NONRESIDENTIAL AREAS”
Methods of Marking & Use of Code Symbols
(for all types)
 Markings
shall be embossed or etched on metal plates
soldered or brazed to the extinguisher or be displayed by means
of painting or durable labels
 Identification band which represents extinguishing agent must be
2 to 3 cm wide
 The Instructions for Operation letters should not be less than 4
mm high
 Code in letters must have a min height of 1.2 mm
 Code symbols shall have the ff. dimensions: 16 x 16 mm < d
< 32 x 32 mm, excluding borders
 Code symbols should be positioned below the operating
instructions, verbal description for each code symbol
 All three class symbols (A,B,& C) shall be placed.
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Use of Code Symbols
Symbols
C
Colors
A. Picture symbol objects &
backgroundborders
White
B. Background for the symbols
and for the fire symbol class
marking
Blue/black
C. Words above the picture symbol
objects
Blue/black
D. Diagonal slash from top left to
bottom right for unintended use
B
A.Trash wood
paper
A
Red
D
Record Tag





Procurement Date
Last Inspection
Initials of Inspectors/Agents
Whether refilled
Date manufactured (for Clean)
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BPS
MANDATORY
CERTIFICATION
BPS CERTIFICATION
SCHEMES:
Import Commodity Clearance (ICC)
Certification Scheme
- For imported products
Philippine Standard (PS) Certification
Scheme
- For locally/foreign manufactured products
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ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
 Department Administrative Order No. 05, Series of
2008 (DAO 05:2008)
- The New Rules and Regulations Concerning the
Issuance of the Import Commodity Clearance under the
Product Certification Mark Scheme of the Bureau of
Philippine Standards (BPS)
 Implementing Rules and Regulations(IRR) of the
Department Administrative Order No. 05, Series of
2008 (DAO 05:2008)
ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME

ICC Certificate is issued to an importer whose imported
products have shown conformance to relevant standards
through inspection, verification, and product testing by the
BPS Recognized Testing Laboratories.

ICC stickers are issued only for applicable products.
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ICC CERTIFICATE:
ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC STICKERS: OLD ICC STICKERS
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ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC STICKERS: 2012 - 2018
ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC STICKERS:
2018 - present
- BIG ICC stickers
are issued to most
products covered by
BPS mandatory
certification including
fire extinguishers.
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ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC STICKERS:
2018 - present
- SMALL ICC stickers
are mostly used for
small products such
as matches, lighters,
etc.
ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC STICKERS:
2018 - present
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ICC CERTIFCATION SCHEME
ICC VERIFICATION MOBILE APP:
- The ICC verification app
is currently available for
android smartphones. The
iOS version of the app is
still currently being
developed. You may
download the app at the
android play store.
Image. de Guzman, Robie. “DTI launches
mobile app to determine product quality”.
UNTV News for Yahoo News!, 18 October
2019. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/dti-launchesmobile-app-determine-110348277.html.
Accessed 08 November 2020.
PS CERTIFCATION SCHEME
 Department Administrative Order No. 04, Series of
2008 (DAO 04:2008)
- The New Rules and Regulations Concerning the
Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety
Certification Mark Scheme of the Bureau of Philippine
Standards
 Implementing Rules and Regulations(IRR) of the
Department Administrative Order No. 04, Series of
2008 (DAO 04:2008)
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PS CERTIFCATION SCHEME

The PS Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark License is
granted to either local or foreign manufacturer whose
factory and product have successfully complied with the
requirements of the PNS ISO 9001 and the relevant
product standard/s, respectively.

Refillers are also required to apply for PS license.
PS LICENCE AND CERTIFICATE:
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PS CERTIFCATION SCHEME
PS MARK LOGO:
- Fire extinguishers
are certified for
product quality.
CERTIFIED
CERTIFIED
Product Quality
Product Safety
License No. Q-XXXX
License No. Q-XXXX
*As shown in the Annex C of IRR of DAO 04:2008.
PS AND ICC MARK
- The Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Mark
and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Sticker serve as the
consumers’ guide and assurance that what they purchase
are certified quality and safety products conforming to the
relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS). Products
covered by the BPS Mandatory Product Certification
Schemes, whether locally manufactured or imported, are
required to bear the PS mark or ICC sticker before being
distributed in the Philippine Market.
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PS AND ICC MARK
- As a general rule, the PS mark or ICC sticker should be
placed on the product itself, except in cases where affixing
the mark/sticker to the product is not practicable, such as on
ballasts, self-ballasted lamps, single/double capped
fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, circuit breakers,
electrical tapes, wires & cables, and flat cord; or if affixing the
sticker to the product will cause damage to its original
packaging such as on television sets, air-conditioning units,
refrigerators, and microwave ovens.
PS AND ICC MARK
- The BPS encourages consumers to always look for the PS
mark or ICC sticker when buying products covered under the
mandatory certification and to report stores selling covered
products without the said required markings.
- Verification of the PS mark or ICC sticker may be done by
calling the BPS Standards Conformity Division (SCD) at
(+632) 7791-3130/3131/3329/3330 & 0917-503-6258 or by
emailing BPS@dti.gov.ph.
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THANK YOU
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