---
title: What does the number mean on fire extinguishers?
description: The number indicates the extinguisher's effectiveness on a particular class of fire.
image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/pcoc2021/images/fire-extinguisher-boat-5-10-hr.png
---

The numbers on fire extinguishers refer to the extinguisher's UL (Underwriters Laboratories) rating, which is a measure of the extinguisher's effectiveness in putting out fires of a particular **type and size.**

The number indicates the extinguisher's effectiveness on a particular class of fire. The higher the number, the more effective the extinguisher is at putting out that type of fire. For example, a fire extinguisher with a UL rating of 2A would be more effective on a Class A fire than one with a rating of 1A.

 

![Number on a fire extinguisher](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/fire-extinguisher-boat-5-10-hr.png?width=1100&height=1100&name=fire-extinguisher-boat-5-10-hr.png)

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