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Overview
Class B and Class C fires — fuelled by flammable liquids, combustible gases, and energised electrical equipment — are among the most unpredictable and fast-developing fire hazards in industrial, marine, and military environments. A Class B fire fed by spilled fuel or hydraulic oil can reach a size that exceeds first-attack extinguisher capability in under a minute. A Class C gas jet fire or electrical panel fire can re-ignite the moment suppression agent disperses if the fuel source or energy input has not been isolated. The extinguisher specified for these risks needs to deliver high agent volume, adequate discharge range, and the chemical fire-breaking action of dry powder — quickly, reliably, and in the hands of a single operator.
The ABS 6KG and 12KG BC Karate Powder Fire Extinguisher (Cartridge) is a cartridge-operated dry chemical powder extinguisher rated at 233B — a Class B fire suppression performance classification that reflects substantial flammable liquid fire knockdown capability — and approved for Class C electrical fire use. The Karate BC powder formulation is a dry chemical agent specifically optimised for Class B and C fire suppression, and has been deployed for decades in the environments where this performance is most critical: flammable liquid stores, refineries, marine engine rooms, military airports, and coastal industrial installations.
What separates the ABS Karate Cartridge extinguisher from stored-pressure BC powder alternatives is the independence it provides in the field. After discharge, there is no need for a pressurised workshop, a recharge station, or a contracted service engineer. The crew replaces the spent CO2 propellant cartridge, refills the powder agent, and the extinguisher is back in service. On a vessel at sea, on an offshore installation between supply visits, or at a remote industrial site, this self-contained recharge capability is the specification factor that determines whether a discharged extinguisher stays operational — or sits out of service until the next port call.
Key Features
BC Karate Powder Agent — Engineered for Class B and Class C Fire Suppression
The Karate powder formulation is a BC-rated dry chemical powder specifically developed for flammable and combustible liquid fires (Class B) and energised electrical equipment fires (Class C). The dry chemical agent works by interrupting the chemical chain reaction that sustains combustion — providing rapid knockdown of Class B fires involving pooling flammable liquids, pressurised fuel jet fires, solvent fires, and hydraulic oil fires, and suppressing Class C fires on electrical panels, switchgear, generators, and control equipment. For environments where Class B and C risks are the primary fire hazard — refinery process areas, engine rooms, flammable liquid stores, electrical equipment rooms — the BC Karate formulation is the appropriate agent type: higher Class B performance than ABC powder in direct test comparisons, with no Class A chalk residue concerns in electrical equipment areas.
Cartridge-Operated Design — Field Recharge Without Workshop Equipment
The propellant system uses a separate CO2 cartridge (150g for the 6KG unit; 300g for the 12KG unit) that is pierced at the point of activation, driving the powder agent through the hose and nozzle. After discharge, recharging the unit requires only the replacement of the spent CO2 cartridge and a fresh powder agent refill — tasks that trained maintenance personnel or vessel crew can complete without specialist pressurisation equipment, a workshop facility, or a contracted service engineer. This is the operational differentiator that makes the cartridge design the standard choice for marine, offshore, and remote industrial deployments: a discharged extinguisher can be returned to full operational status immediately, regardless of location or proximity to a service facility.
233B Fire Rating — Verified Class B Suppression Performance
Both the 6KG and 12KG variants carry a 233B Class B fire rating — assigned following standardised EN 3 fire test performance against a defined Class B test fire array. The 233B rating is a substantial Class B suppression performance classification, providing HSE officers, fire safety consultants, and procurement teams with a documented, testable performance basis for specifying these units against the Class B fire sizes identified in a site fire risk assessment. Specifying by fire rating rather than by agent weight alone ensures that the unit is confirmed adequate for the fire hazard — not just nominally sized.
-30°C to +60°C Operating Temperature Range — Arctic to Equatorial Environments
Both variants are rated for operation across a temperature range of -30°C to +60°C — covering Arctic offshore installations and cold-climate vessel operations at the lower end, through to equatorial refineries, desert industrial sites, and tropical port facilities at the upper end. This range exceeds many comparable portable BC powder extinguishers, which are often rated only to -20°C or +40°C. For procurement teams managing fire equipment across geographically diverse vessel fleets, multi-climate industrial portfolios, or international facility networks, the -30°C to +60°C specification eliminates the need for climate-specific product variants and simplifies inventory standardisation.
7-Metre Discharge Distance — Safe Standoff from Class B Fire Sources
Both the 6KG and 12KG units deliver a 7-metre discharge distance, allowing the operator to begin agent application from a safe standoff position relative to a Class B pool fire or a pressurised fuel jet fire — where close-range approach exposes the operator to radiant heat, flashback risk, and toxic combustion products. For industrial fire response procedures that specify a minimum standoff distance for first-attack extinguisher use on flammable liquid fires, the 7-metre discharge range ensures the extinguisher meets the operational safety requirement as well as the suppression performance requirement.
Wide Cylinder Opening — Powder Condition Inspection Without Specialist Tools
The cylinder incorporates a wide opening that allows crew to inspect the internal condition of the powder charge using an adjustable spanner — without specialist inspection equipment or a service technician. BC dry powder can compact or cake over time in humid or vibration-heavy environments, reducing discharge efficiency. The ability to confirm powder condition at each periodic maintenance check ensures the unit is serviceable at the point of need — a practical maintenance feature that matters on vessels and remote industrial sites where fire equipment inspection is carried out in-house rather than by a contracted service engineer.
Two Capacity Options — 6KG and 12KG Variants for Deployment Flexibility
The availability of both 6KG and 12KG variants from the same Karate BC Cartridge product line allows procurement teams to specify the appropriate unit for each installation position: the 6KG unit (10.7 KG charged, 560mm height) for personal-issue, vehicle-mounted, and confined-space installation positions where unit weight and physical dimensions are a constraint; the 12KG unit (16 KG charged, 605mm height) for fixed wall-mounted positions in higher-risk areas, engine rooms, machinery spaces, and process equipment areas where a larger agent charge is warranted by the fire risk assessment. Both units share the same cartridge-recharge design and operating procedure, simplifying crew training and maintenance standardisation across mixed-capacity deployments.
Technical Specifications
Model / Part No: FEM-AB-DC06-BC (6KG) | FEM-AB-DC12-BC (12KG)
Extinguishing Agent: BC Karate Dry Chemical Powder
Agent Capacity: 6 KG | 12 KG
Propellant Cartridge: 150g CO2 (6KG) | 300g CO2 (12KG)
Test Standard: EN 3
Fire Rating: 233B (both variants)
Fire Classes Covered: Class B, Class C
Discharge Distance: 7 m (both variants)
Approx. Discharge Time: 18 seconds (6KG) | 20 seconds (12KG)
Working Pressure: 13 bar (both variants)
Test Pressure: 26 bar (both variants)
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +60°C (both variants)
Body Diameter: 160 mm (6KG) | 190 mm (12KG)
Height: 560 mm (6KG) | 605 mm (12KG)
Approx. Total Weight (Charged): 10.7 KG (6KG) | 16 KG (12KG)
Operation Method: Cartridge Operated
Benefits
For vessel operators and offshore facility managers, the primary operational benefit of the cartridge-operated design is continuous asset availability. A stored-pressure BC powder extinguisher that has been discharged — whether in a fire event or during a training drill — is out of service until returned to a pressurised workshop for recharge. On a vessel three weeks from the nearest port with a fire equipment service facility, that means the extinguisher is unavailable for the remainder of the voyage. The cartridge-operated ABS Karate unit is returned to service by the vessel’s own maintenance team, using spare cartridge and powder stock carried in the ship’s stores — the same day it was discharged.
For HSE officers managing fire equipment compliance across industrial sites or vessel fleets, the EN 3 certification and documented 233B fire rating provide a clear, auditable specification basis for each unit in the inventory. Fire authority inspectors, classification society surveyors, and insurance risk assessors reviewing fire protection provision can verify compliance from the product documentation — without requiring additional testing or performance confirmation. The two available part numbers (FEM-AB-DC06-BC and FEM-AB-DC12-BC) provide unambiguous procurement references for inventory management, repeat orders, and service parts sourcing.
For procurement teams managing multi-site or multi-vessel inventories, standardising on a single product family — 6KG and 12KG variants sharing the same agent type, recharge procedure, and operating protocol — reduces training complexity, simplifies spare parts management, and creates a consistent maintenance workflow across all installation positions. Crew trained on one variant can operate and service the other without additional instruction.
Who It’s For
Vessel Engineers and Marine Safety Officers
A vessel engineer responsible for fire equipment maintenance on a commercial vessel faces a recurring challenge: portable extinguishers discharged during a voyage or fire drill need to be returned to service before the next potential fire event, not at the next port call. The ABS Karate BC Cartridge extinguisher is designed precisely for this scenario. With replacement cartridges and powder refill stock carried in the vessel’s stores, the engineer completes the recharge in the engine room workshop — no outside contractor, no shore facility, no delay. For SOLAS-applicable vessels carrying BC powder extinguishers in engine rooms, pump rooms, and cargo handling areas, this is the product design that keeps the fire equipment inventory fully serviceable throughout the voyage.
Refinery and Petrochemical Plant Fire Safety Managers
A fire safety manager at a refinery or petrochemical processing facility is specifying first-attack BC powder extinguishers for process unit access points, flammable liquid storage bunds, loading and unloading areas, and equipment rooms — all positions where Class B and C fire risk is the primary hazard and the fire rating specification needs to be matched to the risk assessment findings. The ABS Karate 12KG unit’s 233B fire rating, 7-metre discharge distance, and -30°C to +60°C operating range cover the full spectrum of Class B fire scenarios found in refinery environments, from cold-climate facilities to tropical coastal refineries — without requiring climate-specific product variants.
Military Base and Airport Fire Safety Officers
Military airports and airside fuel handling facilities carry intense Class B fire risk from aviation fuel storage, aircraft refuelling operations, and vehicle fuel handling — environments where the ABS Karate BC powder extinguisher has a documented deployment history. A fire safety officer specifying portable first-attack equipment for airside positions needs a unit with verified fire rating performance, reliable function across climate extremes, and a recharge system that does not depend on civilian contractor access to restricted airside areas. The cartridge-operated design addresses the access constraint directly: base maintenance personnel handle recharge using stored cartridge and powder stock.
Possible Applications
Marine Vessel Engine Rooms and Pump Rooms
Engine rooms and pump rooms on commercial vessels carry continuous Class B and C fire risk from fuel systems, hydraulic lines, electrical switchboards, and generator sets. BC powder extinguishers mounted at engine room access points and at defined fire equipment stations provide first-attack capability for fuel system fire events, electrical panel fires, and hydraulic oil ignition incidents — covering the fire scenarios most frequently encountered in marine machinery spaces.
Refineries and Petrochemical Processing Units
Process units, storage tank bund areas, flammable liquid transfer points, and equipment rooms in refineries and petrochemical facilities carry significant Class B fire risk. BC powder extinguishers positioned at process unit access points and bund perimeter positions provide the first-attack capacity for fuel spill fires, pressurised product release fires, and process equipment fires at the early development stage — before the fire load exceeds portable first-attack suppression capability.
Military Airports and Airside Fuel Handling Areas
Aviation fuel handling, aircraft refuelling operations, and airside vehicle operations create concentrated Class B fire risk at refuelling points, fuel storage areas, and aircraft parking positions. BC powder extinguishers specified for military and civil airside first-attack use need verified fire ratings, reliable performance across climate extremes, and recharge independence from civilian service contractors — all of which the ABS Karate Cartridge series addresses directly.
Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms — Process and Utility Areas
Process areas, wellhead decks, gas compression modules, and generator rooms on fixed and floating offshore platforms carry Class B and C fire risk from hydrocarbon process streams, fuel gas systems, and electrical power equipment. BC powder extinguishers at process area access points and equipment room positions provide first-attack coverage for the Class B and C fire scenarios most likely to occur in offshore production environments.
Flammable Liquid Stores and Chemical Warehouses
Facilities storing flammable and combustible liquids — fuel storage buildings, chemical warehouses, paint stores, and solvent storage areas — require Class B rated first-attack extinguishers at access points and within the storage area. The 233B fire rating of the ABS Karate BC Cartridge series provides documented performance verification for Class B risk assessments in flammable liquid storage environments.
Coastal Installations — Fuel Jetties and Tank Farms
Fuel transfer operations at port facilities, coastal tank farms, and jetty installations involve Class B fire risk at loading arm connections, pipeline manifolds, and tank bund access points. BC powder extinguishers positioned along jetty walkways and at bund perimeter access points provide first-response capability for fuel spill fire events during vessel loading and discharging operations.
Industrial Facilities with Electrical Fire Risk — Generator Rooms, Switchgear Buildings
Generator rooms, electrical switchgear buildings, UPS rooms, and high-voltage equipment areas require Class C rated first-attack extinguishers. BC powder is the portable agent type appropriate for Class C electrical fire risk in industrial power equipment environments — CO2 is preferred where equipment contamination is a concern, but where large-volume agent capacity is required for high-risk electrical equipment positions, BC powder provides the fire suppression volume that CO2 portable units cannot match.
Trust & Certifications
EN 3 — European Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
EN 3 is the European standard governing design, construction, performance testing, and marking of portable fire extinguishers. Testing to EN 3 covers fire suppression performance (the fire rating tests), operating mechanism reliability, pressure containment, temperature cycle resistance, corrosion resistance, and agent compatibility. The 233B fire rating assigned to both ABS Karate BC Cartridge variants is the direct output of standardised EN 3 Class B fire test performance — providing procurement teams, fire authority inspectors, and insurance risk assessors with a documented, comparable performance basis for extinguisher specification and installation acceptance.
233B Fire Rating — Class B Performance Verification
The 233B fire rating is assigned following successful completion of standardised Class B fire test arrays under EN 3 conditions. The numeric component (233) represents the Class B test fire area suppressed; the B suffix confirms Class B flammable liquid fire category. For HSE officers and fire safety consultants preparing risk assessments and specifying first-attack fire equipment, the 233B rating provides the quantitative basis for confirming that the specified extinguisher is adequate for the Class B fire sizes identified in the risk assessment — rather than relying on nominal agent weight alone.
SOLAS Chapter II-2 Alignment — Marine Fire Fighting Equipment Compliance
SOLAS Chapter II-2 specifies fire protection, detection, and extinction requirements for commercial vessels. Portable fire extinguishers on SOLAS vessels must meet defined performance standards and be maintained to the manufacturer’s service schedule. EN 3-tested BC powder extinguishers with documented fire ratings and cartridge-recharge design provide the compliance evidence and operational serviceability basis for SOLAS Chapter II-2 fire fighting equipment requirements — relevant for vessel operators, flag state surveyors, and classification society surveyors verifying fire safety equipment compliance during periodic surveys and port state control inspections.
ABS — Fire Safety Equipment for Hostile Environments
The ABS brand is associated with fire extinguisher products specified and tested for demanding commercial, industrial, and marine environments. The Karate powder range is a documented product line with identified model numbers and part number references (FEM-AB-DC06-BC, FEM-AB-DC12-BC), supporting the procurement documentation trail required by HSE management systems, vessel safety equipment inventories, and institutional procurement processes where product traceability is a compliance requirement.
Accessories & Variants
Replacement CO2 Propellant Cartridge — 150g (6KG) / 300g (12KG)
Replacement CO2 propellant cartridges for the respective unit sizes should be stocked alongside the extinguishers — particularly on vessels and offshore platforms — to enable immediate field recharge following discharge. Confirm the correct cartridge specification for each unit size: 150g CO2 for FEM-AB-DC06-BC; 300g CO2 for FEM-AB-DC12-BC.
BC Karate Powder Refill — 6 KG / 12 KG
Following discharge, the powder agent charge is replaced with fresh BC Karate dry chemical powder. Stocking the appropriate refill quantity alongside the extinguisher ensures immediate recharge capability following a discharge event. Confirm BC Karate powder specification to maintain EN 3 fire rating compliance on the recharged unit.
Wall Mounting Bracket
Dedicated wall brackets secure the extinguisher at a fixed, identifiable position for immediate access. Bracket selection should account for the installation surface material and the operating environment — steel bulkhead bracket for marine installations; heavy-duty concrete anchor bracket for industrial building and plant room positions.
Fire Extinguisher Cabinet — Weatherproof Housing
A protective cabinet provides weatherproof housing for extinguishers in semi-exposed positions — outdoor covered equipment areas, vessel deck positions, coastal installation walkways, and jetty access points subject to salt air and direct weather exposure. Cabinet installation also supports fire equipment identification requirements in facilities where clearly marked extinguisher positions are required by fire safety regulations or insurance conditions.
Available Variants — Part Number Reference
FEM-AB-DC06-BC — 6 KG BC Karate Powder | Cartridge Operated | 150g CO2 | EN 3 | 233B | -30°C to +60°C | 10.7 KG charged | 560mm height
FEM-AB-DC12-BC — 12 KG BC Karate Powder | Cartridge Operated | 300g CO2 | EN 3 | 233B | -30°C to +60°C | 16 KG charged | 605mm height
Related Fire Safety Products
ABS 50 KG BC Karate Powder Trolley Extinguisher (FEM-AB-DC50-BC) — Wheeled trolley unit for high-risk industrial positions, refinery bund areas, and fuel jetty access points requiring agent volume beyond portable unit capacity
CO2 Extinguishers (2 kg / 5 kg) — Clean-agent electrical fire suppression for switchgear rooms, server rooms, and control panel areas where powder contamination would cause secondary damage to sensitive equipment
ABS 9L Foam Fire Extinguisher (Cartridge) — Class A, B, and F rated foam unit for galley areas, commercial kitchens, and facilities where Class F cooking oil fire risk is present alongside Class B flammable liquid risk
Get in Touch
If you are specifying BC powder fire extinguishers for a vessel fleet, offshore platform, refinery, military facility, or industrial site — or if you need to confirm the correct capacity variant, fire rating, and quantity for a specific risk assessment or fire safety schedule — contact us to discuss your requirement and request a formal procurement quotation.
Our team can assist with product selection against your fire safety specification, confirm EN 3 certification documentation for flag state or fire authority submission, and support procurement documentation for HSE compliance and audit purposes.
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