Which fire extinguisher rating is required for mobile crane operations?

• A. 10BC
• B. 5BC
• C. 2A 10BC
• D. 10A

Answer: (A)

Fires on mobile cranes are most likely to involve flammable liquids and electrical components, so you need an extinguisher rated for both liquid-fire and electrical fires. A BC rating covers Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (electrical) fires, and the B portion with a value of 10 indicates adequate capacity to control a typical liquid-fire incident. This makes it the right fit for crane hazards. A smaller B rating (like 5BC) wouldn’t provide as much extinguishing capability for a liquid-fuel fire. Adding an A rating (2A) isn’t necessary for crane-specific risks and doesn’t improve protection against electrical fires. An extinguisher rated only for Class A fires (10A) would miss the electrical and liquid hazards present. So the appropriate choice is a BC extinguisher with a B rating of 10.