The US has no standardized color system they use symbols. The colors are used in Europe with water being a solid red, foam red along a cream panel, dry powder is red with a blue panel, and red with a yellow panel is used with wet chemical.
Firstly, we don't need an apostrophe on "extinguishers"
As for Fire Extinguisher colours, that depends on what they contain, which determines which type of fires each type may be used to extinguish, thus:
a) Red (Water/Gas originally) - for solid fuel (i.e.wood/paper), fires - though this colour has now been adopted for other extinguishers.
b) Blue (Dry Powder) - for Wheel/Brake fires on aircraft.
c) Cream (Foam) - for liquid/fuel fires.
d) Black (Carbon Dioxide gas) - for electrical or fuel fires.
e) Green (Bromoclorodiflouromethane, or BCF) - for fuel/electrical fires.
the different colors mean what there used for. Here are the 4 extinguishers
A is for wood and paper fires only. Use water to put out fire.
b is for liquid fires. you will need a co2 extinguisher
c is electrical fires. co2 is needed 2.
d can put out a b and c fires.
Because of what is inside. Normally red and silver is what you will see.
Red: Contains Foam
Silver: Contains water.
Please see the related links as I added the types of extenguishers link to it.
A fire extinguisher can be used to put out any flames regardless of their color.
In Europe all the fire extinguishers are red (color RAL 3000).
For other countries see the link bellow.
to put out fire In other words, because there are different types of fires there are different types of fire extinguishers. The label will tell you what type of fire it is designed for.
FIRE extinguishers are used to put out fire.
The different types of fire extinguishers are listed in classes according to which is appropriate for what type of fire. Below is an article which goes into the different classes of fire extinguishers.
1997: before then they (fire extinguishers) were to a different standard; B.S. 5423. and they were different colours for different types of media (stuff inside) Foam, Water, Halon etc. Now they are all Red in colour, with the relevant information displayed on the extinguisher.
There are different types of fire extinguishers. For a boat it would be best to get a portable type like those designed for use in automobiles.
1999
There are 5 different types of fires. Class A,B,C,D, and K. For a Class C fire, (electrical fire) you would not want to put out that fire with a fire extinguisher that was water in it. Water and electricity is not a good mix.
Many different types of fire extinguishers exist and many different gases are used. A water extinguisher may contain pressurized air. Other types use carbon dioxide or compressed nitrogen. There are also halogenated extinguishers containing proprietary mixtures of fire-suppression gases.
Extinguishers with a Class C rating (C can be used on Currents)
There are several types of fire extinguishers that one should purchase that rely on their compact form and low weight such as Alert 5 Rechargeable fire extinguishers, and Tundra Tundra extinguishers.
liquids
normally red, but different fires require different extinguishers which will vary in color.