PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. It is a four-step method for using a portable fire extinguisher: pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and sweep the nozzle from side to side. It applies only to a small fire that has just started, when you have been trained, the alarm has been raised and you have a clear way out behind you.
PASS is a memory aid, not a law or a standard. It tells you how to operate the extinguisher once you have decided to use it. The decision to fight the fire at all is the harder one, and this page covers both, along with choosing the right extinguisher and the workplace rules that apply.
PASS step by step
| Letter | Step | What to do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Pull | Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, pull the pin and release the locking mechanism | Pulling the pin while pointing the nozzle at yourself or at someone else |
| A | Aim | Point the nozzle low, at the base of the fire | Aiming at the flames or the smoke instead of the fuel |
| S | Squeeze | Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly to discharge | Squeezing in short bursts or letting go too early |
| S | Sweep | Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base until the fire is out | Stopping as soon as the flames drop, then turning away |
These steps are the same wording used by NFPA. The details vary between extinguisher types, so read the label and the instructions before you need them.
Should you fight the fire at all?
NFPA’s guidance puts it simply: the first priority is to get out safely, and an extinguisher is one element of a fire response plan, not the main one. Use a portable extinguisher only when all of these are true.
- The fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing.
- Everyone has left the building, or is leaving, and the alarm has been raised.
- The fire department has been called or is being called.
- The room is not filled with smoke.
- You have the right extinguisher for the fire and you know how to use it.
- You can keep your back to a clear exit while you use it.
If any of these is not true, leave, close the door behind you and call for help. NFPA also advises that if the room fills with smoke you should leave immediately. For the sequence around PASS, see what RACE stands for in fire safety.
PASS and RACE: how they fit together
| RACE | PASS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | The whole response: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate | Only how to operate an extinguisher |
| When it applies | From the moment you see a fire | Only if you have decided to extinguish a small fire |
| Where it sits | The overall plan | Inside the E of RACE |
Choose the right extinguisher first
PASS works the same way on most portable extinguishers, but the wrong agent can make a fire worse. Check the label for the classes of fire it is rated for. UK colors and classes are shown below; US labels use class letters and pictographs, and in the US Class C means energized electrical equipment.
| Extinguisher | Label color (UK) | Use on | Do not use on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Red | Wood, paper, textiles and other organic solids (Class A) | Burning fat or oil, and electrical appliances |
| Foam | Cream | Solids, and flammable liquids such as petrol and paint (Classes A and B) | Cooking fat fires such as chip pans, and live electrical equipment unless it is marked as tested for it |
| Dry powder | Blue | Solids, liquids, gases and live electrical equipment (Classes A, B and C) | Confined spaces, because the powder can cut visibility and make breathing hard. Never mix different powders |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | Black | Flammable liquids (Class B) and live electrical equipment | Confined spaces. Do not hold the horn, because it becomes very cold |
| Wet chemical | Yellow | Cooking oils and fats (Class F) | Flammable liquids and electrical equipment. Check the manufacturer’s instructions |
Colors are from UK fire service guidance. For the full list of types and classes, see how many types of fire extinguisher there are, what a Class A fire is, fire and the fire triangle and the fire tetrahedron.
Using PASS well
- Know where the extinguishers are before there is a fire. Check the route to the nearest one on your first day. See the fire extinguisher placement calculator for how many a building needs.
- Check your exit first. Position yourself with your back to the exit you will use to leave.
- Start at a safe distance and move in only if the fire is going down. If it does not respond quickly, stop and leave.
- Aim at the fuel, not at the flames. The flames are only the visible part of the fire. The fire burns at the base, so that is where the agent has to go.
- Sweep steadily and keep the discharge on the base. A portable extinguisher can run out quickly, so do not waste it.
- Watch for reignition after the flames go out. Some agents, such as CO2 and dry powder, do not cool the fuel well, so the fire may start again. Do not re-enter until the fire service says it is safe.
- Report every use and replace the extinguisher. Even a partly used extinguisher must be recharged or replaced.
Workplace rules: training and inspection (US OSHA)
OSHA’s portable fire extinguisher standard, 29 CFR 1910.157, applies where an employer provides extinguishers for employee use. These are the main points.
| Topic | What the standard says |
|---|---|
| Training | The employer must provide education on the principles and hazards of using extinguishers when employees are hired and at least annually afterward. Employees designated to use extinguishers must be trained in their use. |
| Placement | The employer must distribute extinguishers so that the travel distance to a Class A extinguisher is 75 feet or less and to a Class B extinguisher 50 feet or less. Class D has its own distance rule in the standard. |
| Monthly check | Portable extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly. |
| Annual check | An annual maintenance check is required, and the date is recorded on a tag or in a log kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. |
| Hydrostatic testing | Extinguishers are hydrostatically tested at the intervals in Table L-1 of the standard, which depend on the type. |
| Total evacuation | If the employer has a written policy requiring immediate and total evacuation on the alarm, with an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan, and no extinguishers are available in the workplace, the employer is exempt from the whole section unless another standard requires an extinguisher. If the emergency action plan designates only certain employees to use extinguishers, the placement-distance rules do not apply. |
Many workplaces use total evacuation for exactly the reasons above: not every worker should fight a fire. Whichever policy you follow, put it in writing and practice it. See fire drill safety, fire escape safety, fire safety in the workplace, fire safety risk assessment and the industrial fire safety checklist. For building sites, see implementing fire safety planning in construction areas.
Outside the US, use your own fire regulations. In the UK, local fire and rescue services publish guidance, and the extinguisher type should follow from your fire risk assessment.
Training in practice
- Use real extinguishers in hands-on sessions run by a competent trainer, not only slides.
- Cover the decision to fight or leave, not only the four steps.
- Use the same wording on the posters and in the training.
- Repeat training at least annually if your policy has designated users.
- NFPA advises that only adults who know how to operate extinguishers should use them, and that children should not be trained to fight fires.
Questions about PASS
PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. It is a standard method for operating fire extinguishers safely and effectively.
PASS is used for small, controllable fires only. It is not suitable for large or rapidly spreading fires.
Yes, but proper training is strongly recommended to avoid mistakes during emergencies.
Aiming at the base of the fire is the most critical step for effective extinguishing.
Yes, it is a core element in workplace fire safety and emergency response training.
Related guides
- Fire evacuation drill report template
- Fire detection and alarm systems guide
- Fire hydrant inspection checklist
- Emergency lighting inspection checklist
- Fire safety in the workplace: ensuring a secure work environment
- Health and safety training
- Hot work permit checklist
- Gas cylinder storage inspection checklist
Sources (checked 1 November 2026)
- NFPA, Fire extinguishers
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers
- London Fire Brigade, Hand held portable firefighting equipment (guidance note 8)
- Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Fire extinguishers
- Fire Protection Association, Who is responsible for using a fire extinguisher?
The PASS table of common mistakes and the training tips are general good practice. Training, placement and inspection points are from US OSHA 1910.157; check the rules where you work.