First Alert PRO5 review
First Alert PRO5 Heavy Duty Fire Extinguisher (2-A:10-B:C)
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- UL rating
- 2-A:10-B:C
- Weight
- 9.6 lb
- Type
- Rechargeable dry chemical
A 2-A:10-B:C unit: the size fire codes treat as a minimum for many settings, and a sensible one for a garage, workshop or hallway.
- Best for
- The whole-home extinguisher
- Skip it if
- You need something light for a kitchen
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- 2-A:10-B:C rating
- Rechargeable
Worth knowing
- 9.6 lb: heavy for some users
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Our review
The First Alert PRO5 is a rechargeable heavy-duty dry chemical extinguisher with a metal head, a metal pull pin and a color-coded gauge, which First Alert's own page rates 3-A:40-B:C at 10.2 lb with a 12-year limited warranty. This researched review reads First Alert's page and the Red Cross's rules on when to fight a fire, and notes where the maker's rating differs from the listing we track.
What First Alert lists
First Alert's product page for the PRO5 (model FE3A40GR) calls it a Rechargeable Heavy Duty Plus Fire Extinguisher, UL rated 3-A:40-B:C, and says it fights paper, wood, fabric, electrical and flammable liquid fires. The spec table gives 16.2 inches tall, 6 by 4.8 inches, 10.2 lb, and a 12-year limited warranty. First Alert says it can be recharged by a certified professional if used, includes a heavy-duty wall mounting bracket, and has a metal gauge that resists corrosion, with a color-coded dial, and a metal pull pin with a safety seal to deter accidental discharge.
One thing to flag: the listing our fire extinguisher comparison tracks gives the PRO5 a 2-A:10-B:C rating. First Alert's own page says 3-A:40-B:C, which is a larger extinguisher. We have gone with the maker. Check the label on the cylinder you receive; the UL rating is printed on it.
What 3-A:40-B:C means
The numbers are UL's measure of how much fire the unit can put out. The A figure covers ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper and fabric; a 3-A unit handles about half again as much as a 2-A. The B figure covers flammable liquids and is roughly the square feet of burning liquid a trained user can extinguish; 40-B is four times a 10-B. The C means the agent does not conduct electricity, so it is safe on energized equipment.
A 3-A:40-B:C is more extinguisher than most kitchens need and about right for a garage, a workshop or the base of a stairwell, where a fire may have grown before you reach it. The price of that capacity is weight: 10.2 lb is heavy to swing one-handed, which is why First Alert also sells smaller home units.
When to use it, and when to leave
The Red Cross says to use an extinguisher only when everyone has left or is leaving the home, the fire department has been called, the fire is small and not spreading, you have your back to an exit, and there is not much smoke. It also says that if the fire does not immediately die down, drop the extinguisher and get out.
Mount it on the bracket near an exit on the room's escape route, not next to the stove or furnace where a fire would block you from reaching it. Our home fire escape plan guide covers the drill, and the smoke alarm placement guide covers the alarms that give you the warning in the first place.
Upkeep
Check the gauge monthly: the needle should sit in the green. First Alert says the PRO5 can be recharged by a certified professional after use, which is the point of buying a rechargeable metal-head unit over a disposable one; find a local fire equipment service before you need it. Dry chemical agent can pack down, so turn the unit over a couple of times a year and listen for the powder moving.
First Alert's page lists a 12-year limited warranty. The page gives no discharge time or range, so we cannot compare those with Kidde's.
How it compares, and who should skip it
The Kidde Pro 210 is the direct rival at 2-A:10-B:C, also rechargeable, and a smaller unit. If First Alert's 3-A:40-B:C rating is right for the unit you receive, the PRO5 is the bigger extinguisher and the better pick for a garage or workshop; the Kidde is easier to handle in a kitchen or hallway.
Skip the PRO5 if you need something a smaller or older member of the household can lift and aim quickly, or if you want a unit for the kitchen alone: a lighter 1-A:10-B:C home unit is better there. Skip any single extinguisher as a substitute for working smoke alarms and a practiced way out.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: First Alert: Rechargeable Heavy Duty Fire Extinguisher UL rated 3-A:40-B:C (PRO5) product page; American Red Cross: fire safety equipment.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you need something light for a kitchen: the HOME1 is easier to handle.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for From a fire-equipment specialist
See the comparison →Best for Light enough for the kitchen
See the comparison →Questions
Is the First Alert PRO5 rated 2-A:10-B:C or 3-A:40-B:C?
First Alert's page says 3-A:40-B:C for model FE3A40GR; the listing we track says 2-A:10-B:C. The rating is printed on the cylinder's UL label, so check the unit you receive.
Can it be refilled?
Yes. First Alert says it can be recharged by a certified professional if used. Find a local fire equipment service and have it recharged after any discharge, however brief.
How heavy is it?
First Alert lists 10.2 lb and 16.2 inches tall. That is fine on a wall bracket by an exit but heavy to swing with one hand, so smaller users may prefer a lighter unit.
When should I not use it?
The Red Cross says to fight a fire only if everyone is out or leaving, the fire department has been called, the fire is small and not spreading, your back is to an exit and there is little smoke. If it does not die down at once, drop it and get out.