An overview of key requirements for fire extinguisher placement including extinguisher classifications, height, distance, visibility, and accessibility.
Did you know that almost 2 million fires are handled entirely by a fire extinguisher in the United States every year? (EnGauge Inc.) That is a staggering number that highlights just how useful portable fire extinguishers can be in stifling fires and reducing damage. Though these pieces of equipment can be powerful agents for fighting fires, they are only as useful as they are accessible. In this article we will dive into the importance of effective fire extinguisher placement and key requirements to know.
Why Fire Extinguisher Placement Matters
According to stats from the Fire Industry Association, portable fire extinguishers were accountable for suppressing more than 93% of the blazes that occurred in 2021. That number has trended upward from 80% in 2003. These numbers highlight just why fire extinguisher placement matters. When fire extinguishers are accessible and properly used, they can play a significant role in fire prevention and safety.
With portable fire extinguishers being used to handle so many fires, it is vital that they be reasonably within reach for anyone who might need them.
Finding the Right Fire Extinguisher
The first factor to consider for fire extinguisher placement is the type of extinguisher that would best match the environment and risks of the area. Portable fire extinguishers are classified based on the type of fire that they are best designed to fight. The most common types include:
- Class A– Solid combustibles excluding wood, metal, cloth, paper, plastics, and rubber
- Class B– Flammable liquids including oil, gasoline, paint, and grease
- Class C– Energized electrical equipment
- Class D– Electrical equipment including outlets and appliances (combustible metals)
- Class K– Cooking grease or fat (from oil, animal, and vegetable products)
By understanding these different classifications, you can select and place the fire extinguisher that best fits your area and its potential risk factors.
Factors to Consider for Fire Extinguisher Placement
Once you have the correct type of fire extinguisher, you still need to make sure that it is placed where it will be easily usable in an emergency. To do this, there are 4 main factors to consider: the height it will be affixed at, the distance someone would have to travel to retrieve it, its visibility, and overall accessibility based on the surroundings.
Height:
Fire extinguishers must be mounted to the wall or stored in cabinets at a height where they are at least 4 inches off the ground and their carrying handles are between 3 ½ and 5 feet from the ground (depending on the type of fire extinguisher). This helps to ensure that they are high enough from the floor to prevent them from being moved unnecessarily or damaged. It also places the extinguishers at a height at which most people could reasonably see and get ahold of one during a fire incident.
Travel distance:
The longer it takes for a person to find and retrieve a fire extinguisher during an emergency, the higher the likelihood that there will be serious property damage or severe injuries. Because of this, NFPA 10 sets forth a “maximum travel distance to extinguisher” for each type of fire extinguisher. Essentially, this term means that at any point in the building you shouldn’t have to travel farther than the maximum distance to reach a fire extinguisher.
For Class A and D the max travel distance is 75 ft.
For Class B and K the max travel distance is 30 ft.
And for Class C, it is never just a C rating. This means the max travel distance is dependent on if it is rated for Class A or B and should follow the associated requirements.
**It is important to note that the travel distance should be calculated based on a path that someone could actually take. The distance shouldn’t be measured through walls or other obstructions.
Visibility:
Fire incidents can be very time-sensitive and adrenaline-inducing situations. Because of this, portable fire extinguishers should be clearly visible to the natural eye. Some strategies that can help with this are placing them at eye level and using signage to clearly indicate where they can be found.
Accessibility:
Extinguishers must be easy to access, meaning that they should not be blocked by any barriers or obstacles. Areas near and around fire extinguishers should be clear, clean, and open. This makes it much simpler for someone in an emergency to obtain a fire extinguisher and put it to use.
Conclusion
Fire extinguishers are one of the most common and reliable forms of equipment for fighting fires and reducing their damage. In order to ensure that these tools can be used in an emergency, they need to be properly placed to maximize their attainability. Fire extinguisher placement comes down to 5 main factors: the type of extinguisher, height, travel distance, visibility, and accessibility. By understanding these requirements, you can place your fire extinguishers in areas where they will be both compliant and practical for use.
