Various factors play a role in determining the type, size, number, and location of portable fire extinguishers you need to keep in your building.
Fire extinguishers are required in almost every single building. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the standard which defines the type and quantity of fire extinguishers required in buildings. Do you know how many fire extinguishers are required for your building? The answer: it depends. Various factors play a role in determining the type, size, number, and location of portable fire extinguishers you need to keep your building code compliant. Read on to learn more!
Local and National Requirements
NFPA, local codes, and OSHA prescribe requirements for the number of fire extinguishers in buildings. Your fire protection company can help you figure out these requirements for your facility. Factors that determine the type and size include:
- Size and Layout of the Building: the area and layout of a building will determine the number of fire extinguishers required.
- Fire Hazard Level: public buildings are assigned a fire level hazard based on their purpose and what they contain. Classifications are:
-
- Light Hazard: Where the combustibility
- and quantity of Class A combustibles – Class B flammables are low.
- Ordinary Hazard I and II: Where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible materials and Class B flammable liquids are moderate.
- Extra Hazard I and II: Where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible material are high or where higher amounts of Class B flammable liquids are present.
- Commercial kitchens: Where Class K combustible material is present. These are: cooking oils used on kitchen equipment with a large amount of heat.
The size and type of your fire extinguisher is required in your building is based on the fire hazard level.
Placement and Location
Having the correct type of extinguisher for the correct hazard is essential, but so is location. NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, requires fire extinguishers to be located where they’re readily accessible and available in case of a fire. This means they should be located along the travel paths for ease of access in case of a fire. They also must be visible. If this is not possible, signage should be installed to show the location of fire extinguishers. Try to place the extinguisher’s bottom at least four feet from the ground and the top no more than five feet from the floor.
Expert Help
As with all other fire protection questions, you should always contact a licensed, professional fire protection company to help you figure out the type, size and quantity of fire extinguishers required for your building. Give Fireline a call today to help you with this important issue!
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.