Fire extinguishers must never be blocked by any obstacles, such as stacked products, that would prevent employees from quickly and safely accessing them in an emergency.
Most authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) will expect at least 36-inches clearance in front of the extinguisher as long as it is still visible. They “borrow” this 36-inch clearance measurement from NFPA 70-2011, Article 110.26 for electrical control panels.
At 1-6.6, it prohibits fire extinguishers from being blocked. If an employer can quickly go to the fire extinguisher and is able to easily reach the extinguisher, OSHA should be satisfied.
A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 10B, shall be provided within 50 feet of wherever more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are being used on the jobsite. This requirement does not apply to the integral fuel tanks of motor vehicles.
✓ Fire extinguishers: They are often blocked by other material, since they are rarely used. When there is a fire, the time spent getting to the extinguisher is time not spent using it to fight the flames. Never cover or block any extinguisher for even a short period of time.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
When it comes to confined spaces, you should, ideally, avoid using an extinguisher altogether. Instead, let's take a look at ways you can avoid the need for dry powder and CO2 extinguishers by making them safe and reducing risk in areas such as plant rooms, servers rooms and boiler rooms.
Pull: Pull the safety pin located at the top of the fire extinguisher. Aim: Aim the nozzle at the fire's base rather than its top. Squeeze: Squeeze the lever gently to release the extinguishing agent. Sweep: Sweep the fire extinguisher from side to side to sufficiently cover the fire and prevent it from spreading.
Did you think there was a fire and there wasn't? In both of these cases there would be no legal repercussions, unless you damaged something, which is possible using a dry chemical extinguisher around electrical equipment. If it was malicious however there could be charges.
Mounting Height: The operable parts of a fire extinguisher (e.g., the handle or lever) must be mounted at a height that is accessible to people with disabilities. Specifically, the highest operable part of the fire extinguisher should be no more than 48 inches (1220 mm) above the floor for unobstructed reach.
906.6Unobstructed and unobscured. Portable fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. In rooms or areas in which visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, means shall be provided to indicate the locations of extinguishers.
No, a clear floor space needs to be provided in front of fire extinguishers to allow easy access.
Every fire extinguisher must meet DOT requirements set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. DOT regulations for fire extinguishers require that all trucks, truck tractors, and buses be equipped with a fire extinguisher that meets DOT requirements.
Extinguishers also need to be installed in places where they're visible, but if an obstruction is unavoidable then there needs to be a sign provided to indicate the extinguisher's location.
Some local fire stations offer fire extinguisher inspections alongside other safety services. However, each fire department is different and some may not offer this service due to liability concerns. Check with your local fire department to see what fire safety services they offer.
Making sure the systems are working and can work at a moment's notice are often checked by more experienced inspectors. Inspections usually cost between $40 to $100 dollars depending on the immediacy and size of business.
OSHA requires a minimum-rated 10B fire extinguisher be provided within 50 feet of the point of job site use of more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas.
If you steal a fire extinguisher and are convicted of a third-degree felony, you can face a maximum fine of $5,000 and a prison sentence of not more than five years. This is the same level of punishment faced by those charged with stealing firearms, motor vehicles or controlled substances.
Use an extinguisher – Remember the golden fire extinguisher rule: only attempt to use an extinguisher if you can confidently tackle it with the right equipment. Otherwise, if in doubt, get out and stay out.
The employer shall distribute portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class A fires so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less.
The main reason would be it is difficult to locate a fire extinguisher when a fire occurs. By placing the fire extinguisher on the floor, we remove it out of our natural line of sight. This is both a fire hazard and one of the things that SCDF officers look out for during their building inspections.
But it shouldn't be installed in the immediate vicinity of the stove, where smoke and flames could block access. If you have a small kitchen, you may need to mount the kitchen extinguisher on a wall in the adjacent room—as long as it's easily accessible from the kitchen.
Obstructing emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels can greatly increase the severity of a fire. Stored materials should never be kept in front of extinguishers or exits.
Spraying too much CO2 can prevent those in the area having enough oxygen to breath, potentially leading to asphyxiation. This is particularly a problem in confined spaces. Because of this risk, it's highly advised to use dry powder extinguishers in the event of an electrical fire in a confined space.