Fire extinguishers are designed to clash and stand out so that even if someone is not familiar with the home can find it easily in an emergency. That means keeping it behind a door or closed off in a pantry or closet is absolutely not ideal.
You may be surprised as to why storing a fire extinguisher is important in bedrooms. Suppose the candles you lit for that lovely aroma you wanted falls on your carpet. This situation can quickly be handled if you store your extinguisher in your closet.
A fire extinguisher should always be placed in a path of escape not in the line of fire. If a fire blocks your path to a fire extinguisher, consider repositioning it to another spot.
Near Sources of Heat
Again, as with cooking equipment, don't keep the extinguisher right next to the source of heat, but a safe distance away.
The installation wall must support the extinguisher's weight, and the extinguisher handle must be at a minimum height to ensure it is readily accessible in case of an emergency. Properly installed extinguishers can significantly reduce the impact of fire hazards.
To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with their carrying handles placed 3-1/2 to 5 feet above the floor, depending on the type of extinguisher.
The details in regard to the maintenance are given in IS 2190 : 1992 'Code of practice for selection, installation and maintenance of portable first aid fire extinguishers (third revision)'.
The kitchen and garage are good sites for an extinguisher. However, do not place an extinguisher over the stove or buried in storage in the garage, but rather hang it on the wall no less than 4 inches or greater than 5 feet from the ground.
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.
Having one at the ready in or near the bedrooms may just save your life. It is recommended to have a 2.5 lb to 5 lb extinguisher in these important areas. If you have any questions about extinguisher placement in your home or types of extinguishers to use, contact us or stop by and talk to one of our firefighters.
Place fire extinguishers within reach on every level of your home. For your main home protection, install a 2-A: 10-B:C rated living area unit on every level of your home. Install close to exits, and in the kitchen and garage. Include all locations where a fire may start.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
Extinguishers not on wheels are often installed on hangers or brackets, which need to be intended for the extinguisher, but they can also be installed in cabinets. In my humble opinion portable fire extinguisher distribution and placement is the trickiest part of installation.
Store your portable fire extinguisher in plain view. It should not be hidden away in a closet. Some people store them in a night stand or near the door. There are also fire extinguisher cabinets you can buy if keeping the extinguisher accessible is an issue.
Extinguishers should be fixed to the wall or be held in a cabinet or stand to discourage people from moving them and protect against vandalism and accidental damage.
Properly securing and fastening your fire extinguisher to the wall ensures the device is secure, visible, and readily accessible by anyone who needs it. While you need people to be able to access it, you also need to mount your portable fire extinguishers in such a way that they can't be easily moved or damaged.
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.
Each extinguisher shall be located in conspicuous, readily accessible location. Fire and Rescue NSW recommends that a surrounding clearance of a minimum of 1000mm be maintained around each extinguisher.
Further, based on the threat, amount of combustible material involved, more than one type of extinguishers may have to be installed/used side by side in a building/ occupancy. A separate standard describing the selection, installation, and maintenance criteria namely, IS 2190 is of great help to building professionals.
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.
► Travel distance to the extinguisher cannot be more than 30 ft to 50 ft (9.1 m to 15.25 m), depending on the type of hazard and extinguisher rating. ► Required in areas where energized electrical equipment may be encountered.
The simple answer to this question is that while you can install your own fire extinguishers, you really shouldn't. At least, not unless you know exactly what you're doing, because there's a lot more to it than just putting them in the right place.
Fire extinguishers should never be on the floor, not just because it contravenes the rules and regulations of the NFPA. Still, an extinguisher on the floor could worsen a problem, so it must be installed and placed on a stand or fixed to a wall.