In general, fire extinguishers should be located near exit doors and in exit paths so that employees do not have to go deeper into a building to get a fire extinguisher, thus compromising their ability to exit should that be necessary.
Do not hide them behind a screen, a door or a retail display as inaccessibility makes them next to useless. Other places to fix them are at fire exit doors and tops and/or bottom of stairs. In essence, they should be on fire exit routes whilst not obstructing the route itself.
If you have a fire extinguisher, it should be placed where it is easily accessible. The kitchen and garage are good sites for an extinguisher.
If visual obstructions cannot be avoided, then arrows, lights, or signs are needed to help indicate where a fire extinguisher is located. Extinguishers should be placed where they are readily accessible in the event of a fire, which typically includes normal paths of travel.
Those with gross weights of no more than 40 pounds (lbs.) should be mounted with their carrying handles no higher than 5 feet from the floor. Larger fire extinguishers (over 40 lbs. gross weight) need to be mounted at lower heights, with their carrying handles no more than 3-1/2 feet from the floor.
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.
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.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
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.
Visibility. The siting of fire extinguishers is extremely important. Extinguishers should be located in a noticeable position and available for immediate use at all times, they should be fitted on brackets or stands where they will be readily seen by any person following an escape route e.g. close to exits.
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.
Visibility and Awareness: When fire extinguishers are placed in visible, easily accessible locations, they increase employee and visitor awareness. This visibility serves as a constant reminder of fire safety measures and can help people familiarize themselves with the locations of these crucial safety devices.
Placing it at an area where everyone can see it makes it easy to check the pressure gauge. It should be safe to reach. 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.
Fire extinguishers are required in most commercial, industrial and residential buildings. The only buildings where fire extinguishers are not mandated are family homes.
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)'. This standard was first published in 1962 and revised in 1972, 1976 and 1985.
Class A puts out ordinary combustible fires (wood, paper, plastic, etc.) Class B puts out flammable liquid fires (oil, gas, petroleum, etc.) Class C puts out electrical fires. Class D puts out combustible metal fires (magnesium, titanium, potassium, sodium, etc.)
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.
General requirements
An employer must: Provide portable fire extinguishers and mount, locate, and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury. [29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1)]
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.
To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with the carrying handle placed 3-1/2 to 5 feet above the floor. Larger fire extinguishers need to be mounted at lower heights with the carrying handle about 3 feet from the floor.
Fire code violations are actions or conditions that violate regulations designed to promote fire safety and prevent fires. Ensuring fire safety in commercial and residential buildings is not just a legal obligation but a critical responsibility that can save lives.
The Prevalence of Electrical Violations
In the realm of workplace safety, you'll often find that mishaps with wiring methods, components, and equipment top the list. These violations not only endanger lives but also result in hefty penalties.