How do I calculate how many fire extinguishers I need?

Author: Jennifer Bogan  |  Last update: Saturday, August 2, 2025

Calculate Based on Square Footage:
  1. For buildings less than 3,000 square feet, at least one 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguisher is required.
  2. For buildings between 3,000 and 6,000 square feet in size, at least two 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguishers are required.

How to calculate the number of fire extinguishers required?

There should be a minimum of 2 extinguishers per floor, unless the upper floor area is very small, i.e. below 100m2, and in single occupancy, in which case, only one extinguisher is required on the upper floor.

How many fire extinguishers do I require?

The National Fire Protection Association recommends a 2-A: 10-B:C fire extinguisher for each level of your house and a higher-rated extinguisher, such as a 3-A: 40B-C Garage/Workshop unit for your garage. Regular fire extinguishers may not work with a fire caused by electricity, such as burning electrical wires.

What determines the number of fire extinguishers required?

There are two main factors to consider when determining how many fire extinguishers you will need: the square footage of the building and the building's hazard level.

How do I choose a fire extinguisher capacity?

Consider the Size of the Room

For a room of average dimension, a 5-lb fire extinguisher may be sufficient. For larger commercial spaces and warehouses where a fire has more room to spread, a larger 10-lb model may be necessary.

How Many Fire Extinguishers Do I Need for My Home?

How many square feet does a 10 lb fire extinguisher cover?

Class B size rating: The number beside the letter B ranges from 1 to 640. This tells you the square footage the extinguisher is rated to handle. Therefore, a 10B size rating means the extinguisher can effectively fight a fire that has spread up to 10 square feet.

What is the golden rule of fire extinguishers?

The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.

What is the 75 rule for fire extinguishers?

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.

Where is the best place to put a fire extinguisher in your home?

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.

What is the OSHA requirement for fire extinguishers?

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.

Can you use an ABC fire extinguisher on a grease fire?

Other ways to put out grease fires…

Use a class B or BC or ABC fire extinguisher. A Fire Extinguisher will release a-lot of pressure, so start at a distance away and move towards the fire, rather than up-close spraying directly on to the burning grease which could tip the pan and spread the fire.

How far apart should fire extinguishers be from each other?

Instead, portable fire extinguishers should be placed every 106 ft to take advantage of the coverage area per extinguisher and conforming to the shape of most rooms (see Figure 4 below). This of course assumes that there are no dividing walls that would impede the path to an extinguisher.

How many fire extinguishers do I need?

The how many is not always easy to gauge but, as a general rule, you will need one water-based extinguisher such as water, water additive (the best option for most) or foam (3 litre or bigger) for every 2000 square foot or 200 square metres of floor space. This is per floor.

What is the formula for a fire extinguisher?

Soda-acid fire extinguishers consist of sodium bicarbonate and sulphuric acid. The chemical reaction that takes place in the soda-acid fire extinguisher is as follows: 2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O + 2CO.

How do you calculate how much you need to fire?

The rule of 25 says you need to save 25 times your annual expenses to retire. To get this number, first multiply your monthly expenses by 12 to figure out your annual expenses. You then multiply that annual expense by 25 to get your FIRE number or the amount you'll need to retire.

How many fire extinguishers are required in a home?

One for Each Floor

How many floors does your home have? One good place to start when determining how many fire extinguishers you need is purchasing one for each floor of your home. This includes your basement and attic—even if you don't regularly use either of those spaces.

Is it illegal to use a fire extinguisher when there is no fire?

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.

What is the minimum number of fire extinguishers?

Fire Extinguisher Ratings and Placement

To calculate how many 13A extinguishers you need, divide your floor area by 200 and round up. For example, a floor area of 1300 square meters would require seven 13A water-based extinguishers. Always have a minimum of two extinguishers per floor, unless the area is very small.

What does ABC stand for in fire extinguishers?

Fire Extinguisher Classes

The letter on a fire extinguisher indicates its classification: 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.

What does 1 person, 1 fire, and 1 extinguisher mean?

A : "One Fire - One Extinguisher", is a brand-new approach to fire safety in the UK. These extinguishers are called "WATER-MIST" and have been manufactured with the idea that there should be only one fire extinguisher to deal with all types of fire.

What are the guidelines for fire extinguishers?

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.

Is a 20 year old fire extinguisher still good?

When do fire extinguishers expire? Although they don't have a true "expiration date," traditional fire extinguishers generally have a 10-12 year life expectancy. Disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguishers should be replaced every 10 years.

Is it cheaper to recharge a fire extinguisher or buy a new one?

Recharging is generally more economical for larger, well-maintained extinguishers. However, replacing a small or damaged extinguisher might be more cost-effective in the long run, especially if frequent recharging is required.

What is the best fire extinguisher for home use?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides minimum recommendations for the home: Primary Fire Extinguishers - For your main home protection, install a 2-A:10-B:C rated extinguisher on every level of your home - no more than 40 feet apart. Include all locations where a fire may start.

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