The employer shall distribute portable fire extinguishers or other containers of Class D extinguishing agent for use by employees so that the travel distance from the combustible metal working area to any extinguishing agent is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less.
For Class A hazards, each extinguisher must be 2A or larger with a maximum travel distance of 75 feet between extinguishers. If Class B hazards are present, 10B extinguishers should be positioned so the travel distance for an occupant to reach any extinguisher is 50 feet or less.
Siting of Fire Extinguishers
It is usual to locate extinguishers adjacent to fire alarm call points, so people can actuate the fire alarm before picking up an extinguisher. Extinguishers should be sited so that it is not necessary to travel more than 30m to reach one. So therefore extinguishers can be 60 Metres apart.
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.
Place all extinguishers where they're easy to see and reach. Every fire extinguisher must be placed in a visible and easy-to-reach location with the label facing out. They should be installed along hallways, in meeting rooms, near exit doors, and in other common locations.
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.
No extinguisher should be mounted higher than 1200mm (120cm) off the floor. The bottom of the extinguisher should be no less than 100mm (10cm) from the floor. The majority of fire extinguishers we supply come with a wall bracket with the remaining smaller extinguishers being supplied with a vehicle bracket.
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.
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.
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.
Proceed with the 'PASS' method only if you are confident with your abilities. Start from a safe distance of about 8 feet away and move towards the fire only if it appears the extinguisher agent is working to control the flames. If the fire cannot be controlled, evacuate immediately to safety.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
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.
Extinguishers should be sited so that it is not necessary to travel more than 30 metres to reach one. So, therefore, extinguishers can be 60 metres apart.
Fire extinguisher spacing is addressed in NFPA 10 (Standard for portable fire extinguishers) section 6.2. 1.1. The standard rule of thumb is a travel distance of no more than 75 feet for class “A” hazards and fifty feet travel distance for class “B” hazards.
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.
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 should be placed in a location where they are visible and easily identifiable, such as near exits or in well-lit areas.
The employer shall distribute portable fire extinguishers or other containers of Class D extinguishing agent for use by employees so that the travel distance from the combustible metal working area to any extinguishing agent is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less.
All fire extinguishers must be fixed in a permanent position and it depends on the particular extinguisher, what the best storage option is. Ones with contents of 3 kg or 3 litres and above should be wall-mounted so that the handles are one metre from the floor. This also includes the common 2kg CO2 extinguisher.
National Fire Code
The primary goal is to help you avoid creating unsafe situations that can result in a fire burning your home and possibly causing the loss of life. The National Fire Code dictates that any combustible material (e.g., wood mantel or similar trim) must be at least six inches from the firebox opening.
Extinguishers may be blocked from view by obstructions such as shelving or open doors, or the person may be standing at the wrong angle. This is why it is best to install a sign, emergency lighting, or other means of identification above a portable fire extinguisher.
Generally, between two standard size fire extinguishers (For eg. ABC 6Kg, CO2 4.5kg, Water Co2 9 Liter, et al), there should be maximum distance of 15m (50 feet).
Near Heat Sources
Whether it is your chimney and fireplace, a room heater, or pellet stove, make sure you know exactly where the closest extinguisher is to each heat source. Just like cooking equipment, do not keep the extinguishers right next to the heat source, but at a safe distance away.