How high off the floor should a fire extinguisher be mounted?

Author: Gladys Rutherford  |  Last update: Thursday, July 17, 2025

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.

How high should a fire extinguisher be off the floor?

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.

What is the ADA code for fire extinguisher height?

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.

What is the standard height for fire extinguisher wall mount?

If the weight of the extinguisher is less than 4kg, the top of the handle should be 1.5m above ground level when installed. If the fire extinguisher is more than 4kg, the top of the handle should be 1.0m above ground level.

What is the OSHA standard 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.

Fire Extinguisher FAQs - How High Do Fire Extinguishers Need to be Mounted?

Can a fire extinguisher be placed on 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.

Where should a fire extinguisher be placed?

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.

What is the maximum height above a finished floor to install a portable fire extinguisher with a weight of 25 pounds?

Portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so that the top of the extinguisher is not more than 5 feet above the floor.

Is there a code for fire extinguisher installation?

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.

How high to mount fire extinguisher signs?

They should be easily seen from any angle and should not be blocked by any obstacles. Fire extinguisher signs should be mounted at a height of 5 feet above the floor level or the highest obstruction in the area. The sign should have a directional arrow pointing towards the direction of the fire extinguisher.

How high do you mount a fire extinguisher cabinet?

The NFPA guidelines state that the distance from the floor to the top of the fire extinguisher to be no more than 5 feet. At the present time, raised and brailled characters or other special ADA signage are not required for fire protection cabinets.

What is the mounting height for the ADA?

MOST COMMON ADA SIGN MOUNTING HEIGHTS & LOCATION

ADA sign height requirements, signs must be hung between 48 and 60 inches as specified in SAD chapter §703.4. 1. Sign mounting height is measured from the floor to the bottom of the lowest raised lettering on an ADA sign.

Should fire extinguishers be wall mounted?

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.

What are the installation heights for fire extinguishers?

Installation Height

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.

What is the ADA height for a wall mounted fire extinguisher?

An extinguisher with the bottom at 27 inches or less off the floor can be detected with a cane. Installing the extinguisher hanger so that the bottom of the extinguisher is 27 inches or less from the finished floor is ADA compliant.

What is the fire extinguisher clearance rule?

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. Extinguishers need to be installed at least 4 inches off the ground up to a maximum of 5ft.

How high should a fire extinguisher be from the floor?

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.

What is code for fire extinguisher height?

Fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds (18.14 kg) shall be installed so that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 5 feet (1.53 m) above the floor.

Does OSHA require fire extinguishers to be mounted?

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)]

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.

Why can't fire extinguisher put on floor?

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.

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 location and position of a fire extinguisher?

Quick Access: Fire extinguishers should be placed in locations where they can be easily reached in the event of a fire. This means that they should be placed in high-risk areas, such as the kitchen, near flammable chemicals or electrical equipment, or near fireplaces.

Can I mount a fire extinguisher in a closet?

Kitchen fire extinguishers should be installed near stoves and other cooking appliances, but not so close to impede access in the event of a fire. If you have a smaller kitchen, you might need to mount the kitchen extinguisher on a wall in a closet, as long as it is accessible from the kitchen.

How to show fire extinguisher on floor plan?

Fire extinguishers. Use a small fire extinguisher icon and the label "Fire Extinguisher" to show the location of all the extinguishers on your diagram. If there's a fire fighting station on the property, show that as well and label it "Fire Station".

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