You can store a fire extinguisher outdoors, however, it must be in a secure place and away from the elements. NEVER store an extinguisher in your garage or shed unless it is locked away, out of sight and protected. If your fire extinguisher is not in use, then it should be stored in a cool, dry place at all times.
Remember, always keep your fire extinguisher protected from the outdoor elements. Aside from freezing temperatures, precipitation and humidity may cause your canister to corrode or rust and cause damage that will impede its functionality.
The majority of fire extinguishers will still function adequately after being stored in freezing temperatures. However, for safety reasons, you must replace devices that are damaged. Storing fire extinguishers outdoors in normal or freezing temperatures leaves them open to precipitation and humidity.
Ultraviolet sunlight degrades all seals and parts rapidly. Fire extinguishers are no exception. On average, fire extinguishers exposed to sunlight tend to deteriorate faster than those out of direct sunlight.
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.
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.
You should keep the extinguisher in an easily accessible location, like under a seat or in the glove compartment. If possible, you should also place it in a secure or mounted position so it can't be rolled out of reach during an emergency.
Underwriters Laboratory, a product testing organization, requires that fire extinguishers be safely stored at between minus-40 and plus-120 degrees, a temperature range that is posted on all extinguisher labels.
NFPA 10, paragraph 6.1. 3.7 requires extinguishers that are subject to physical damage from impact, vibration, or envi- ronmental issues to be protected. Two of the most common methods for compliance are installing extinguishers in cabinets or providing covers for the extinguishers.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
Store your extinguisher any more than 5 feet off the ground. You want to be sure that all can reach it swiftly and easily. Store your extinguisher in a location that experiences inclement weather. Fire extinguisher tanks are distorted by extreme heat and cold.
However, certain extinguishers need extra protection from freezing weather temperatures. Water and foam extinguishers installed outdoors (or in areas with no heating) are particularly vulnerable and their contents may freeze and the internal lining become damaged. This renders them useless should they ever be needed.
A modern fire extinguisher can be stored horizontally. The contents are under pressure, and the angle of storage will not cause the system to leak. Proper fire extinguisher storage includes using the appropriate mounting brackets, and being sure that you do not allow your extinguishers to freeze.
It is crucial that the extinguisher is accessible, yet protected and ultimately out of the way. We must also consider how long it will be situated outside and will cold, or wet conditions affect our extinguisher performance. Extreme heat and frost is not favourable for a fire extinguisher.
Is it against the law to put a fire extinguisher on the floor? Unfortunately, it is against fire code regulations if placed directly on the floor.
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.
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.
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.
When you purchase a new carbon dioxide, pressurized water, or wet chemical extinguisher, you can expect it to last at least five years. For dry chemical extinguishers, the minimum lifespan is 12 years.
While it's a great idea to have a fire extinguisher in your garage, make sure it's positioned in a protected way and not exposed to potential harm from sharp tools or vehicles.
If you want to be cautious, you should store your extinguisher near the floor and out of the sun.
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.
Fire extinguishers can be kept in an automobile, RV, or trailer as long as temperatures do not fall outside of the range of -40 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
All it takes is an 80-degree Fahrenheit day to bring the normal car temperature to triple digits. After just 20 minutes on an 80-degree day, the CDC says the inside of a car can hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit. After 40 minutes, it hits 118 degrees, and after an hour, it can hit 123 degrees.