What are the signage requirements for fire extinguishers?

Author: Vincenza Friesen  |  Last update: Friday, December 5, 2025

Here's what OSHA says about signage requirements for fire extinguishers: The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury. Notice there's nothing specific about signage.

What are the OSHA requirements for fire extinguisher signage?

OSHA requires that all fire extinguishers be clearly marked with appropriate signage that is visible from a distance. In addition, the signage should be placed at eye level and should not be obstructed by any objects or equipment.

What are the NFPa requirements for fire extinguisher signage?

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.

Should fire extinguishers have signage?

Fire extinguisher signs are a must in buildings and businesses. OSHA inspectors will expect to be able to easily spot them and so will local building inspectors (who generally follow the NFPA regulations).

How should fire extinguishers be displayed?

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. Where visibility is obstructed, visual aids must be provided.

How to Correctly Sign Fire Extinguishers

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.

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 heights do fire extinguisher signs need to be?

The sign must be mounted such that it is no less than 2 metres from the floor level or at a height that makes it the most apparent to a person of average height and visual acuity.

What are the requirements for a fire extinguisher label?

Each fire extinguisher shall have a tag or label securely attached that indicates that maintenance was performed. The tag or label needs to identify the following: Month and year maintenance was performed. Person performing the work.

Should fire extinguisher signs be photoluminescent?

Displaying the correct photoluminescent fire extinguisher signs is a great way to improve the safety of your premises and comply with the law. Glow in the dark fire extinguisher signs are something all organisations need to have addressed.

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.

What is the NFPA code for FDC signage?

NFPA 13 requires signs marking the fire department connections (FDC) connected to a sprinkler system, and they must include the following information: the service design of the FDC, which part of the building an FDC serves (if it serves only a portion), and “the pressure required at the inlets to deliver the greatest ...

What does the NFPA signage mean?

Posted February 09, 2023 by Koorsen Fire & Security. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes codes and standards related to fire safety. Founded in 1896, the NFPA is the leading authority on fire, electrical, and building safety.

What are the signage requirements for fire extinguishers NFPA?

Any extinguisher sign installed to indicate location will need to be installed in close proximity to the extinguisher. Those signs (or additional signs) also must be visible from the normal path of travel.

What is the OSHA requirement for signage?

Danger: Danger signs must be black, red and white. Caution: Caution signs must have a black panel with yellow letters. The background must be yellow, and any letters on the background must be black. Safety instruction: Safety instruction signs must have a white background with black letters.

What are some common fire extinguisher violations of OSHA regulations?

OSHA fire extinguisher violations usually happen for a host of reasons.
  • Improper fire extinguishers are supplied, or they're not distributed across your facility adequately. Remember, not all fire extinguishers are created equally.
  • Fire extinguishers aren't maintained. ...
  • Lack of fire extinguisher inspection records.

What are the OSHA regulations for fire extinguisher signage?

Here's what OSHA says about signage requirements for fire extinguishers: The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.

How should a fire extinguisher be marked?

All fire extinguishers are labeled with letters and numbers that indicate their classifications and capacities. The letters represent the types of fires the extinguisher is suitable for, such as Class A, B, C, D, or K, while the numbers denote the extinguisher's capacity or effectiveness.

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 code for fire extinguisher signs?

OSHA requires at 1910.157(c)(1) that employers “mount, locate and identify (fire extinguishers) so that they are readily accessible to employees ...” While some method of identification is required, OSHA does not specifically require a sign.

Does OSHA require floor markings for fire extinguishers?

No, floor markings are not required beneath fire extinguishers. However, because OSHA requires that fire extinguishers be readily accessible to employees without subjecting them to possible injury, floor markings are a popular method of encouraging employees to keep the area clear of objects.

What are the rules for placing fire extinguishers?

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.

What is the ABC code for a fire extinguisher?

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.)

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.

What are the classification marking requirements for fire extinguishers?

Extinguishers suitable for Class A fires should be identified by a triangle containing the letter "A." If colored, the triangle should be green. Extinguishers suitable for Class B fires should be identified by a square containing the letter "B." If colored, the square shall be colored red.

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