What height should fire extinguishers be mounted?

Author: Linnie Terry  |  Last update: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

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 the code for fire extinguisher height?

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 height should a fire extinguisher be?

The installation height for extinguishers depends on the weight of the extinguisher. 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 height of a fire extinguisher wall mounted?

In terms of mounting height, the correct height depends on the weight of the extinguisher. At 4kg, extinguishers should be fitted so the carrying handle is 1m from the ground. At under 4kg, extinguishers should be mounted with the carrying handle 1.5m from the ground.

What is the height of a fire extinguisher from the floor as per NFPA?

The bottom of the extinguisher needs to be at least 4in off the ground and the top not more than 5ft from the ground, unless it is heavier than 40lbs. In the case where it is heavier than 40lbs, the top of the extinguisher cannot be more than 3.5ft above the floor.

how high should a fire extinguisher be mounted?

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 from floor should fire extinguisher cabinet be?

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 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.

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 height should fire extinguisher signs be mounted?

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.

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.

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.

How do I calculate how many fire extinguishers I need?

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is the height code for fire extinguishers?

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 many feet of clearance should be around a fire extinguisher?

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.

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 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.

What are the OSHA rules 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.

What height do you mount a fire extinguisher cabinet?

Accessible Reach: If the fire extinguisher is housed in a cabinet, the cabinet must be mounted within the height range mentioned above (15 to 48 inches for unobstructed reach and 15 to 44 inches for obstructed reach).

What is the mounting height of a fire extinguisher for ADA?

If the path to the ADA-compliant fire extinguisher or pull station is unobstructed, the operable part must be placed from 15 inches to 48 inches off of the finished floor or ground. But when the wheelchair user must reach over an obstruction, these heights may change.

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.

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