Fire Extinguisher Sizes in the Home Except for the kitchen and the garage, most experts recommend 5-10 lb. fire extinguisher every 40 feet.
The one on each level of your house should be a generic 5lb ABC extinguisher, it covers the whole gambit of incipient fire extinguishment and should be in a readily accessible location. If you live in a very large house maybe get 2 for each level. It/they should be easily accessible in a short time frame.
An ABC dry chemical extinguisher is the best option for nearly all homes and for use by a lay person. You can buy one at Lowe's, Home Depot, and various hardware stores very easily.
A traditional 2.5 lbs dry powder extinguisher will last for about 10-12 seconds.
Check out this article [link Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips article] for fire extinguisher classes and electrical, grease, and other types of fires. Most of the time, a five lb. fire extinguisher will do. Unless it is very large or commercially used, the kitchen only needs a fire extinguisher larger than 2.5 lbs.
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. Disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguishers should be replaced every 10 years.
Always look for the “UL Listed” or “ULC Listed” label on a fire extinguisher to ensure it is certified for use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Fire extinguishers vary in size and weight, but it is recommended to select the largest fire extinguisher that a user can safely and comfortably operate.
Even though the ABC fire extinguisher may be able to temporarily put out the cooking fire, the class K fire extinguisher with it's wet chemical agent will help make sure it does not reignite.
Should you buy a fire extinguisher? Yes, provided you know when and how to use it. Fire extinguishers can be a small but important part of the home fire safety plan. They can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or suppressing it until the fire department arrives.
While ABC extinguishers are versatile and can combat a wide range of fires, CO2 extinguishers are specifically designed for electrical and flammable liquid fires. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of the environment and the types of hazards one may encounter.
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.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides minimum recommendations for the home: Primary Fire Extinguishers - For your main home protection, install a 2-A:10-B:C rated extinguisher on every level of your home - no more than 40 feet apart. Include all locations where a fire may start.
Fire extinguishers are required in most commercial, industrial and residential buildings. The only buildings where fire extinguishers are not mandated are family homes.
Every year, fire departments respond to more than 170,000 home fires caused by cooking. The top reason for these fires is someone leaving the stove unattended while cooking.
Every extinguisher is identified by symbols, indicating the type of fires they can extinguish. Be sure that all three symbols are there. Read the instructions regarding the size of the extinguisher, and be sure it is not too large to handle comfortably. A common size extinguisher for homes is rated (2A:10B:C).
In some cases, installing low-cost safety features and security upgrades such as alarms and fire extinguishers can translate into a reduced home insurance premium.
Recharging is generally more economical for larger, well-maintained extinguishers. However, replacing a small or damaged extinguisher might be more cost-effective in the long run, especially if frequent recharging is required.
For a room of average dimension, a 5-lb fire extinguisher may be sufficient. For larger commercial spaces and warehouses where a fire has more room to spread, a larger 10-lb model may be necessary.
We recommend dry powder extinguishers as they are great for fighting fires that involve a variety of combustibles. They can be used on Class A fires (wood, paper and cloth) as well as Class B (flammable liquids) and C (flammable gases). Additionally, these extinguishers can sometimes be used on electrical equipment.
Fire Extinguisher Life Expectancy
However, a general rule of thumb that's often used in the industry is: Rechargeable fire extinguishers have a 10 to 12-year life expectancy, while non-rechargeable (aka disposable) fire extinguishers can be replaced after every 10 years.
Here's what to do with an old, damaged, or expired extinguisher: If the fire extinguisher is partially or fully charged, call your fire department to ask if they accept drop-offs. If not, take the canister to a hazardous waste disposal facility.
To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with their carrying handles placed 3-1/2 to 5 feet above the floor, depending on the type of extinguisher.
It's easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you can remember the acronym PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. Pull the pin.