All hand-portable fire extinguishers need to have at least 4 inches of clearance between their bottoms and the floor.
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.
Clearance at Fire Alarm Pull Stations
Do not obstruct access to and visual contact with the fire alarm pull station. There must be a minimum of 36 inches of clearance, in a semi circle shape, from the pull station.
How To Use a Fire 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: 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.
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.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
Select the appropriate type of fire extinguisher. Discharge the extinguisher within its effective range using the P.A.S.S. technique (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). Back away from an extinguished fire in case it flames up again.
OSHA requires a minimum-rated 10B fire extinguisher be provided within 50 feet of the point of job site use of more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas.
Squeeze the top handle or lever. This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent in the extinguisher. Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away (approximately 8-10 ft.), then move forward.
Extinguishers weighing 40 pounds or less: The top no higher than 5 feet and the bottom no lower than 4 inches from the floor. Extinguishers weighing more than 40 pounds: The top no higher than 3 1/2 feet and the bottom no lower than 4 inches from the floor.
Ceilings of exit routes must be at least 7 feet, 6 inches high. An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access.
The range for side reach, like forward reach is 15″ to 48″ if unobstructed. The maximum reach depth for this range is 10″ measured from the available clear floor space.
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.
Fire extinguisher spacing is addressed in NFPA 10 (Standard for portable fire extinguishers) section 6.2. 1.1. The standard rule of thumb is a travel distance of no more than 75 feet for class “A” hazards and fifty feet travel distance for class “B” hazards.
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.
Classes A and D extinguishers should be installed every 75 feet (or less) You should install Class B fire extinguishers every 50 feet (or less) You need to distribute class C fire extinguishers based on the existing pattern for classes A and B fire hazards.
Disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguishers should be replaced every 10 years. Rechargeable fire extinguishers should be taken to an experienced fire equipment service company and inspected/recharged every 6 years, especially if used in a commercial application or in an uncontrolled temperature setting.
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.
Use an extinguisher – Remember the golden fire extinguisher rule: only attempt to use an extinguisher if you can confidently tackle it with the right equipment. Otherwise, if in doubt, get out and stay out.
The wording includes the RACE acronym of "Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish" for firefighting procedures as well as the PASS acronym of "Pull the pin, Aim at base of fire, Squeeze handle, and Sweep side to side" for extinguisher usage.
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.)