Those with gross weights of no more than 40 pounds (lbs.) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)'.
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.
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.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §567.6] Mounting. Fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds (18.14 kg) shall be installed so that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 5 feet (1.53 m) above the floor.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fire extinguishers will be stored at a distance no greater than 10 feet from torch users. A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 10B, will be provided within 50 feet of the location where more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of a flammable gas are used on a job site.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
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.)
Extinguishers need to be installed at least 4 inches off the ground up to a maximum of 5ft.
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.
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. This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.
According to the ADA Standards for operable parts (Sections 205, 308 and 309) the cabinet handle cannot be mounted higher than 48” above finished floor (AFF) for applications which allow for a forward or side approach in a wheelchair to the object.
The simple answer to this question is that while you can install your own fire extinguishers, you really shouldn't. At least, not unless you know exactly what you're doing, because there's a lot more to it than just putting them in the right place.