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.
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 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.
The installation wall must support the extinguisher's weight, and the extinguisher handle must be at a minimum height to ensure it is readily accessible in case of an emergency. Properly installed extinguishers can significantly reduce the impact of fire hazards.
Fire extinguishers are also often located near fire alarm call points so that someone can raise the alarm and then pick up an extinguisher. Extinguishers should be sited so that it is not necessary to travel more than 30 metres to reach one. So, therefore, extinguishers can be 60 metres apart.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But it shouldn't be installed in the immediate vicinity of the stove, where smoke and flames could block access. If you have a small kitchen, you may need to mount the kitchen extinguisher on a wall in the adjacent room—as long as it's easily accessible from the kitchen.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
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.
Proceed with the 'PASS' method only if you are confident with your abilities. Start from a safe distance of about 8 feet away and move towards the fire only if it appears the extinguisher agent is working to control the flames. If the fire cannot be controlled, evacuate immediately to safety.
Place a fire extinguisher near the living room exit and another near any fireplaces or space heaters. Offices – In an office setting, fire extinguishers should be placed near exits, copy rooms, break rooms, and any other areas with electrical devices or flammable materials.
A modern fire extinguisher can be stored horizontally. The contents are under pressure, and the angle of storage will not cause the system to leak. Proper fire extinguisher storage includes using the appropriate mounting brackets, and being sure that you do not allow your extinguishers to freeze.