Where is the most ideal place to put your fire extinguisher?

Author: Fernando Heaney  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

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.

Where is the best place to put a fire extinguisher?

Fire extinguishers should be mounted on walls in hallways or near exits, while smoke detectors should be installed on ceilings in bedrooms, kitchens, and hallways. Fire alarms should be positioned where everyone can hear them in case of an emergency.

Should you keep a fire extinguisher in your bedroom?

If a fire breaks out at night, having a fire extinguisher in each bedroom or in hallways outside sleeping areas is important. Place it near the door so it's easy to grab if you need to escape. This gives you quick access in case of an emergency and increases the chance of safe evacuation.

Where not to put a fire extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher should always be placed in a path of escape not in the line of fire. If a fire blocks your path to a fire extinguisher, consider repositioning it to another spot.

Where is the safe place to put a fire extinguisher?

The AS2444 specifies that the base of the extinguisher must be mounted at least 10 cms off the floor, and the top of it should be no more than 1.2mtrs above the floor. Within those boundaries you want to mount the fire extinguisher so it is not knocked by cleaning equipment, or kicked by passers by.

How to Choose the Best Locations to Install Fire Extinguishers

Where should you place a fire extinguisher?

Normally, fire extinguishers should be located:
  1. in conspicuous positions on brackets, on floor stands or within cabinets.
  2. where they will be readily seen by persons following an escape route.
  3. most suitably, near to room exits, corridors, stairways, lobbies, and landings.

What is the OSHA rule for fire extinguisher placement?

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.

What is the golden rule of fire extinguishers?

The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.

Why can't fire extinguishers be on the 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.

Can you keep a fire extinguisher under the sink?

“It's ideal to have a fire extinguisher on each level of the home,” says Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at Hippo Insurance. “Fire extinguishers are stored best in easy-to-reach places and away from heat sources, such as under the kitchen sink or in entryways.”

Can I mount a fire extinguisher in a closet?

Kitchen fire extinguishers should be installed near stoves and other cooking appliances, but not so close to impede access in the event of a fire. If you have a smaller kitchen, you might need to mount the kitchen extinguisher on a wall in a closet, as long as it is accessible from the kitchen.

What is the best fire extinguisher for home use?

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.

Is it illegal to not have a fire extinguisher in your house?

Fire extinguishers are required in most commercial, industrial and residential buildings. The only buildings where fire extinguishers are not mandated are family homes.

Where are fire extinguisher usually kept?

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.

Should you keep a fire extinguisher in your house?

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.

Is it OK to lay a fire extinguisher on its side?

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.

Where is the best place to put a fire extinguisher in your home?

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.

Where is the proper location of a fire extinguisher?

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.

What is the code for blocking fire extinguishers?

906.6Unobstructed and unobscured. Portable fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. In rooms or areas in which visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, means shall be provided to indicate the locations of extinguishers.

What does ABC stand for in fire extinguishers?

Fire Extinguisher Classes

The letter on a fire extinguisher indicates its classification: 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.

What is the 75 rule for fire extinguishers?

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.

What does 1 person, 1 fire, and 1 extinguisher mean?

A : "One Fire - One Extinguisher", is a brand-new approach to fire safety in the UK. These extinguishers are called "WATER-MIST" and have been manufactured with the idea that there should be only one fire extinguisher to deal with all types of fire.

Where does a fire extinguisher have to be mounted?

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.

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 does pass stand for?

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.

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