Store your portable fire extinguisher in plain view. It should not be hidden away in a closet. Some people store them in a night stand or near the door. There are also fire extinguisher cabinets you can buy if keeping the extinguisher accessible is an issue.
❖ Portable fire extinguishers must be located where they are readily visible at all times.
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.
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.
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.
Placing it at an area where everyone can see it makes it easy to check the pressure gauge. It should be safe to reach. 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.
Fire extinguishers are required in most commercial, industrial and residential buildings. The only buildings where fire extinguishers are not mandated are family homes.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
Covers are often used for protection of extin- guishers in outdoor applications, including vehicles like trash trucks and fuel trucks. Extinguisher cabinets are also needed for protection of extinguishers in outdoor environments, like self-service gas stations and industrial areas.
These fumes can irritate your respiratory system and in more serious cases, even damage your heart. The chemical components in fire extinguishers are designed to put out fires and never be inhaled due to the serious possibility of developing health problems.
Store your portable fire extinguisher in plain view. It should not be hidden away in a closet. Some people store them in a night stand or near the door. There are also fire extinguisher cabinets you can buy if keeping the extinguisher accessible is an issue.
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.
You should not have to travel more than 40 feet to reach an extinguisher. Common places around the home that can be prone to fires include kitchens, laundry rooms, patio or grill areas, and garages or sheds. Fire extinguishers kept in kitchens should be stored away from sources of high heat like stoves.
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.
Within 30 feet (9144 mm) distance of travel from commercial cooking equipment and from domestic cooking equipment in Group 1-1; 1-2, Condition 1; and R-2 college dormitory. 3. In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used or dispensed.
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. All hand-portable fire extinguishers need to have at least 4 inches of clearance between their bottoms and the floor.
Place fire extinguishers within reach on every level of your home. For your main home protection, install a 2-A: 10-B:C rated living area unit on every level of your home. Install close to exits, and in the kitchen and garage. Include all locations where a fire may start.
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.
Extinguishers need to be located along normal paths of travel. This is because extinguishers should be available to occupants when evacuating. You do not want occupants to move away from an exit and risk being trapped by the fire when trying to retrieve an extinguisher.
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.
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.
Here is your assessment check list: Make sure the fire is small. The flames should never be taller than you and should not cover an area that is bigger than 60 square feet. 60 square feet is about the size of a king size bed (42.15 square feet), so don't try to tackle a fire that is much bigger than that.
Making sure the systems are working and can work at a moment's notice are often checked by more experienced inspectors. Inspections usually cost between $40 to $100 dollars depending on the immediacy and size of business.