Every industrial and commercial building is required to have fire extinguishers according to the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1: Fire Code.
Many building owners, managers, and health and safety specialists are aware of the importance of having the right number of fire extinguishers in their buildings, and yet very few know exactly how many they need for their particular building.
How Many Fire Extinguishers Are Ideal?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not one size fits all, as each building has varying safety parameters.
If building owners and managers have a good understanding of the criteria used to determine the number of fire extinguishers necessary for their particular building, they will be in a better position to partner with a fire protection company to ensure the safety of their facility and employees.
The Key Factors
The number of fire extinguishers needed in a building depends on multiple reasons such as buildings’ size, placement and location of fire extinguishers, and fire hazard level.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and building codes utilize the aforementioned factors and conditions in assessing a building’s fire extinguisher needs. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) goes further to help ensure the safety of your fire extinguishers by specifying what type of fire extinguisher must be present in each building.
Partnering with a fire and life safety service provider allows building owners and managers to stay compliant with regulations, but more importantly ensure the confidence of their facility and employees safest.
Building Size and Layout
A major factor in determining what is the correct number of fire extinguishers needed for any building is the square footage of the building, and the actual blueprint of the room. Portable fire extinguishers should be located within 75 feet of travel of any part of the workplace, according to OSHA standards. The quantity of fire extinguishers required will also be determined by the regulatory requirements of the square footage within a building.
Fire Hazard Level
It is important for owners of buildings to know that there are five common classes of the possible fires they could face so that they can fully understand the various fire hazard levels. Fires are classified as:
- Class A: common combustibles
- Class B: flammable liquids and gas
- Class C: electrical appliances
- Class D: flammable metals
- Class K: cooking oil and grease
A fire hazard level indicates how much fire risk is present in each building. Commercial and industrial buildings are assessed and assigned a fire hazard level based on what the business does and what’s inside the building.
The appropriate kind of fire extinguishers needed in a particular building is determined by the assigned fire hazard level. The fire hazard level, also determines how closely fire extinguishers of a certain size should be positioned in a workspace. Such assigned fire risk assessments are typically grouped as light, ordinary and extra with commercial kitchens possessing different fire classification as well as hazard levels.
Light Fire Hazard: When a building lacks a high concentration of combustible materials, it is rated at the light fire hazard level. Most light fire hazards will contain only a small amount of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables. Examples of low-risk buildings are schools, colleges, church buildings, offices, hotels, and other public buildings.
Ordinary Fire Hazard: The ordinary fire hazards are then divided into two sub-groups: ordinary fire hazard I and ordinary fire hazard II. The first one are buildings that present a small but unimportant fire risk. These also include those where amounts of Class A combustible materials and Class B flammable liquids are average. Ordinary fire hazards first tier are buildings: fabric stores, dry cleaners, post offices. The second tier of ordinary fire hazards are described as having more flammable material in closer proximity than Ordinary Fire Hazards I but not enough of a fire risk to qualify as extra high fire hazard. AN Ordinary Fire Hazard II occupancy is defined as including parking garages, hardware stores, and the like: any building where ignition sources might be present.
Light Frame: These light frame occupancies have a higher fire load than the general “ordinary” amount. A building designated as an extra fire risk will be one with substantial amounts of Class A combustibles and where greater quantities of Class B flammable liquids are on hand. Extra fire hazard buildings are common types of buildings where the buildings contain high amounts of combustible contents, flammable liquids, dielectric materials, and an increased ignition source including assembly plants, furniture upholstering services, and die casting premises.
Commercial kitchens: High volumes of Class K combustible material make commercial kitchens a separate fire hazard class. These are materials such as cooking oils and grease that are utilized on kitchen apparatus with high measures of warmth.
Where to Find Fire Extinguishers
Ensuring that the correct type of fire extinguisher matches the correct hazard builds towards achieving the safety of facilities and employees – but it is just the beginning of a bigger process.
The need for reliable and quality input to recommend building owners on the access and number of fire extinguishers required for a particular building can only be done through collaboration with a credited fire and life safety organization. There are nine basic OSHA requirements for the locations of fire extinguishers, and working alongside a fire and life safety service provider will help ensure buildings are compliant.
Based on the size of the building and the levels of fire hazard as well as the placements and locations of any fire extinguishers, a reliable fire and life safety service provider can apply a customized protection solution to achieve both compliance with regulations and the safety of company facilities and employees.
For building owners to effectively partner with a fire and life safety company to implement fire extinguisher services, an understanding of the basic types of portable fire extinguisher ratings is encouraged.
For your reference, portable fire extinguisher ratings are classified according to the following types, Class A, B, C, D, or K for portable extinguishers, and together with the size of the building, the type of fire extinguisher and the location of possible hazards do determine how far fire extinguishers must be located from each other and how many will ultimately be necessary. Below are places where one needs each of the types of extinguisher:
- Class A: Structures and areas with ordinary combustibles, such as offices, classrooms, and assembly halls.
- Class B: Workshops, storage areas and warehouses with flammable liquids or gasses
- Class C: Any building and location where energized electrical equipment are being used.
- Class D: Ensures any buildings and locations that produce metal powders, flakes, or shavings 1-2 times a week or at greater intervals.
- Class K: Commercial kitchens or places where there are combustible cooking oils and grease.
Installation of Fire Extinguishers
Location of the extinguisher placement restrictions depend on the size of the area, type of extinguishers and where potential hazards are located, just like location requirements.
The following is a summary of fire extinguisher placement distance from hazards, based on the type of hazard in which maximum travel distance is the furthest someone should have to travel before access to another fire extinguisher should be available.
- Class A Fire Extinguisher – Maximum Travel Distance: 75 feet
- Class B Fire Extinguishers – Maximum Travel Distance: 50 feet
- Class C Fire Extinguishers – Maximum Travel Distance: Same as Class A or B hazard
- Class D Fire Extinguishers – Maximum 75 Feet of Travel
- Class K Fire Extinguishers – Maximum Travel Distance: 30 feet
Final Thoughts
The complex variables that determine the fire extinguisher requirements for a building can be vexing. When the safety of their facility and employees are on the line, building owners have far too much at risk to leave fire extinguisher safety practices solely up to the building owner.
Building owners franchise can collaborate with a fire life and safety service provider proactive partner for discussing their specific building size, fire hazard level, placement, and location of fire extinguishers and create uniquely tailored Fire and Life Safety protection plan keeping facilities and employees secure.
With the help of the right fire and life safety service provider, organizations can confidently navigate NFPA standards, local codes, and OSHA requirements to ensure regulatory compliance.