Fire safety should be taken seriously and considering where you should place a fire extinguisher is one way to help reduce danger. Fires can happen anytime and it’s important to have a portable fire extinguisher nearby to help save lives and property. Not only can it put out small fires, but it can also help contain the flames until fire department arrives. Today’s blog will focus on fire extinguisher placement in the work environment to help keep your employees safe and property secure.
Follow Fire Code Regulations
The placement of fire extinguishers should first be determined by your local and/or national regulations. Fire regulations are put in place to help reduce injury to others and property. There are different types and amounts of fire extinguishers that are required depending on your workspace. As an employer, you should know what your space requires and follow those regulations. Not only can this save you from fines, but more importantly can save lives.
Find Fire Hazards and Classifications
Before you can know where to place fire extinguishers, you should find possible sources of fire in your workspace. Once you know what kind of fires you could potentially put out, you will know what type of fire extinguisher you need.
- Class A: Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper.
- Class B: Fires involving flammable liquids.
- Class C: Fires involving energized electrical equipment.
- Class D: Fires involving combustible metals.
Fire involving combustible metals as the fuel source are called Class D fires. Water can cause most metal fires to grow, so it is not used in extinguishing agents for Class D fire extinguishers. Usually, dry powder extinguishing agents are used in Class D extinguishers. The agents smother the fire by separating the fuel from the oxygen.
Class K: Fires in cooking appliances involving combustible cooking materials such as cooking oils and fats.
Cooking oils and fats heat beyond their smoke points and catches fire, which is a Class K fire. Wet chemical extinguishers are used on Class K fires. When using a wet chemical extinguisher, the extinguishing agent will react with the cooking oil and turn into a soapy foam type substance.
There are different kinds of fire extinguishers for a reason. When you know the hazards of your workspace you can place fire extinguishers around to help put out specific dangers.
Accessible and Visible
All employees should be able to access fire extinguishers when needed. Having portable fire extinguishers near exits, high-risk areas and areas with a lot of electrical equipment can reduce the time it takes to get to one. Visibility also plays a role when you are trying to locate a fire extinguisher. You should be able to see the portable fire extinguisher without having to look for it. Lighting and proper signage can help improve how fire extinguishers are placed.
Coverage and Spacing
Like with most things in life, you don’t want too much but you don’t want too little. When placing fire extinguishers around your workspace, you should use a spacing picture to help better distribute them. You don’t want any employee to be too far away from an extinguisher. The majority of fire extinguishers should be placed within 75 feet of travel distance in most commercial buildings.
Maintain and Train
Checking your fire extinguishers to make sure they are in good working condition is just as important as placing them correctly. Schedule regular maintenance that includes fire extinguisher inspections and fire extinguisher refills to ensure they will function properly when you need it. You should also train your employees on how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
Workplace fire safety doesn’t stop when you place fire extinguishers around your building. Follow fire regulations, check for fire hazards, and ensure that they are visible and accessible to everyone. Proper coverage and spacing can help reduce danger throughout the entire workspace. Once fire extinguishers are placed, perform routine maintenance and train your employees on how to use them.
Partner with Brazas Fire for Fire Extinguisher Placement
At Brazas Fire we help assist you with fire extinguisher regulations and placement.
We help make sure your business follows your local and national regulations for fire extinguishers. Not only do we help you figure out how many fire extinguishers you need and what classifications, but we help place them around your workspace for optimal use. Brazas Fire helps you find areas in your workspace that are high-risk for fire hazards and can help recommend classes of fire extinguishers you should have on hand.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Brazas Fire today at 505-889-8999 to learn how we can help you and your business with fire extinguisher placement and fire safety.