Fire Extinguisher

Placement and Design

Procedure
In accordance with NFPA 10-2010,
Chapter-06

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Placement of Extinguisher
 Portable fire extinguishers are only effective if they have before the
fire has a chance to intensify and spread.
 So, its important that the person fighting the fire be able to access an
extinguisher quickly. For that reason, extinguisher installation
requirement specify travel distances between an extinguisher and
every point within the area it protects.

Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

 Placement of Extinguisher
1. Travel Distance : Distance that an individual must traverse to get an extinguisher
2. Coverage : Number of extinguishers needed to provide adequate protection for an area
based on its square footage.
General Guidelines

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 Planning Class A Extinguisher
Placement
For Class A installations the travel distance must be no more than 75 ft.
one way from any point.
Wall mounted Class A
extinguisher

75 ft. travel distance

Travel Distance must be “the actual walking distance from

any point to the nearest fire extinguisher fulfilling hazard
requirements." Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)
 Planning Class A Extinguisher
Placement The Largest area that could be covered by an
extinguisher without violating the 75 ft. travel
Table 6.2.1.1 - fire Extinguisher Size and distance rule is 11,250 sq ft.
Placement for Class A Hazards
This table give following information
1. What is the smallest Class A extinguisher I
can use at each hazard level or how big ?
2. What is the travel distance from any point
to an extinguisher ?
3. What is maximum floor area an
extinguisher can cover ? Or, How much
coverage ?
This refers to extinguisher For Eg; 2-A rating has two Units of A, 4-A has 4
numeric rating of class A Fire units of A and So on…
Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)
 Placement of Extinguisher
 The 75 Ft. Rule can not be Broken.
 If we apply that rule to theoretical open space
Occupancy without hallway, interior walls, furniture's
Extinguisher etc. ( Practically such space is never encountered)

Right Angle Right Angle  The Largest area that could be covered by an
Triangle -1 Triangle -2 extinguisher without violating the 75 ft. travel distance
rule is 11,250 sq ft.

Area of Right Angle Triangle 1 = 0.5 x b x h

Right Angle Right Angle
Triangle -4 Triangle -3 = 0.5 x 75 x 75
= 2812.5 Sq. ft.
Sum of All Four Triangles = 2812.5 x 4
= 11,250 Sq. Ft.

75 ft. Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

How to Apply these Rules
1. Measure the area to be protected
2. Determine the area’s level of hazard
3. Determine the smallest extinguisher you can use
4. Compute the number of extinguisher you need.
5. Plot the extinguisher placement on floor plan.
6. Re-evaluate the distribution of extinguishers
7. Replot the extinguisher distribution of the floor plan.

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 Example-01 – Using Maximum Protection Area Limit
The sample building is 150 ft. × 450 ft. (45.7m× 137.2 m), giving a floor area of 67,500 ft2 (6271m2).

No. of FE = Floor Area / Max. Area per FE

= 67,500/ 11,250
= 6 --- 4A ( for LH Occupancy) This placement, along outside walls, would not be
acceptable because the travel distance rule is
--- 10-A ( for OH Occupancy) clearly violated(Voids)
--- 20-A ( for EH Occupancy

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 Example-02 – Modifying No. of FE to Comply with TD In Example-1

The sample building is 150 ft. × 450 ft. (45.7m× 137.2 m), giving a floor area of 67,500 ft2
(6271m2).

No. of FE = Floor Area / Area per FE

= 67,500/ 6,000
= 12 --- 2A (for LH occupancy)
--- 4-A ( for OH occupancy)
--- 6-A ( for EH occupancy)
Configuration Representing 12 Fire Extinguishers Mounted on
Building Columns or Interior Walls, in Which Requirements for
Both Travel Distance and Fire Extinguisher Distribution Are Met.

Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

 Example-03 – With Minimum Rating Permitted as per NFPA 10, Table 6.2.1.1

The sample building is 150 ft. × 450 ft. (45.7m× 137.2 m), giving a floor area of 67,500 ft2
(6271m2).

No. of FE = Floor Area / Area per FE

= 67,500/ 6,000
= 12 --- 2A ( for LH)

No. of FE = Floor Area / Max. Area per FE

= 67,500/ 3,000 ( for OH )
= 23 --- 2A

No. of FE = Floor Area / Max. Area per FE

= 67,500/ 4,000 ( for EH )
= 17 ---4A

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Example-04
A light-occupancy office building is to be protected by portable fire
extinguishers. The floor area is 11,100 ft2 (1031 m2) and of unusual
design. 170 ft.

30 ft.

30 ft.

30 ft.

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Example-04 Not complying with TD
limit
TD = 71 ft. TD = 109 ft.

Min. rating of FE from table 6.2.1.1 is

2A & per unit of A protects 3000 Sq. 170 ft.
ft. of area.
Therefore,
30 ft.
𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
No. of FE = 1
𝑀𝑎𝑥.𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝐸
11,100
= 65 ft. 105 ft. 30 ft.
2𝑥3000
= 2 Nos. of FE with 2A
Rating. 2
30 ft.
All Possible obstruction needs to be
considered for TD
Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)
Example-04- Compliant with 75 ft TD

Min. rating of FE from table 6.2.1.1 is 2A &

per unit of A protects 3000 Sq. ft. of area. 170 ft.
Therefore,
𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
No. of FE =
𝑀𝑎𝑥.𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝐸 30 ft.
11,100 1 3
=
2𝑥3000
= 2 Nos of FE with 2A Rating.
30 ft.

Actual required nos = 4 (to comply with TD

limit) 2 4
30 ft.

Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

 Practice Example 05
600 FT.

RAW MATERIAL

WAREHOUSE
400 FT.

PRODUCTION

OFFICE

Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

Practice Example 05

Given Data :
Hazards Classification
• Office area – Light Hazard
• Raw Material – Ordinary Hazard
• Production – Ordinary Hazard
• Warehouse – Ordinary Hazard
• Area dimensions – As Given ( assume wherever necessary)
Determine :
• Number of Required Fire Extinguishers ( assume multipurpose FE for simplicity)
• Verify Travel distance to all Extinguisher
• Place Extinguisher at appropriate location as per NFPA 10 requirements.

Fire Fighting Design Course - Mehboob Shaikh(CFPS, CFI, AMIE)

 Thank You

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