Place all extinguishers where they’re

easy to see and reach

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. Where visibility is obstructed, visual aids must be provided.

Ac
cess to these two fire extinguishers is impaired by a storage bin, placing
them temporarily out of reach in a fast-moving fire event. Image
source: Hascat Safety Blog
From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.1.3 Placement.
6.1.3.1 Fire extinguishers shall be conspicuously located where they are readily
accessible and immediately available in the event of fire.

6.1.3.2 Fire extinguishers shall be located along normal paths of travel, including

exits from areas.

6.1.3.3 Visibility.

6.1.3.3.1 Fire extinguishers shall be installed in locations where they are visible

except as permitted by 6.1.3.3.2 or or 6.1.3.3.3..

6.1.3.3.2* In rooms and in locations where visual obstructions cannot be avoided,

signs or other means shall be provided to indicate the extinguisher location.

6.1.3.3.3 Fire extinguishers shall be permitted to be installed in fire extinguisher

cabinets provided the extinguisher is visible or signs or other means are provided
to indicate the extinguisher location.

6.1.3.5 Wheeled fire extinguishers shall be located in designated locations.

6.1.3.10 Label Visibility.

6.1.3.10.1 Fire extinguishers shall be installed so that the fire extinguisher’s

operating instructions face outward.

The top of an extinguisher weighing 40 pounds or less may be installed

as high as five feet above the floor. For heavier extinguishers, that
maximum height drops to 3 1/2 feet. The base of each extinguisher must
be at least 4 inches above the floor.

6.1.3.9 Installation Height.

6.1.3.9.1 Fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 lb (18.14 kg)

shall be installed so that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 5 ft (1.53
m) above the floor.
6.1.3.9.2 Fire extinguishers having a gross weight greater than 40 lb (18.14 kg)
(except wheeled types) shall be installed so that the top of the fire extinguisher is
not more than 3 1/2 ft (1.07 m) above the floor.

6.1.3.9.3 In no case shall the clearance between the bottom of the hand portable
fire extinguisher and the floor be less than 4 in. (102 mm).

Portable extinguishers without wheels must be kept on a wall bracket, on

a hangar, or in an approved cabinet or wall recess. Regardless, all
mounting heights must adhere to these guidelines.

Specific fire hazards and the building’s

construction determine where fire
extinguishers should be installed
Using the wrong extinguishing agent can backfire, making a fire
drastically worse. As a result, the type of fire extinguishers
needed and where they need to be placed also depend on the type
and amount of combustible and flammable materials nearby.
 Th
is fire extinguishing agent causes a cascading electrical fire on a utility
pole. Click here to watch the video. Source: Reddit via imgur.com
Fire extinguishers are selected and placed with two considerations in
mind: the structure itself and the specific fire risks the building’s contents
present.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

5.5.2 Selection for Building Protection. Fire extinguishers for building protection

shall be selected for Class A fires, regardless of the presence of any fixed fire
suppression systems.

5.5.3 Selection for Occupancy Hazards. Fire extinguishers shall be selected for

the occupancy hazards contained therein regardless of the presence of any fixed
fire suppression systems.
5.5.3.1 Fire extinguishers for occupancy hazard protection shall be provided by fire
extinguishers for Class A, B, C, D, or K fire hazards present or anticipated to be
present.

5.5.3.2 Fire extinguishers selected for building protection shall be permitted to also

be considered for occupancy hazard protection.

Extinguishers are classified according to local hazards and ambient

temperature; the type and size of the fire that is most likely to occur; and
the fuel type of potential fires: the specific kinds of combustible or
flammable materials found in the structure. Not all things burn at the
same rate or can be extinguished with the same kind of fire extinguisher:
grease, oil, flammable metals, wood, and other substances burn
differently. The type and amount of fuel found in a building determine
the occupancy hazard — a measure of the expected severity of a fire —
which, in turn, determines which kinds of extinguishers are required.

All fires, from ordinary paper fires to kitchen grease fires, belong to one
of 5 fire classifications: Class A, B, C, D, or K.
 Kn
owing these five fire classifications is critical to determining the type and
number of extinguishers required. Source: City of Dalhart, TX
Read our in-depth look at fire extinguisher types, fire classifications, and
the use and servicing of fire extinguishers here.

These classifications are used to categorize a building — or parts of a

building — as light hazard, ordinary hazard, or extra hazard.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

5.4 Classification of Hazards.

5.4.1.1* Light Hazard. Light hazard occupancies shall be classified as locations

where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustibles and Class B
flammables are low and fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected.
These occupancies consist of fire hazards having normally expected quantities of
Class A combustible furnishings, and/or the total quantity of Class B flammables
typically expected to be present is less than 1 gal (3.8 L) in any room or area.

5.4.1.2* Ordinary Hazard. Ordinary hazard occupancies shall be classified as

locations where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible materials
and Class B flammables are moderate and fires with moderate rates of heat release
are expected. These occupancies consist of fire hazards that only occasionally
contain Class A combustible materials beyond normal anticipated furnishings,
and/or the total quantity of Class B flammables typically expected to be present is
from 1 gal to 5 gal (3.8 L to 18.9 L) in any room or area.

5.4.1.3* Extra Hazard. Extra hazard occupancies shall be classified as locations

where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible material are high or
where high amounts of Class B flammables are present and rapidly developing fires
with high rates of heat release are expected. These occupancies consist of fire
hazards involved with the storage, packaging, handling, or manufacture of Class A
combustibles, and/or the total quantity of Class B flammables expected to be
present is more than 5 gal (18.9 L) in any room or area.

5.4.1.4 Limited areas of greater or lesser hazard shall be protected as required.

 Aircraft hangars and other
facilities with high quantities of combustible materials are classified as
extra hazard occupancies.
All buildings require Class A extinguishers to stop fires on walls, floors,
and other parts of the building. Additionally, fire extinguishers rated for
class A, B, C, D, or K hazards must be installed when those hazards are
present. A single fire extinguisher capable of fighting more than one type
of fire, such as a combination ABC dry chemical extinguisher, may meet
the requirements for multiple fire types.
 Th
e “10A:120B:C” classification of this Buckeye fire extinguisher means that
it is rated for use on Class A, B, and C fires.
Each fire extinguisher installed in accordance with NFPA 10 must be
within a certain distance of the building’s occupants at all times. This
travel distance indicates how far a person must walk in order to reach the
extinguisher, and all obstructions — permanent or temporary — must be
accounted for.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

E.1.4 Travel distance is the actual distance the user of the fire extinguisher will need
to walk. Consequently, travel distance will be affected by partitions, location of
doorways, aisles, piles of stored materials, machinery, and so forth.
The travel distance for Class A and
Class D fire extinguishers must be 75
feet or less
Extinguishers for a building’s Class A fire hazards must be placed such
that the travel distance to a fire extinguisher is no more than 75 feet at
any given location. This travel distance is the same for light hazard,
ordinary hazard, and extra hazard occupancies. However, as many as half
of these extinguishers may be replaced by onsite hose stations (if a
specific standpipe system has them) with the same travel distance.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.2.1.2.1 The minimum number of fire extinguishers for Class A hazards for each
floor of a building shall be determined by dividing the total floor area by the
maximum area to be protected per extinguisher as determined by Table 6.2.1.1.
(See Annex E.) …

6.2.1.2.2 Fire extinguishers shall be located so that the maximum travel distances

shall not exceed 75 ft (22.9 m), except as modified by 6.2.1.4.

6.2.1.4 Up to one-half of the complement of fire extinguishers specified in Table

6.2.1.1 shall be permitted to be replaced by uniformly spaced 1 1/2 in. (38 mm)
hose stations for use by the occupants of the building.
Like Class A fire extinguishers, Class D fire extinguishers must also be no
more than 75 feet away.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.5 Installations for Class D Hazards.

6.5.2 Fire extinguishers or extinguishing agents (media) shall be located not more

than 75 ft (22.9 m) of travel distance from the Class D hazard. (See Section E.6.)

Fire extinguishers for areas with Class B

hazards must be no more than 30–50
feet away
The travel distance for required Class B extinguishers varies with the
extinguisher’s size. The numbers in the ratings listed below in table
6.3.1.1 — from 5-B to 80-B — indicate how many square feet of
coverage that the extinguisher can provide. For each type of hazard,
extinguishers with lower minimum ratings must be placed no more than
30 feet away, while extinguishers with higher minimum ratings may be as
far as 50 feet away.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.3 Installations for Class B Hazards.

6.3.1.3 Fire extinguishers shall be located so that the maximum travel distances do

not exceed those specified in Table 6.3.1.1.

Class C-rated fire extinguishers are

placed based on Class A and Class B
requirements
Class C fires are simply A or B fires — or a combination of the two —
that involve electrical equipment. As a result, placement for Class C fire
extinguishers is based on the expected A or B hazards in the area.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.4* Installations for Class C Hazards.

6.4.3 Because the fire is a Class A or Class B hazard, the fire extinguishers shall be
sized and located on the basis of the anticipated Class A or Class B hazard.

Class K-rated fire extinguishers may be

no more than 30 feet away
Class K extinguishers are designed for fires in commercial kitchens and
should be placed near deep-fryers and other cooking surfaces.
Barbecues, ovens, and other cooking appliances utilizing solid fuel, such
as charcoal, require a K-rated extinguisher nearby if their fuel chamber,
or firebox, is more than five cubic feet in size. An important note: “Class
K” extinguishers are different than “Purple K” extinguishers, which are
actually Class B:C. Purple K is simply the name of the dry chemical
extinguishing agent in those specific devices.

From the 2022 edition of NFPA 10

6.6 Installations for Class K Hazards.

6.6.2 Maximum travel distance shall not exceed 30 ft (9.1 m) from the hazard to the
extinguishers.

6.7 Solid-Fuel Cooking Appliances. All solid fuel cooking appliances (whether or

not under a hood) with fire boxes of 5 ft3 (0.14 m3) volume or less shall have at
least a listed 2-A-rated water-type fire extinguisher or a 1.6 gal (6 L) wet-chemical
fire extinguisher that is listed for Class K fires.
Choosing and placing fire extinguishers
Now that you know where should fire extinguishers be installed, you may
need additional equipment.  Take a look at QRFS’s selection of ABC-
rated dry chemical extinguishers, BC-rated CO2 extinguishers, and Purple
K extinguishers. Or jump straight to the extinguisher or accessory you
need from the table below:

ABC Fire Extinguishers

2.5 lb Buckeye ABC Fire Extinguisher w/ Vehicle Bracket | Dry Chemical |
5 lb Buckeye
1A:10B:C
10 lb Buckeye ABC Dry Chemical Extinguisher 4A:80B:C 20 lb Buckeye A

CO2 Fire Extinguishers

5 lb Buckeye CO2 Extinguisher 5B:C 10 lb
 15 lb Buckeye CO2 Extinguisher 10B:C 20 lb

Purple K Fire Extinguishers

20 lb Buckeye Purple K Extinguisher 120B:C

Accessories
Vehicle Brackets
 Covers

Each extinguisher is compliant with standards established by the NFPA,

Department of Transportation, and the US Coast Guard. Matching fire
extinguisher wall-mounting brackets, vehicle brackets, as well
as extinguisher cabinets, covers, and other fire extinguisher
accessories are available.