How Many Fire Extinguishers Are Required on a Business Premise?

Keeping your business’s building and your employees safe is not only a moral obligation, but a legal requirement. When it comes to fire prevention and suppression, that means having the minimum number of functioning fire extinguishers for your specific building, as prescribed by the National Fire Protection Association, OSHA and your city and state’s local requirements.

When you need advice about how many fire extinguishers you need in your Longview, TX business, Anchor Safety Inc. can help by providing fire safety consultations as well as top-quality fire suppression equipment.

Fire extinguisher requirements

Chapter 6.2 of the NFPA 10 lists the rules pertaining to commercial buildings and portable fire extinguishers. Before you get started, you’ll need to know what kind of fire hazards you are at risk for, which will help you determine which kind of fire extinguisher to use.

The basic types of fires include:

• Class A: Most commercial buildings are at risk for Class A fires, which are the most common type of commercial and industrial fire. These include fires from paper, fabric, wood and plastic, which are found in nearly every business space across the country.
• Class B: Class B fires include those started with propane, oil, gas and other flammable liquids.
• Class C: Class C fires are electrical and often start from faulty wiring.
• Class K: These are cooking fires, so commercial kitchens will need to pay special attention to those requirements.

Next, the NFPA requires you to determine whether you’re exposed to a light, ordinary or extra fire hazard, depending on the materials in your building and the nature of your business. Then determine the size and layout of your building, and how many floors you have. This will dictate how many extinguishers you should have and where they should be installed. (Generally, they will be no more than 75 feet apart, but if you have a kitchen, or are at risk for Class B fire, they may need to be spaced as little as 30 feet apart.)

Using the NFPA’s guidance, combined with your fire risk, type of business and the size of your building, you should be able to figure out just how many extinguishers you need and where to place them. If, however, you find the requirements confusing or you’d simply like to leave this determination to the experts, call a fire safety company like Anchor Safety Inc. We can help you make sure your building and business are in compliance with all local, state and regulatory codes.

Get fire extinguishers in Longview, TX

Anchor Safety Inc. is pleased to provide fire extinguishers as well as other fire suppression equipment. We also offer custom fire safety consultations, which cover everything from fire suppression to your legal requirements as a commercial building owner. When it comes to fire safety and prevention, we’re your one-stop shop. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our services and ensure you have however many fire extinguishers are required on your business premises in Longview, TX.

Categorised in: Fire Extinguishers

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