NFPA 10 Fire Extinguisher Requirements

Protect your customers and residents. Use the safety tips and equipment recommended by the NFPA.

• Install smoke detectors on every level of a home or building. Residential buildings should have a smoke alarm on every floor and in every unit. Smoke alarms can be key to saving lives and property from a fire.
• Provide a multipurpose fire extinguisher in every unit. Class A, B and C fires are the three common classes of residential fires. All buildings require Class A extinguishers, but a multipurpose extinguisher can protect from all three classes of fire.
• Conduct annual inspections. Fire extinguishers should be inspected annually by a certified professional to ensure everything is in working order.
• In the event of a fire, every resident should evacuate.

Pro Tip: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends using a portable extinguisher only if the fire is confined to a small area.

Portable extinguishers should be a part of every fire safety plan. The NFPA offers these recommendations:

• Use portable fire extinguishers that are no more than two years old, unless certified by an expert. Replace older, uncertified extinguishers.
• Check fire extinguishers for instructions and meter readings.
• Ensure the nozzle does not have any external damage.
• Install a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in every unit. Test safety detectors periodically to verify the battery level, charge and maintenance date.

Fire extinguishers must be charged, operational and in their designated place when not in use. Safety managers of businesses and commercial buildings must do monthly visual inspections. Documentation is only required for annual inspections of portable fire extinguishers on a property. Extinguishers that satisfy annual maintenance inspections receive a date tag marking them valid for one year.

Pro Tip: Minimize disruption to your residents by alerting them to inspections in advance. Ask that they leave their fire extinguishers outside their unit for inspection. Make alternate fire protection equipment available during inspections.

Where should fire extinguishers be located? Place a fire extinguisher on every level of a building. To minimize response times, extinguishers should be accessible and visible where fires are most likely to start, such as kitchens and bedrooms.

To the NFPA, “accessible” means easily located in the occurrence of a fire, usually in the normal path of travel. “Visible” means that the fire extinguisher must be unobstructed, or marked by signs, lights or arrows when visible obstructions are unavoidable.

Portable fire extinguishers are required to be accessible and visible in:

• Healthcare facilities
• Hotels
• Apartments
• Dormitories
• Day care centers
• Businesses
• Educational facilities
• Storage facilities
• Detention & correction centers
• Residential board & care facilities
• Industrial & manufacturing properties

Determine your property’s potential fire hazards to determine the class of fire extinguisher you need and where to place them. Each unit should have an extinguisher, but there may be other places on the property where one is necessary such as an administrative office, common laundry area or near electrical equipment.

Travel distance is the distance an employee must walk to reach the fire extinguisher. It is measured down the center of the natural walking path, including curves around corners, walls and doors. Follow these rules for the different hazards and classes of fire extinguisher.

• Class A—Ordinary combustibles: Travel distance to extinguisher must be 75 feet or less. Check your hazard level in Table 6.2.1.1 in NFPA 10.
• Class B—Flammable liquids: Travel distance to extinguisher must be 50 feet or less. Check your hazard level in Table 6.3.1.1 in NFPA 10.
• Class C—Electrical equipment: Rating put on Class A or B fire extinguishers that do not conduct electricity. Use the appropriate travel distance.
• Class D—Combustible metal: Travel distance to extinguisher must be 75 feet or less.
• Class K—Combustible cooking oils & fats: Travel distance to extinguisher must be 50 feet or less.

Fire extinguisher mounting requirements include extinguishers in cabinets but not wheeled models. Portable fire extinguishers have different mounting requirements based on whether they weigh more or less than 40 lbs.

• For all mounted fire extinguishers, the bottom of the extinguisher must be at least 4 inches off the ground.
• If the extinguisher weighs more than 40 lbs., the top of the extinguisher must be no more than 3.5 feet off the ground
• If the extinguisher weighs less than 40 lbs., the top of the extinguisher must be no more than 5 feet off the ground

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