Fire Extinguisher Storage Guidelines You Must Follow

Fire extinguishers are essential safety tools to be installed in every residential and commercial building. These are called the first line of defense against minor fires for a reason. Fire extinguishers help contain small fires, saving lives and property. A timely executed fire extinguisher can minimize the hefty repair bills you might have to incur. In addition, it also reduces the downtime your business might suffer in resuming your daily activities. Therefore, it is crucial to follow some storage guidelines to ensure complete fire safety when installing a fire extinguisher. Also, it’s crucial that the fire technicians are able to locate the extinguisher in the right place during fire extinguisher maintenance & inspection.

Location

Speaking of location, the fire extinguishers must be easily accessible in the event of a fire. Although the exact distance to travel and placement would vary according to the type of extinguisher and the property, the bottom line remains the same - that it should be clearly visible to the passing eye. State code & regulations require fire extinguishers to be placed in hallways or near a fire-prone area. For example, in a restaurant or home, a fire extinguisher should be in the kitchen. But, in other commercial properties, its importance is near the electrical circuits but also in the corridors for general safety. Essentially, various types of extinguishers will be required in different places. Therefore, ask questions to the fire installation experts to know which kind you need to be placing where.

Placement

To make fire extinguishers accessible to all, state regulations require all fire extinguishers to be mounted on the wall not more than five feet higher from the floor. Also, there must be one extinguisher per floor in a residential or a small building. However, commercial properties may require more of them near hazardous areas.

Moreover, it is important to note that some buildings may need to choose a fire extinguisher cabinet to store fire extinguishers. Although some are allowed to be hung as is, some may need to be stored locked up in a fire extinguisher cabinet. Many people also enquire whether it is safe to store a fire extinguisher on its side. Experts say that it does not matter as the pressure inside the extinguisher is quite high. However, it's safe to keep it upright for easy access when the need arises.

Temperature

To prevent the extinguisher from being damaged, most fire extinguishers are required to be stored in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the extinguishers do not explode if the temperature exceeds, the chances of the valve or hose cracking are high. Hence, it’s vital to maintain the storage temperatures to ensure the longevity of the fire extinguishers.

Therefore, simply installing fire safety systems is not enough. Fire extinguisher maintenance and other guidelines must be followed to ensure the overall safety of the occupants of the building as well as the property. William Hird & Co. offers complete fire maintenance and installation services, including industry-grade fire extinguishers, fire extinguisher cabinets, and their parts. So, reach out to our team to learn more about your building requirements.