What You Need to Know About Fire Extinguisher Safety in Your Building
Fire safety is essential in any building. As a building owner it is your responsibility to ensure the occupants know what to do in case of a fire emergency and are equipped with the proper tools. Fire safety equipment and fire safety signs are an essential part of every building.
Fire extinguishers are often purchased, but also often overlooked until they are needed. How many times a day do you pass by the fire extinguisher sign and not give it a second glance? However, fire extinguisher safety in your building is one of the most vital aspects to keeping occupants safe. Data collected over 34 years by the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED) observing 13,221 fire incidents, state that fire extinguishers successfully extinguished flames 95% of the time. Should a fire break out and by equipping yourself with some basic knowledge you will make all those who enter your building that much safer.
Fire Extinguisher Sign Compliance
Fire extinguisher signs have a straightforward and important job. Alert people to the location of the fire extinguisher. NFPA 101 and OSHA offer few requirements on what the fire extinguisher sign needs to look like, which gives building owners leeway to choose what they wish. Ensure you have compliant fire extinguisher signs with these simple tips:
- Fire extinguisher signs should clearly identify the fire extinguisher location. Arrows, lights, or coding of the wall or column may need to be used.
- Consider glow in the dark fire extinguisher signs in case of a power outage. Photoluminescent fire extinguisher signs can offer upwards of 18+ hours of illumination in some cases.
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Because not everything burns the same or can be extinguisher with the same type of fire extinguisher, five fire extinguisher classifications is critical to determining the type and number of extinguishers required. Consider how a grease fire differs from an oil fire, wood fire, or even flammable metal. The extinguishers are classified in several ways:
- Local hazards and ambient temperatures,
- Size and type of the fire most likely to occur
- Fuel type of potential fire
All fires have been placed into one of five fire classifications which are ranked Class A, B, C, D, or K. All buildings require Class A extinguishers. Additionally, fire extinguishers rated for class B, C, D and K hazards must be installed when those hazards are present.
Locations of Fire Extinguishers
Your buildings construction and fire hazards will determine where you need to place fire extinguishers. According to the 2018 NFPA 101 it states that “fire extinguishers shall be provided for the protection of both the building structure and the occupancy hazards contained therein regardless of the presence of any fixed fire suppression systems.”
All fire extinguishers need to be installed per the NFPA 101 requirements. The class of the extinguisher will determine how many feet away from occupants it must be installed. For example, a Class K extinguisher must be within 30 feet of occupants while a Class A extinguisher must be 75 feet or less. This travel distance indicates how far a person would need to walk in order to reach the fire extinguisher with all permanent or temporary obstructions accounted for.
Fire Safety Signage Experts
Jessup Manufacturing Company is a global manufacturer of fire safety signs, including fire extinguisher signs, emergency exit signs, and more. Contact our experts to discuss your options in fire safety signage.
