Where to Locate Portable Fire Extinguishers?

8/11/2021

I am new to the fire engineering fraternity and I'm currently working with a small office building. It's a single-story, 5,800 sqft office use with a small battery room and small server room.

IBC (2021) Section 906 and IFC start with "where required". I cannot find where extinguishers are required for business occupancy.

What is the code path to determine if fire extinguishers are required?

Does the IBC/IFC not address where extinguishers are required?

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10 Comments

Pete

8/11/2021 06:35:28 am

Don't personally deal much with Extinguishers, but I think NFPA chapter 10 might be worth perusing for you.

Pete

8/11/2021 06:37:41 am

Ugh too early, NFPA 10 Chapter 6 was what was meant to be typed. Apologies.

Alex

8/11/2021 07:48:24 am

Hi Anonymous,

From the question, it looks like you will need both class A and class C extinguishers. For class A, refer to NFPA 10 (2018) 6.2 and for class C, refer to NFPA 10 (2018) 6.4. (To save you time, your class C will be placed the same as class A)

In regards to the IBC, Section 906 refers to Portable Fire Extinguishers. Refer to Table 906.3(1) for class A.

Best of luck with your design. Welcome to the community!
Alex

Todd Wyatt

8/11/2021 08:30:10 am

The adopted building Code (e.g. 2021 IBC Section 906) determines the scoping requirement for portable fire extinguishers (PFE) and determines "where required " (906.1), general requirements (906.2), size and distribution (906.3), and other requirements.

NFPA 10 (2021) is the referenced standard by the IBC and is used to provide supplemental selection and installation criteria.

Danial Bartle

8/11/2021 08:40:04 am

NFPA 101 (2021) 38.3.5 Requires portable fire extinguishers in every business occupancy in accordance with Section 9.9 which runs you back to NFPA 10. Should be within 75 feet of walking distance of anywhere in the building unless it is a high hazard which decreases it to 50 feet. Server rooms usually use something other than a dry chemical because of the corrosivity of the chemical when it gets damp and the difficulty of removing the powder.

Zackery Geddies

8/11/2021 09:12:50 am

IBC SECTION 906
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
[F] 906.1 Where required. Portable fire extinguishers shall
be installed in all of the following locations:
1. In Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies
• Group B is an office occupancy.
[F] 906.2 General requirements. Portable fire extinguishers
shall be selected and installed in accordance with this section
and NFPA 10.(NFPA 10 is the Standard For Portable Fire Extinguishers)
[F] 906.3 Size and distribution. The size and distribution of
portable fire extinguishers shall be in accordance with Sections
906.3.1 through 906.3.4.
[F] 906.3.1 Class A fire hazards. The minimum sizes and
distribution of portable fire extinguishers for occupancies
that involve primarily Class A fire hazards shall comply
with Table 906.3(1).
[F] 906.3.2 Class B fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers
for occupancies involving flammable or combustible
liquids with depths less than or equal to 0.25-inch (6.4
mm) shall be selected and placed in accordance with Table
906.3(2).
Portable fire extinguishers for occupancies involving
flammable or combustible liquids with a depth of greater
than 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) shall be selected and placed in
accordance with NFPA 10.
[F] 906.3.3 Class C fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers
for Class C fire hazards shall be selected and
placed on the basis of the anticipated Class A or B hazard.
[F] 906.3.4 Class D fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers
for occupancies involving combustible metals
shall be selected and placed in accordance with NFPA 10.

Mike

8/11/2021 09:23:53 am

I remember taking an Ansul kitchen hood cylinder and trying to use it as a fire extinguisher in my younger days to put out a small burlap sack fire.

That powder went everywhere out of a 3/4" nipple and it whistled until the very end.

My dad and shop foreman just shook their heads.

There is dust, to this day, on most horizontal surfaces. It was great to clean up the shop oil, though.

Never did it again.

Brian Gerdwagen FPE

8/11/2021 11:34:39 am

There are two spacing criteria:

75 or 50 feet of travel.

OR

3000 or 1500 square feet per unit of "A" up to 11,250 sqft maximum per extinguisher.

If you are in a Light Hazard office environment and use 2A extinguishers, they can only cover 6,000sqft. This may not get to the 75 feet of travel and may end up being your limiting factor.

Roland Lopez

8/12/2021 03:09:41 am

Fire extinguisher are often refered to NFPA 10 and 11 . You may also look on your local code thru your city municipality who gives building permit .categorize by material hazard classification and travel distance where you can grab unit FE for immediate supressing the fire.

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Where to Locate Portable Fire Extinguishers?

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