061 Portable Fire Suppression Equipment and Portable Fire Extinguishers
061.01 Scope
061.02 Definitions Applicable to this Section
061.03 General Requirements
061.04 Selection of Fire Extinguishers
061.05 Distribution of Portable Fire Extinguishers
061.06 Inspection, Maintenance, and Hydrostatic Tests

061. PORTABLE FIRE SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT AND PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. (7-1-97)

01. Scope: The provisions of this section apply to the selection, installation, inspection, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishing equipment. These are minimum requirements. Portable fire extinguishers are intended as a first line of defense to cope with fires of limited size. They are required even if the facility, building, or structure is equipped with automatic sprinklers, stand pipe and hose, or other fixed fire protection equipment. (7-1-97)

02. Definitions: For definitions of other terms used in this section, see sub-section 010 of this standard. (7-1-97)

a. Approved means listed or approved by at least one of the following nationally recognized testing laboratories: Factory Mutual Engineering Corp.; Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.; or Federal agencies such as Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, Department of Transportation, or U. S. Coast Guard, which issue approvals for such equipment. (7-1-97)

b. Class A Fires are fires fueled by ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, and rubber. (7-1-97)

c. Class B Fires are fires fueled by flammable liquids, gases, and greases. (7-1-97)

d. Class C Fires are fires which involve energized electrical equipment where the electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing media is of importance. (When electrical equipment is de-energized, a fire extinguisher for Class A or B fires may be used safely). (7-1-97)

e. Class D Fires are fires fueled by combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, and potassium. (7-1-97)

f. Light/Low Hazard is a location where the total amount of Class-A combustible materials, including furnishings, decorations, and contents, is of a minor quantity. This classification anticipates that the majority of the content items are either noncombustible or so arranged that a fire is not likely to spread rapidly. Small amounts of Class-B flammables, less than ten gallons, used for duplicating machines, art departments, etc., are included provided that they are kept in closed containers and safely stored. The amount of combustibles or flammable liquids present is such that fires of small size may be expected. These may include offices, schoolrooms, assembly halls, etc. (7-1-97)

g. Ordinary/Moderate Hazard is a location where the total amount of Class-A combustibles and Class-B flammables are present in greater amounts than expected under light/low hazard locations. The amount of combustibles or flammable liquids present is such that fires of moderate size may be expected. These may include mercantile storage and display, parking garages, light manufacturing, warehouses not classified as extra hazard, school shop areas, etc. (7-1-97)

h. Extra/High Hazard is a location where the total amount of Class-A combustibles and Class-B flammables present in storage, production use, and/or finished product is over and above those expected and classed as ordinary/moderate hazards. The amount of combustibles or flammable materials or liquids present is such that fires of severe magnitude may be expected. These may include woodworking shops, auto repair shops, aircraft servicing areas, warehouses with high piled (twelve (12) feet or higher) stacks of combustibles, and areas where processes such as flammable liquid handling, painting, dipping, etc. are conducted. (7-1-97)

i. Portable Fire Extinguishers are appliances that are classified for use on certain classes of fire and rated for relative extinguishing effectiveness at a temperature of plus seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit by nationally recognized testing laboratories. (7-1-97)

03. General Requirements: (7-1-97)

a. Portable fire extinguishers shall be maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times when they are not being used. (7-1-97)

b. Fire extinguishers shall be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and immediately available in the event of fire. They shall be located along normal paths of travel, including exits from areas. (7-1-97)

c. Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. In large rooms, and in certain locations where visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, means shall be provided to indicate the location and intended use of extinguishers conspicuously. (7-1-97)

d. If extinguishers intended for different classes of fire are grouped, their intended use shall be marked conspicuously to insure choice of the proper extinguisher at the time of a fire. Fire extinguisher operating instructions shall be located on the front of the fire extinguisher. Other labels and markings shall not be placed so as to obstruct the operating instructions. (7-1-97)

e. Fire extinguishers shall be installed on the hangers or in the brackets supplied, or mounted in cabinets, unless the fire extinguishers are of the wheeled type.  Fire extinguishers mounted in cabinets or wall recesses shall have their location conspicuously marked.  Cabinets housing fire extinguishers shall not be locked unless the locked cabinet is provided with a means of emergency access. (10-1-06)

f. Fire extinguishers installed under conditions where they are subject to being dislodged shall be installed in brackets or cabinets specifically designed to cope with this problem.  Fire extinguishers installed under conditions where they are subject to severe vibration shall be installed in brackets specifically designed to withstand the impact of vibration and to prevent the fire extinguisher from becoming dislodged. (10-1-06)

g. Fire extinguishers installed under conditions where they are subject to physical or environmental damage shall be protected from impact. (10-1-06)

h. Fire extinguishers shall be suitable for use within a temperature range of at least plus forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit to one hundred twenty (120) degrees Fahrenheit. When fire extinguishers are installed in locations subject to temperatures outside the proscribed temperature range , they shall be of a type approved or listed for the temperature to which they will be exposed or placed in an enclosure capable of maintaining the prescribed temperature range. (7-1-97)

i. Where portable fire extinguishers are provided for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall provide an educational program to familiarize applicable employees with the general principals of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient fire fighting. The employer shall provide fire extinguisher training upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter (for example: viewing a training video). (7-1-97)

j. Height of Mounting. Extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding forty (40) pounds shall be installed so that the top of the extinguisher is not more than five (5) feet above the floor. Extinguishers having a gross weight greater than forty (40) pounds (except wheeled types) shall be so installed that the top of the extinguisher is not more than three and one half (3 1/2) feet above the floor. In no case shall the bottom of the fire extinguisher and the floor or ground be less than four (4) inches. (7-1-97)

04. Selection of Fire Extinguishers: (7-1-97)

a. The selection of fire extinguishers for a given situation will depend upon the character of the fires anticipated, the construction and occupancy of the individual property, the vehicle or hazard to be protected, ambient-temperature conditions, and other factors. The number of extinguishers required shall be determined by reference to sub-section 061.05 of this section. Approved fire extinguishers shall be used to meet the requirements of sub-sections 061.01 through 061.06 of this section. (7-1-97)

b. Fire extinguishers shall be selected for the specific classes of hazards to be protected in accordance with the following: extinguishers for protecting Class A hazards shall be selected from the manufacturers recommended extinguishers for Class A fires; extinguishers for protection of Class B hazards shall be selected from the manufacturers recommended extinguishers for Class B fires; extinguishers for protection of Class C hazards shall be selected from the manufacturers recommended extinguishers for Class C fires. NOTE: Carbon dioxide extinguishers equipped with metal horns are not considered safe for use on fires in energized electrical equipment, and therefore, are not classified for use on Class C hazards; extinguishers and extinguishing agents for the protection of Class A, B, C, and D hazards shall be of types approved for use on the specific combustible-metal hazard. (7-1-97)

c. Table 061.04-A lists the equivalents for fire extinguishers by type and capacity. (7-1-97)

(7-1-97)

05. Distribution of Portable Fire Extinguishers: (7-1-97)

a. The number of fire extinguishers needed to protect equipment or facilities shall be determined as prescribed herein, considering the area and arrangement of the building or occupancy, the severity of the hazard, the anticipated classes of fires, and the distances to be traveled to reach extinguishers. Fire extinguishers shall be provided for the protection of both the building structure, if combustible, and the occupancy hazards contained therein. Required building protection shall be provided by fire extinguishers suitable for Class A fires. Occupancy hazard protection shall be provided by fire extinguishers suitable for such Class A, B, C, or D fire potentials as may be present. Fire extinguishers provided for building protection may be considered also for the protection of occupancies having a Class A fire potential. Combustible buildings having an occupancy hazard subject to Class B, and/or Class C fires, shall have a standard complement of Class A fire extinguishers as required by Table 061.05-A for building protection, plus additional Class B and/or Class C extinguishers. Where fire extinguishers have more than one letter classification they may be considered to satisfy the requirements of each letter class. Rooms or areas shall be graded generally as light hazard, ordinary hazard, or extra hazard. Limited areas of greater or lesser hazard shall be protected as required. All vehicles shall be provided with a fire extinguisher suitable for the fire potential involved (7-1-97)

b. Fire extinguisher size and placement for Class A hazards shall be as follows: minimal sizes of fire extinguishers for the listed grades of hazard shall be provided on the basis of Table 061.05-A. Extinguishers shall be located so that the maximum travel distances shall not exceed seventy five (75) feet. The protection requirements specified in Table 061.05-A may be fulfilled by several extinguishers of lower ratings for ordinary/moderate or extra/high-hazard occupancies. Where the floor area of a building is less than that specified in Table 061.05-A, at least one (1) extinguisher or the minimum size recommended shall be provided. The protection requirements may be fulfilled with extinguishers of higher rating provided the travel distance to such large extinguishers shall not exceed seventy five (75) feet. (7-1-97)

TABLE 061.05-A
AREAS TO BE PROTECTED PER EXTINGUISHER
Basic minimum extinguisher rating for area specified	Maximum travel distances to extinguishers (feet)	Light Hazard occupancy (square feet)	Ordinary hazard occupancy (square feet)	Extra hazard occupancy (square feet)
1A	75	3,000	Note 1	Note 1
2A	75	6,000	3,000	Note 1
3A	75	9,000	4,500	3,000
4A	75	11,250	6,000	4,000
6A	75	11,250	9,000	6,000
Note 1: Not permitted except as specified in 061.05.b.

(7-1-97)

c. Fire extinguisher size and placement for Class B fire or other than for fire in flammable liquids of appreciable depth shall be as follows: Minimal sizes of fire extinguishers for the listed grades of hazard shall be provided on the basis of Table 061.05-B. Extinguishers shall be located so that the maximum travel distances shall not exceed those specified in Table 061.05-B. Two (2) or more extinguishers of lower rating, shall not be used to fulfill the protection requirements of Table 061.03-B up to three (3) foam extinguishers of at least two and one-half (2 1/2) gallons capacity may be used to fulfill light/low requirements. Up to three (3) aqueous film forming foam extinguishers of at least two and one-half (2 1/2) gallon capacity may be used to fulfill extra/high hazard requirements. The protection requirements may be fulfilled with extinguishers of higher ratings provided the travel distance to such larger extinguishers shall not exceed fifty (50) feet. (7-1-97)

TABLE 061.05-B
Type of Hazard	Basic minimum extinguisher rating	Maximum travel distance to extinguishers (feet)
Light/Low	5 or 10B	50
Ordinary/Moderate	20B	50
Extra/High	40B	50

(7-1-97)

d. Fire extinguisher size and placement for Class B fires in flammable liquids of appreciable depth shall be as follows: Portable fire extinguishers shall not be installed as the sole protection for flammable liquid hazards of appreciable depth. NOTE: Appreciable depth is defined as a depth of a liquid greater than one-forth (1/4) inch where the area exceeds ten (10) square feet. For flammable liquid hazards of appreciable depth (Class B), such as in dip or quench tanks, Class B fire extinguishers shall be provided on the basis of at least two (2) numerical units of Class B extinguishing potential per square foot of flammable liquid surface of the largest tank hazard within the area. Two (2) or more extinguishers of lower ratings shall not be used in lieu of the extinguisher required for the largest tank. Up to three (3) AFFF or AFFFP foam extinguishers may be used to fulfill these requirements. Scattered or widely separated hazards shall be individually protected. Fire extinguishers in the proximity of a hazard shall be carefully located so as to be accessible in the presence of a fire without undue danger to the operator. (7-1-97)

e. Fire extinguishers with Class C ratings shall be required where energized electrical equipment may be encountered which would require a nonconducting extinguishing media. This will include fire either directly involving or surrounding electrical equipment. Since the fire itself is a Class A or Class B hazard, the extinguishers are sized and located on the basis of the anticipated Class A or B hazard. (7-1-97)

f. Fire extinguishers or extinguishing agents for Class D ratings shall be provided for fires involving combustible metals. Fire extinguishing equipment shall be located not more than seventy feet (75) feet from the hazard. (7-1-97)

06. Inspection, Maintenance, and Hydrostatic Tests: (7-1-97)

a. The owner or occupant of a property in which fire extinguishes are located shall be responsible for inspection, maintenance, and testing of the fire extinguishers. For details of conducting needed inspection, proper maintenance operations, and required tests, see NFPA No. 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers and the Uniform Fire Code Standard 10-1, Selection, Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing of Portable Fire Extinguishers. (7-1-97)

b. Fire extinguishers shall be inspected/quick-checked monthly, or at more frequent intervals when circumstances require, to insure: they are in their designated places; they have not been actuated or tampered with; and to detect any obvious physical damage, corrosion, or other impairments. Any extinguishers showing defects shall be given a complete maintenance inspection. The inspection/quick-check shall include a check of the following items: the fire extinguisher is located in its designated place; there is no obstruction to access or visibility; visibly checking the sight gauge for fullness on extinguishers which have them; the operating instructions are legible and facing forward; the seals and tamper indicators are not broken or missing; weighing or hefting to determine fullness; examination for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, or clogged nozzle/hose and record of having done so. (7-1-97)

c. At regular intervals, not more than one (1) year apart, or when specifically indicated by an inspection, fire extinguishers shall be thoroughly examined and/or recharged or repaired to insure operability and safety or replaced as needed. Fire extinguishers removed from the premises to be recharged shall be replaced by spare extinguishers during the period they are gone. Pails or drums of powder extinguishing agents for scoop or shovel application to metal fires shall be kept full at all times. Each fire extinguisher shall have a durable tag securely attached to show the maintenance or recharge date and the initials or signature of the person who performs this service. Maintenance on fire extinguishers shall be performed by a trained person who has undergone the training necessary to reliably perform the required maintenance procedures. Fire extinguisher maintenance shall be accomplished in accordance with NFPA 10, UFCS 10-1, and appropriate manufacturers service manuals. (7-1-97)

d. If, at any time, an extinguisher shows evidence of corrosion or mechanical injury, it shall be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure test, or replaced. At intervals not exceeding those specified in Table 061.06-A and this sub-section, extinguishers shall be hydrostatically tested. The first hydrostatic retest may be conducted between the fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) years for those with a designated test interval of five (5) years. For non-compressed gas type extinguishers the hydrostatic test date shall be recorded on a record tag of metal or equally durable material, or a suitable metallic decal which shall be affixed by a heated process to the shell of the extinguisher which passes the hydrostatic test. The record tag shall contain the following information: Date of the test, test pressure, and name or initials of person or agency making the test. For compressed gas type extinguishers the hydrostatic test date, (month and year), shall be recorded by being stamped into the cylinder. Extinguisher shells, cartridges, or cylinders which show leakage or permanent distortions in excess of specified limits, or which rupture shall be removed from service. Hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers shall be accomplished by persons trained in pressure testing procedures and safeguards, and having available suitable testing equipment, facilities, and appropriate servicing manuals. Hydrostatic tests shall be performed in accordance with NFPA 10, UFCS 10-1, and manufacture's maintenance manual. (7-1-97)

TABLE 061.06-A
Extinguisher Type	Test Interval Year
Storage-Pressure Water, Loaded Stream, and/or Anti-freeze	52
Wetting Agent	5
Foam	51
AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam	5
FFFP (Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam)	5
Dry Chemical Extinguishers with Stainless Steel Shells,	5
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers	5
Dry chemical extinguishers with brazed-Brass shells, or mild-steel shells, or aluminum shells	12
Halogenated Agents	12
Dry Powder, Stored Pressure, Cartridge- or Cylinder Operated, with Mild Steel Shells	12
Note-1: Fire extinguishers with copper or brass shells joined by soft solder were prohibited from further hydrostatic testing effective May 18, 1978. Fire extinguishers with stainless steel or brazed brass shells that were permitted to remain in service had a 5-year hydrostatic test interval. Effective December 22, 1987, when the hydrostatic date arrives, all types of inverting fire extinguishers shall not be tested but removed from service. (As of January 1, 1992 all of these types of fire extinguishers shall be removed from service.)
Note-2: Stored pressure water fire extinguishers with fiberglass shells are prohibited from hydrostatic testing and are prohibited from use.

(7-1-97)