Various factors play a role in determining the type, size, number, and location of portable fire extinguishers you need to keep in your building.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the standard which defines the type and quantity of fire extinguishers required in buildings. Various factors play a role in determining the location, quantity and type of portable fire extinguishers required.
Local and National Requirements
NFPA, local codes, AHJ’s and OSHA prescribe requirements for the number of fire extinguishers in buildings. Factors that determine the type and size include:
- Size and Layout of the Building: the area and layout of a building will determine the number of fire extinguishers required.
- Fire Hazard Level: public buildings are assigned a fire level hazard based on their purpose and what they contain. Classifications are:
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- Light Hazard: Where the combustibility
- and quantity of Class A combustibles – Class B flammables are low.
- Ordinary Hazard I and II: Where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible materials and Class B flammable liquids are moderate.
- Extra Hazard I and II: Where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible material are high or where higher amounts of Class B flammable liquids are present.
- Commercial kitchens: Where Class K combustible material is present. These are: cooking oils used on kitchen equipment with a large amount of heat.
Having the correct type of extinguisher for the correct hazard is essential, but so is location. NFPA 10 requires fire extinguishers to be located where they’re readily accessible and available in case of a fire. A unique feature within the IMEC Fire Extinguisher Inspection Software will track the quantity and type of fire extinguishers at a location and will match the current quantity at the location against both desired quantity and a must have quantity for each type of extinguisher. Email alerts can be sent to managers when the must have quantity is not in place alerting them to these issues.
IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identification, incident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure. Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDOR. HazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com