FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
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100-CAH-01-IGDO © 2025, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA
Location
No matter how carefully they are selected, fire extinguishers won't be of any use if they can't be reached
in an emergency. Locate fire extinguishers where they can be readily reached for use while a fire is still
small. However, don't locate them where they could be a hazard to employees, or where they could get
damaged.
If not equipped with wheels, ensure that portable fire extinguishers weighing more than 18 kilograms
(kg) or 39 pounds (lbs.) are installed so that the top is not more than 1.1 meters (m) or 3.6 feet (ft.) above
the floor. Those weighing 18 kg or less must not be more than 1.5m (5 ft.) above the floor.
Here are some general pointers for where to locate fire extinguishers in your workplace. Locate them:
So that they are visible, along with their operating instructions and identification marks
Where they can be easily reached (i.e., they must not be blocked by machines or materials)
In or near corridors or aisles leading to exits – however, they must not block aisles
Close to potential fire hazards, but not so close that they could be damaged or cut off by a fire
Where they will not expose people using them to undue risk, e.g., using a halon extinguisher in an
unventilated area
Where they will not be damaged by moving trucks, cranes or other work activities, or
Corroded by chemical processes
So that they are protected against the elements (if stored outdoors)
In special areas
Where highly combustible material is stored in small rooms or enclosed spaces:
Locate the fire extinguisher outside of the room (this will force the potential user to exit the room
and then decide whether to re-enter it to fight the fire)
For service rooms that contain electrical equipment:
Locate fire extinguishers in or near the room
On vehicles or in areas where extinguishers are subject to jarring or vibration:
Mount fire extinguishers on brackets designed to withstand vibration.
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