Guides & Toolkits

4 © 2011, Safe Workplace Promotion Services Ontario, publicly known as Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | www.wsps.ca Fire Extinguishers 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 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 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 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 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 extinguishers in or near the room On vehicles or in areas where extinguishers are subject to jarring or vibration: Mount extinguishers on brackets designed to withstand vibration. Post signs to show the locations of fire extinguishers, particularly in large floor areas where they could be easily blocked from view. The signs should be large enough to be seen clearly from a distance. Figure 3 gives examples of fire extinguisher signs. Figure 3: Fire Extinguisher Signs Identify walls or columns on which extinguishers are mounted with a red band. The band should be 2.4 to 3m (8 to 10 ft.) above the extinguisher. The background on which the extinguisher is mounted should also be painted red.

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