There’s no single number that applies to every business. The right number depends on the size and layout of your building, the fire risks in each area, and how far anyone would have to go to reach an extinguisher. Here’s how it’s worked out.
Start with your fire risk assessment
Your fire risk assessment should identify what could catch fire and where, who is in the building, and what firefighting equipment is appropriate. The number and type of extinguishers follow from that. If your premises are very small and low risk, you may need very few; if they have particular hazards, you’ll need extinguishers chosen for those hazards.
The code of practice: BS 5306-8
The British Standard for choosing and positioning portable extinguishers is BS 5306-8. It works through a few questions.
How big is each floor?
For the general fire risk in most buildings, from paper, wood and fabrics, BS 5306-8 sets a minimum amount of extinguishing capacity for each floor, which goes up with the floor area. In practice, most floors need at least two extinguishers suitable for this kind of fire, unless the floor is very small.
How far would someone have to go?
Extinguishers should be close enough to reach quickly. As a rule of thumb, nobody should have to travel more than about 30 metres to reach one, and they should be on the way out, not in a corner people would have to go deeper into the building to get to.
What special risks are there?
Some areas need extinguishers of a particular type close to the hazard:
- Kitchens with deep fat fryers need a wet chemical extinguisher for cooking oil fires.
- Server rooms, comms cupboards and electrical intake rooms are usually covered by carbon dioxide extinguishers.
- Areas where flammable liquids are stored or used need an extinguisher suitable for liquid fires, such as foam or carbon dioxide.
- Outdoor areas, garages and plant rooms sometimes suit dry powder, which isn’t recommended in enclosed spaces where people work.
These are in addition to the general cover for the floor, not instead of it.
Where to put them
Good positions are:
- on escape routes, near exits from rooms and from each floor
- near specific hazards, but not so close that you’d have to reach into the fire to get them
- in the same kind of place on every floor, so people know where to look
- mounted on wall brackets or stands, easy to lift and clearly visible, with a sign if they can’t be seen easily
Fewer, better-placed extinguishers
Having more extinguishers isn’t always better. Extinguishers of the wrong type can make a fire worse, and too many types in one place can confuse people in an emergency. It’s usually better to have fewer, well-chosen extinguishers in sensible, consistent positions.
Getting it checked
If you’re not sure whether you have the right number and types, we can look at your premises and recommend what you need, using BS 5306-8. If what you have is already right, we’ll tell you that too. See extinguisher supply and installation or get a quote.