Portable fire extinguishers shall be required and installed
in the following locations:
A. In new and existing Uniform Construction Code Use Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies; provided, however, that in new and existing Group A, B and E occupancies that are equipped throughout with quick-response sprinklers, portable fire extinguishers shall be required only in locations specified in Subsections
B through
F below;
B. Within 30 feet of commercial cooking equipment.
C. In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used
or dispensed.
D. On each floor of structures under construction, except Group R-3
occupancies, in accordance with Section 1415.1 of the International
Fire Code.
E. Where required consistent with Table 53-68.1 attached hereto as Addendum
A.
F. Special-hazard areas, including, but not limited to, laboratories,
computer rooms and generator rooms, where required by the fire code
official.
Portable fire extinguishers shall be selected, installed and
maintained in accordance with this section and the provisions of the
NFPA 10; provided, however, that:
A. The travel distance to reach an extinguisher shall not apply to the
spectator seating portions of Group A-5 occupancies.
B. Thirty-day inspections shall not be required, and maintenance shall
be authorized at a rate of once every three years, for dry-chemical
or halogenated agent portable fire extinguishers that are supervised
by a listed and approved electronic monitoring device, provided all
of the following conditions are met:
(1) Electronic monitoring shall confirm that extinguishers are properly
positioned, properly charged and unobstructed; and
(2) Loss of power or circuit continuity to the electronic monitoring
device initiates a trouble signal; and
(3) The extinguishers are installed inside of a building or cabinet in
a noncorrosive environment; and
(4) Electronic monitoring devices and supervisory circuits are being
tested every three years when extinguisher maintenance is performed;
and
(5) A written log of required hydrostatic test dates for extinguishers
is maintained by the owner to ensure that hydrostatic tests are conducted
at the frequency required by the NFPA 10.
For occupancies that involve primarily Use Class A fire hazards, the minimum sizes and distribution of fire extinguishers must comply with Table 53-70.1
attached to this chapter as Exhibit B. Fire extinguishers for occupancies involving flammable or combustible liquids with depths of less than or equal to 0.25 inch shall be selected and placed in accordance with Table 53-70.2
attached to this chapter as Addendum C. Fire extinguishers for occupancies involving flammable
or combustible liquids with a depth of greater than 0.25 inch (6.35
mm) or involving combustible metals shall be selected and placed in
accordance with the NFPA 10. Extinguishers for Class C fire hazards
shall be selected and placed on the basis of the anticipated Class
A or Class B hazard.
Fire extinguishers provided for the protection of cooking grease
fires shall be of a type approved by the Fire Code Official and be
compatible with the automatic fire-extinguishing system agent for
that extinguisher.
Portable fire extinguishers shall be located in conspicuous
locations where they will be readily accessible and immediately available
for use. These locations shall be along normal paths of travel, unless
the Fire Code Official determines that the hazard posed indicates
the need for placement away from normal paths of travel.
Portable fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured
from view. In rooms or areas where visual obstruction cannot be completely
avoided, appropriate signage shall be provided to identify the locations
of extinguishers.
Hand-held portable fire extinguishers, not housed in cabinets,
shall be installed on hangers or brackets appropriate for same. Hangers
or brackets shall be securely anchored to the mounting surface in
accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Cabinets used to house portable fire extinguishers shall not
be locked; provided, however, that:
A. Where portable fire extinguishers subject to malicious use or damage
are provided with some other approved means of ready access; and
B. In Group I-3 occupancies and in mental health areas in Group I-2
occupancies, access to portable fire extinguishers may be locked or
located in staff locations, provided the staff has keys to open same.
Portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight less than
40 pounds shall be installed so that its top is not more than five
feet above the floor. Hand-held portable fire extinguishers having
a gross weight exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so that its
top is not more than 3.5 feet above the floor. The clearance between
the floor and the bottom of installed hand-held extinguishers shall
not be less than four inches.
Wheeled fire extinguishers shall be conspicuously located in
a designated location.