adminWHEN sitting portable fire extinguishers the following factors should be considered: Extinguishers should be located in conspicuous positions, available at all times for immediate use and where they will be readily seen by any person. It can be difficult to find one when they are positioned out of sight of people and obviously they will not be seen in an emergency.
Fire extinguishers should be securely hung on wall brackets. Where this is not possible, extinguishers should be located on suitable extinguisher stands so the extinguisher is not in direct contact with the floor or ground.
If wall mounted, the carrying handle of larger and heavier extinguishers should be 1 metre from the floor but smaller extinguishers with a total mass of up to 4Kg should be mounted so that the carrying handle is 1.5 metres from the floor. If possible extinguishers should be sited in such a way that it is not necessary to travel more than 30 metres from the site of a fire to reach an extinguisher, that means extinguishers should be within reasonable distance from any fire risk. This is to ensure that the speed at which one can be sourced is as efficient as possible.
For special risks they should be fitted adjacent to the risk but not too close to prevent use in the event of fire occurring. Extinguishers should be near exits, on exit routes, on staircase landings or near normal path of travel.
They should be easily accessible and free from blockage by storage and equipment. Obstruction to the extinguisher adds to delay of being able to extinguish the fire.
They should be grouped together in fire points where practicable. This helps to ensure that fire-fighting is as efficient as possible. Extinguishers should be fitted on similar position on each floor and where possible uniform distribution should be provided. This helps build a habit in people’s mind of their common place to find an extinguisher when needed.
However, the location should not expose the equipment to excessive heat, cold, corrosion or any potential physical damage. This ensures that the extinguishers are ready and fit for purpose and it may increase its life span.
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