Portable Fire Extinguishers and Cabinets
Corpus sync: neutrality remakes, note hygiene, datasheet relocation, transformer-split cross-refs
Showing changes from Rev 3
to Rev 4
in Portable Fire Extinguishers and Cabinets.
---
title: Portable Fire Extinguishers and Cabinets
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- **Class K** — cooking media (vegetable and animal oils and fats) in commercial cooking appliances.
+### The fire classes present in each area shall be identified during the hazard analysis.
+
```datasheet
label: Fire Classes Present in Protected Area
…9 unchanged lines
```
−### The fire classes present in each area shall be identified during the hazard analysis.
−
### Most general occupancies (offices, classrooms, retail, corridors) present Class A and Class B hazards together with energized electrical equipment, and are protected by a single multipurpose unit rated for A, B, and C; special-hazard areas require a separately selected unit for the class of fire present. {note}
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## Agent Type {toc}
### The extinguishing agent shall be selected to match the fire classes present and the sensitivity of the protected contents to agent residue and corrosion.
−### Multipurpose (ABC) dry chemical, based on monoammonium phosphate, is the dominant general-purpose agent because a single unit covers Class A, B, and C fires and is inexpensive and effective. {note}
−### Its disadvantage is that the discharged powder is mildly corrosive and leaves a residue that is damaging to electronics and difficult to clean, which is why clean-agent and CO2 units are preferred in data centers, electrical rooms, laboratories, and similar sensitive spaces. {note}
−### Carbon-dioxide (CO2) agent is rated for Class B and Class C fires, leaves no residue, and is non-conductive, making it well suited to energized electrical equipment and laboratories. {note}
−### CO2 has no Class A rating of consequence and a limited discharge range, so it is not a general-purpose agent. {note}
−### Halocarbon clean agent (a non-ozone-depleting halocarbon listed to UL 2129) is rated for Class A, B, and C fires, leaves no residue, and is the preferred agent where the protected contents are both combustible (Class A) and residue-sensitive — server rooms, telecommunications spaces, and museum or archive areas. {note}
−### Wet chemical, listed for Class K, is the required agent for commercial cooking media; it cools and saponifies hot oil and is the only agent suited to deep-fat fryers and griddles. {note}
−### Water and water-mist units protect Class A hazards only; water-mist units are additionally rated for Class C because the fine, non-conductive mist does not bridge an electrical path, and are used where water damage must be minimized.
−### Dry-powder agent (distinct from dry chemical) is the only agent for Class D combustible-metal fires and is specific to the metal being protected. {note}
−
```datasheet
label: Extinguishing Agent
…10 unchanged lines
default: "Multipurpose dry chemical (ABC) — monoammonium phosphate"
```
+### Multipurpose (ABC) dry chemical, based on monoammonium phosphate, is the dominant general-purpose agent because a single unit covers Class A, B, and C fires and is inexpensive and effective. {note}
+### Its disadvantage is that the discharged powder is mildly corrosive and leaves a residue that is damaging to electronics and difficult to clean, which is why clean-agent and CO2 units are preferred in data centers, electrical rooms, laboratories, and similar sensitive spaces. {note}
+### Carbon-dioxide (CO2) agent is rated for Class B and Class C fires, leaves no residue, and is non-conductive, making it well suited to energized electrical equipment and laboratories. {note}
+### CO2 has no Class A rating of consequence and a limited discharge range, so it is not a general-purpose agent. {note}
+### Halocarbon clean agent (a non-ozone-depleting halocarbon listed to UL 2129) is rated for Class A, B, and C fires, leaves no residue, and is the preferred agent where the protected contents are both combustible (Class A) and residue-sensitive — server rooms, telecommunications spaces, and museum or archive areas. {note}
+### Wet chemical, listed for Class K, is the required agent for commercial cooking media; it cools and saponifies hot oil and is the only agent suited to deep-fat fryers and griddles. {note}
+### Water and water-mist units protect Class A hazards only; water-mist units are additionally rated for Class C because the fine, non-conductive mist does not bridge an electrical path, and are used where water damage must be minimized.
+### Dry-powder agent (distinct from dry chemical) is the only agent for Class D combustible-metal fires and is specific to the metal being protected. {note}
+
## UL Fire-Test Rating {toc}
### Each extinguisher shall bear a UL fire-test rating established under ANSI/UL 711, expressed as a numeral-and-letter classification such as 4-A:80-B:C.
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### The letter "C" carries no numeral and indicates only that the agent is non-conductive and safe for use on energized electrical equipment. {note}
+### The selected rating shall meet or exceed the minimum required for the area's hazard classification.
+
```datasheet
label: Minimum UL Fire-Test Rating
…11 unchanged lines
```
−### The selected rating shall meet or exceed the minimum required for the area's hazard classification.
−
## Minimum Class A Rating by Hazard {toc}
### The minimum Class A rating shall comply with NFPA 10 for the area's hazard classification.
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## Extinguisher Size and Agent Capacity {toc}
### The nominal agent capacity shall be selected so that the unit achieves the required rating while remaining light enough for the intended user to carry and operate.
−### For multipurpose dry chemical, a nominal 5 lb unit is typical for light-hazard office and corridor use, a 10 lb unit (commonly rated 4-A:80-B:C) is the workhorse for ordinary-hazard areas, and 20 lb units are used in extra-hazard areas. {note}
```datasheet
…9 unchanged lines
default: "10 lb"
```
+### For multipurpose dry chemical, a nominal 5 lb unit is typical for light-hazard office and corridor use, a 10 lb unit (commonly rated 4-A:80-B:C) is the workhorse for ordinary-hazard areas, and 20 lb units are used in extra-hazard areas. {note}
+### Units heavier than these standard capacities shall be mounted lower and may be impractical for general occupant use.
+
+### Wheeled units shall be provided where the required agent quantity exceeds what can be hand-carried.
+
```datasheet
label: Wheeled (Larger Capacity) Unit Required
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```
−### Units heavier than these standard capacities shall be mounted lower and may be impractical for general occupant use. {note}
−
−### Wheeled units shall be provided where the required agent quantity exceeds what can be hand-carried.
−
## Class K Extinguishers for Commercial Cooking {toc}
### The Class K extinguisher is secondary protection; the primary protection is the fixed automatic hood-suppression system, and the portable unit is intended for use only after that system has discharged. {note}
+### Where commercial cooking equipment involving vegetable or animal oils and fats is present, a Class K wet-chemical extinguisher shall be provided as required by IBC/IFC Section 906 and NFPA 96.
+
```datasheet
label: Class K Extinguisher at Commercial Cooking
…6 unchanged lines
```
−### Where commercial cooking equipment involving vegetable or animal oils and fats is present, a Class K wet-chemical extinguisher shall be provided as required by IBC/IFC Section 906 and NFPA 96.
−
### A placard shall be conspicuously placed near each Class K extinguisher stating that the fixed system is to be actuated prior to using the extinguisher, with text approved by the AHJ.
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min: 25
max: 75
− setpoints: [50, 75]
+ setpoints: [25, 50, 75]
default: 75
```
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### Because Class B fires spread rapidly, the permitted travel distance is shorter than for Class A. {note}
+### Extinguishers protecting Class B (flammable-liquid) hazards shall be distributed so that the maximum travel distance does not exceed the limit set by NFPA 10 for the extinguisher's Class B rating and the hazard level: generally 30 ft for lower-rated units in higher hazards and up to 50 ft for higher-rated units.
+
```datasheet
label: Maximum Travel Distance to a Class B Extinguisher
…7 unchanged lines
```
−### Extinguishers protecting Class B (flammable-liquid) hazards shall be distributed so that the maximum travel distance does not exceed the limit set by NFPA 10 for the extinguisher's Class B rating and the hazard level: generally 30 ft for lower-rated units in higher hazards and up to 50 ft for higher-rated units.
−
### Where a multipurpose unit carries both A and B ratings, the more restrictive Class B travel distance shall govern the spacing in any area where a Class B hazard is present.
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### The number, type, and exact location of every extinguisher and cabinet are project-specific. {note}
+### The number, type, and exact location of every extinguisher and cabinet shall be [[drawing: as indicated on the life-safety plan and extinguisher location schedule]].
+
```datasheet
label: Extinguisher Location Strategy
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```
−### The number, type, and exact location of every extinguisher and cabinet shall be [[drawing: as indicated on the life-safety plan and extinguisher location schedule]].
−
### Extinguishers shall, at a minimum, be located along normal paths of travel, near exits and exit-access doors where occupants naturally move toward during evacuation, and adjacent to specific hazards (electrical rooms, mechanical rooms, kitchens, shops) that require a dedicated unit.
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### Cabinet mounting protects the unit from dust, weather, tampering, and impact, and provides a finished appearance in public and occupied spaces; it is the standard method in lobbies, corridors, and tenant areas. {note}
+### Each extinguisher shall be installed on a listed wall bracket or hanger, or housed in a listed cabinet, so that it is securely supported and readily accessible.
+
```datasheet
label: Mounting Method
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```
−### Each extinguisher shall be installed on a listed wall bracket or hanger, or housed in a listed cabinet, so that it is securely supported and readily accessible.
−
### Extinguishers shall never be set on the floor unmounted, both because an unmounted unit is easily displaced or knocked over and because NFPA 10 requires positive support.
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### A surface-mounted cabinet attaches entirely to the wall face, requires no wall cavity, and is used where the wall cannot be penetrated (masonry, concrete, fire-rated assemblies that cannot be cut). {note}
−```datasheet
−label: Cabinet Door Style
−type: select
−options:
− - "Full acrylic / glazed door with pull handle"
− - "Full acrylic / glazed door with break-glass latch"
− - "Solid door with vision panel"
− - "Solid door, no vision panel"
−default: "Full acrylic / glazed door with pull handle"
−```
+### The cabinet trim style shall be specified, coordinated with the wall construction and mounting type selected for that cabinet.
```datasheet
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### The cabinet door style, material, and finish shall be coordinated with the architectural finishes.
+```datasheet
+label: Cabinet Door Style
+type: select
+options:
+ - "Full acrylic / glazed door with pull handle"
+ - "Full acrylic / glazed door with break-glass latch"
+ - "Solid door with vision panel"
+ - "Solid door, no vision panel"
+default: "Full acrylic / glazed door with pull handle"
+```
+
## Cabinet Projection into Path of Travel {toc}
### This is among the most common accessibility violations in extinguisher installations and is readily avoided by confirming the cabinet projection during submittal review. {note}
+### Where a surface-mounted or semi-recessed cabinet is located within a corridor, aisle, or other accessible route, its projection from the wall shall comply with the accessible-route requirements of ICC A117.1 and the ADA.
+
+### An object mounted on a wall with its leading edge between 27 in. and 80 in. above the finished floor shall not project more than 4 in. into the path of travel.
+
```datasheet
label: Maximum Cabinet Projection in Accessible Route
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```
−### Where a surface-mounted or semi-recessed cabinet is located within a corridor, aisle, or other accessible route, its projection from the wall shall comply with the accessible-route requirements of ICC A117.1 and the ADA.
−
−### An object mounted on a wall with its leading edge between 27 in. and 80 in. above the finished floor shall not project more than 4 in. into the path of travel.
−
### Because a fully-stocked surface-mounted cabinet commonly projects 6 in. or more, surface-mounted cabinets shall not be used within a required accessible route; a recessed or semi-recessed cabinet shall be used instead, with its projection confirmed against the 4 in. limit.
## Fire-Rated Cabinets {toc}
### A standard cabinet recessed into a rated wall reduces the wall to the thickness of the cabinet's sheet-metal box at the opening and destroys the wall's rating unless a fire-rated cabinet (listed with the rated wall assembly per ASTM E814 / UL 1479) is used. {note}
+### Where a recessed or semi-recessed cabinet is installed in a wall that is required to have a fire-resistance rating — such as a corridor wall, stair enclosure, occupancy-separation wall, or shaft wall — the cabinet shall be a listed fire-rated cabinet, and the installation shall maintain the fire-resistance rating of the penetrated assembly.
+
```datasheet
label: Fire-Rated Cabinet Required
…6 unchanged lines
```
−### Where a recessed or semi-recessed cabinet is installed in a wall that is required to have a fire-resistance rating — such as a corridor wall, stair enclosure, occupancy-separation wall, or shaft wall — the cabinet shall be a listed fire-rated cabinet, and the installation shall maintain the fire-resistance rating of the penetrated assembly.
−
### The Contractor shall confirm the fire rating of each wall before selecting the cabinet and shall not recess a non-rated cabinet into a rated wall.
## Mounting Height {toc}
### The default mounting height of 48 in. to the top of the unit satisfies both the NFPA 10 maximum and the accessible reach range for typical hand-carried units. {note}
+### Extinguishers with a gross weight not exceeding 40 lb shall be installed so that the top of the unit is not more than 5 ft (60 in.) above the finished floor.
+
```datasheet
label: Mounting Height to Top of Extinguisher
…3 unchanged lines
min: 36
max: 60
− setpoints: [42, 48, 54, 60]
+ setpoints: [36, 42, 48, 54, 60]
default: 48
```
+### Extinguishers with a gross weight greater than 40 lb shall be installed so that the top of the unit is not more than 3.5 ft (42 in.) above the finished floor.
+
+### In all cases the clearance between the bottom of the extinguisher and the floor shall be at least 4 in.
+
```datasheet
label: Minimum Clearance Below Extinguisher
…3 unchanged lines
min: 4
max: 12
− setpoints: [4, 6, 8]
+ setpoints: [4, 6, 8, 12]
default: 4
```
−### Extinguishers with a gross weight not exceeding 40 lb shall be installed so that the top of the unit is not more than 5 ft (60 in.) above the finished floor.
−
−### Extinguishers with a gross weight greater than 40 lb shall be installed so that the top of the unit is not more than 3.5 ft (42 in.) above the finished floor.
−
−### In all cases the clearance between the bottom of the extinguisher and the floor shall be at least 4 in.
−
### Where the extinguisher or its cabinet is located on an accessible route, the operable parts (the carrying handle and the cabinet latch) shall additionally fall within the accessible reach range, which commonly results in a handle height of about 48 in. above the floor.
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### For visibility down a corridor, projecting (flag-mounted) signs perpendicular to the wall are commonly used. {note}
+### An identification sign shall be provided at each extinguisher location to direct occupants to the unit.
+
```datasheet
label: Extinguisher Identification Signage
…7 unchanged lines
```
−### An identification sign shall be provided at each extinguisher location to direct occupants to the unit.
−
### Signs shall be located close to the extinguisher and shall be visible from the normal path of travel.
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### A cabinet that blends into the wall finish without identification defeats the purpose of conspicuous location. {note}
+### Where an extinguisher is housed in a cabinet, the cabinet shall be marked conspicuously to identify its contents, in accordance with NFPA 10.
+
```datasheet
label: Cabinet Marking
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```
−### Where an extinguisher is housed in a cabinet, the cabinet shall be marked conspicuously to identify its contents, in accordance with NFPA 10.
−
### Cabinet marking may be by lettering applied to the cabinet door, a decal, or an adjacent sign.
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### Hydrostatic testing verifies the integrity of the pressure vessel. {note}
+### Extinguisher cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested at the interval set by NFPA 10 for the agent type: every 5 years for carbon-dioxide, wet-chemical, and water-based units, and every 12 years for stored-pressure dry-chemical units.
+
+### A cylinder that fails the test, or that has reached the end of its permitted service life, shall be removed from service.
+
+### The hydrostatic-test interval shall be tracked from the cylinder's date of manufacture.
+
```datasheet
label: Hydrostatic Test Interval Tracking
…7 unchanged lines
```
−### Extinguisher cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested at the interval set by NFPA 10 for the agent type: every 5 years for carbon-dioxide, wet-chemical, and water-based units, and every 12 years for stored-pressure dry-chemical units.
−
−### A cylinder that fails the test, or that has reached the end of its permitted service life, shall be removed from service.
−
−### The hydrostatic-test interval shall be tracked from the cylinder's date of manufacture.
−
# Warranty {toc}
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### Extinguishers found discharged, depressurized, or defective within the warranty period through no fault of use shall be recharged or replaced at no cost to the Owner.