As you probably know already, fire extinguishers are an absolute must when it comes to putting out fires quickly and avoiding injuries and damages to personal belongings. These devices are easy to use, easy to store and they can make the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

But how many fire extinguishers do you need in your building? And are all fire extinguishers the same? Keep reading this article to learn more about these fire protection products and how to choose the right ones for your establishment.

It Depends on the Size of Your Building

Fire extinguishers are required by law to be placed at certain intervals inside a commercial building. This ensures that in case of a fire emergency, people can easily find a fire extinguisher nearby to put out the fire quickly. As a general rule of thumb, fire extinguishers should be placed at around 50-100 feet distance from one another. This is true for every floor of your commercial building and it significantly minimizes the chances of having fires spreading to other spaces or adjacent buildings.

It Depends on the Type of Fire You Might Be Exposed to

At the same time, there are multiple types of fires that can start in a commercial building depending on what fuels the flames. For example, common fires caused by paper, plastic packaging items, and other regular items that you might find in an office or commercial space are classified as type A fires. Similarly, fires started by flammable gasses and liquids such as oil, gasoline, or kerosene are known as type B fires. Lastly, fires started by faulty electrical wiring or short-circuits are categorized as type C fires. Following this trend, fire extinguishers are designed to put out these specific types of fires, so you’ll have type A, type B, and type C fire extinguishers respectively to install in your commercial building.

It Depends on Whether Your Building Has Cooking Areas or Not

If your establishment also features kitchens and cooking areas, you might need to have type K fire extinguishers installed. These products are specifically designed to put out fires started in cooking areas and they are highly effective at doing so. If your commercial building features a lot of kitchens, you need to prioritize acquiring more type K fire extinguishers.

Your Personnel Must Also Know How to Use Them

Having a lot of fire extinguishers in your commercial building is great, but if your employees don’t know how to use them in an emergency situation, these products are virtually useless. Therefore, make sure that you schedule frequent gatherings to instruct your personnel on how to use a fire extinguisher properly. There’s no time for confusion or “reading the label” if a fire has started in your building.

You might be happy to find out that ASCO Fire is ready to assist you in finding the right fire extinguishers for your commercial building, according to existing rules and regulations. Contact one of our specialists today to learn more about the importance of fire extinguishers and their types. We have years of experience in the fire protection industry and we have already worked with hundreds of clients to provide appropriate fire suppression solutions.