Fire Extinguisher Placement

[SprinklerTech]

I am having some trouble with regard to the maximum distance between two fire extinguishers. The books talks about the travel distance of 75 feet, NFPA 10 2007
Ed. page 11 Table 6.2.1.1. So if you were in a shell warehouse, How far can they be? I am thinking that you can't have them 150 feet apart, but if you are standing in the middle of 150 feet (at 75 feet)you have 75 feet travel distance in between each other. Is this wrong?

 

[DavidCR]

From the distances point of view, you are right NFPA 10, appendix E is clear on this, but remember that it is supposed that area and distances only apply for common buildings.

I will suggest to go conservative and think of placement on strategic areas. I mean, it is not recommended to install an extinguisher in the middle of a warehouse, if one unit complies with both area and distances. Place them near entrances of normal acces-exit routes as possible if you think a special risk can be expected.

 

[cdafd]

but if you are standing in the middle of 150 feet (at 75 feet)you have 75 feet travel distance in between each other. Is this wrong


somewhat on the right path

let me try to make it simple

if you had a 150 feet corridor.

if you place the fe in the middle, then you would meet the 75 max requirement

in that if you are at either end of the corridor you would only have to walk 75 feet max to get to the fe.


if you know how to space smoke detectors, sprinklers same concept almost

 

[SprinklerTech]

So in response you would cover the egress points and them space them 75 feet from each other. So the maximum travel distence not exceed 75 feet.

 

[DavidCR]

Think if you have a building where the exit stairs and elevators are in the center of the building, in that case there is no problem to install just one extinguisher in the center of the area if it covers the area and travel req. as cdafd tells.

But if you are in a building where the acceses/exits are not in the center but on a side, it would be advisable to increase the number of units if one extinguisher in the center is not reasonably accesible if the risk is not common, a warehouse with lots of internal corridors for example. I´m not sure if NFPA 10 addreses that but I think local requirements or common sense would tell, think of NFPA as a minimun req. and that Annex E recomends (not a req.) to consider to place units near to entrance/exit doors.

 

[786392]

I assume clear sight visibility

for any one attending the Fire emergency is also

Critical to be ensured

even if distance is reduced from 75 ft and

total FE's number gets increased marginally!

from the (minimum optimum)

Best Regards
Qalander(Chem)