Posts Tagged ‘fire extinguishers’

How Many Fire Extinguisher Does Your Building Need?

The Ontario Fire Code determines the quantity and type of fire extinguishers your building needs, and they base their requirements on the type of building you have. Derived from the International Fire Code and the California Fire Code, the Ontario Fire Code added a few amendments to come up with its own code for the city of Ontario. The Ontario Fire Marshal uses it to regulate the quantity and placement of portable fire extinguishers in commercial buildings.

While the Fire Marshal had to approve your fire safety protection systems before a certificate of occupancy could be issued, building uses and functions change over time. Those changes can often result in new requirements for the type, location, and quantity of your fire extinguishers. If you’re looking for expert and personalized advice, All Protect Systems, Inc. has been helping Ontario area businesses with their fire extinguisher needs since 1996.

Type of Building

The Ontario Fire Marshal determines the quantity and placement of your fire extinguishers based on several factors dictated by The Ontario Fire Code. The code specifies fire extinguisher requirements based on a building’s hazard classification level. The code breaks building hazard levels into the following categories:

Light (Low) Hazard. For buildings that house a low amount of Class A combustible material, the hazard level is considered low. Low hazard buildings can be offices, classrooms, assembly halls, or churches as long as the majority of their contents are either non-combustible or arranged so a fire isn’t likely to spread. However, small amounts of Class B flammables, such as printing materials for copy machines, are permitted as long as they are properly stored.

Fire extinguishers should be installed every 75 feet.

Ordinary (Moderate) Hazard. Moderate hazard buildings have greater amounts of Class A combustible material and Class B flammables than light hazard ones. The types of occupancies in this classification include classrooms, offices, allied storage, light manufacturing parking garages, auto showrooms, and warehouses These occupancies could consist of offices, classrooms, mercantile shops, or warehouses housing Class I or II commodities.

Fire extinguishers should be installed every 75 feet.

Extra (High) Hazard. Occupancies that store or use considerably more Class A combustibles and Class B flammables in production. These buildings engage in activities like auto repair, aircraft and boat servicing, manufacturing, flammable liquid handling, and warehousing or storage of Class I and II commodities.

Fire extinguishers should be installed every 50 feet.

Distance From Hazards

The Ontario Fire Code also requires that fire extinguishers be located near fire hazards. Fire hazards are also divided into different categories.

Class A Hazards. Common solid combustible materials such as cloth paper, wood, and certain plastics should have a fire extinguisher within 75 feet.

Class B Hazards. Combustible and flammable liquids like lacquers, oil-based paint, gasoline, and alcohol should have a fire extinguisher within 50 feet.

Class C Hazards. Electrical components or energized equipment that can combust should have a fire extinguisher within either Class A or B hazard distance.

Class D Hazards. Combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, plutonium, lithium, and potassium should have a fire extinguisher within 75 feet.

Commercial Kitchens. When frying with vegetable oils or fats, fire extinguishers should be within 30 feet.

The quantity of fire extinguishers your building needs depends not only on the classification of your building but also on the particular hazards present within your facility, and it can be a daunting task to evaluate all of these considerations on your own. If you prefer to delegate your fire safety issues to professionals, the expert technicians at All Protect Systems can help you with fire alarms, emergency/exit lighting, inspections, gas detection, fire safety plans, and fire hoses. They’re waiting for your call!

Protecting Your Business Against Different Types of Fires

Commercial buildings usually have different fire risks from residential dwellings. They have several different types of fire source ignition material and multiple fire causes. Good building management involves identifying potential fire problems and implementing fire protection systems. 

All Protect Systems, Inc has been protecting Ontario area businesses from all types of fire danger since 1996. They perform inspections and can service all of your fire protection needs.

What Are the Major Sources of Commercial Fire Dangers?

Commercial fire sources vary according to the activity taking place in the building. According to the Canadian National Fire Information Database (NFID), some of the most common ignition sources include:

• Cooking equipment – Commercial restaurant equipment such as deep fryers, stoves, ovens, smokers, and toasters
• Heating equipment – Space heaters, water heaters, central air, baseboard heaters, and radiant heaters 
• Electrical distribution equipment – Electrical wire conductors, fuses, breaker panels, transformers
• Smoking material – Cigarettes, cigars, lighters, and ashtrays
• Open flame – Lanterns, candles, blowtorches, and welding tools

The NFID also compiles a list of the most common causes of commercial fires. These causes are considered acts or omissions that are either accidental or intentional. It also includes building problems that suffer from poor design or lack of maintenance.

• Arson – Criminal act of fire-starting by an individual or group for mischief or vandalism
• Ignition material misuse – Accidents related to smoking, welding equipment, other sources of open flame, accidental fuel spills, or overheating cooking oil
• Electrical or mechanical problems – Broken or defective electrical equipment, engine backfires, electrical short circuits, and manual control failure
• Equipment misuse – Overfueling of engines, lack of maintenance, or unattended equipment
• Installation, construction, or design problem – faulty wiring, flammable materials stored too close to a source of combustion, or other inherent building problems
• Human error – fatigue, lack of training, incompetence, impaired/intoxicated by alcohol, or distraction

How To Protect Against Different Types of Fires?

Proper and thorough fire protection for your business involves a multi-tiered approach. You need to develop a fire safety plan, according to the Ontario Fire Code and adhere to the following guidelines:

• Risk evaluation – Have someone regularly audit your building for any obvious or potential fire hazards. Keep records for all these audits.
• Passive fire protection – Maintain your passive fire protection by ensuring that fire doors remain up to code, penetrations through firewalls are properly sealed, and structural members maintain their fire retardant material.
• Fire Alarm – Install a fire alarm system with fire, smoke, carbon monoxide detectors, and manual pull stations. Test the system in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code, and make repairs when necessary.
• Fire extinguishing equipment – Keep fire extinguishers and fire hoses serviced and in good working order. Have qualified personnel inspect them on the proper schedules, and replace faulty or damaged equipment when necessary.
• Electrical equipment – Check for frayed electrical cords and overloaded electrical circuits. Turn off appliances when they’re not in use.
• Hot items – Keep hot devices like coffee makers, copiers, or motors away from paper or any other combustible material.

What Sorts of Buildings Are Susceptible to Fires?

Fire types are generally dependent on the type of building and how it’s used. Education institutions, healthcare facilities, restaurants, office buildings, and industrial buildings are all susceptible to fire dangers. Sometimes it takes an experienced professional to spot and correct the fire dangers lurking in your building.

The trained and certified technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc., are at your service. They’re a total systems provider that can handle all of your fire protection needs. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!