Fire Extinguisher Placement (Garage)

[sailsup]

So I'll be picking up a fire extinguisher for my garage very soon and was wondering if there is a preferred place to mount it in a garage? I have a fairly standard 2 car attached garage with a single large garage door.

Should it be closer to the garage door, closer to the house door, on the middle of the wall between the 2 "bays"?

Any guidance or advice is appreciated.

 

[jjkrjh]

I try to put them by doorways. If there is a fire inside and your outside, you are able to grab one on the way in. If your inside, you are headed the correct way(outside). They are also easier to find by a doorway, than somewhere down the wall.

With that said, it is a good practice to have them in your "work" area. You can have quicker response time or help you on exiting the garage.

With an attached garage, I would put one by the mandoor to the house.

 

[sailsup]

Dumb question, but you are referring to the house door correct?

Edited to add: Your edit cleared that up for me, thanks.

 

[1redTA]

When we do fire inspections we see them on a hook, usually mounted 36" off the floor or in a wall cabinet and well marked. This is for a DOD facility so we also check the type and size of extinguisher used. Most use a 10 lb ABC

 

[sailsup]

Thanks for the height number. Bottom of extinguisher at 36" right?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I just put mine up yesterday.

I was going to get the Kiddie extinguishers at Lowes then found the local Fire extinguisher store that does the annual checks etc. and bought much better ones there for about $10 more each. I got Sentry ABC 10 lb fire extinguishers

I asked him what the regs were for a commercial shop since I like to be safe. I was told that the top of the extinguisher is usually around 32" to 36" from the floor, and that 5' is the may height the handle can be, and that the base must be at least 4" above the floor to keep the tank from rusting out.

He told me to put them near the doors and at that an extinguisher must be within 75' from any point in the shop. Im fuzzy on the 75' since my shop isn't that big.

He also gave me Fire extinguisher signs with arrows that are to be put on the walls high up on the walls(no specific height given). I put mine about 10' up.

I did put an extinguisher in the back of my shop so I at least have a chance to work my way out if I am trapped in the shop by a fire. I also plan to get an ax to go through the wall if I have to.

He offered to give me a copy of the codes but I declined, the info above was sufficient for me.

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[venom50svt]

Funny,,, this reminds me of a story when I was head of operations for a refurbishing company... You have to have a plan in effect and each employee has to know what it is and where to go... They said someone has to be incharge of alerting workers.. They asked me what my plan was--I told them I sound the alarm for the workers, call the fire dept, take the extinguisher and throw it at the fire and get out!!! hahahaha

You have to acess the fire and if you can handle a small one try it, otherwise high-tail it out. Things can be replaced, but not family members.... stevo

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Previous Fire Extinguisher thread you might find useful.

Another prior thread on Fire Extinguishers you should find interesting and helpful.

Charles

 

[Ray-CA]

I have one by the door from the garage to the house, two by the large garage door (one on each side of the door.)

Ray

 

[usmc_noma]

My advice is to put one near the main entrance (garage door) of your space and one near the regular entrance (36" door). This way wherever you are you can get to one easily.

 

[ambenz]

By the man door for sure!
This thread just reminded me to go get a new one too!
I had a malfunction with my torch last summer and had to use the disposable.
Thanks! ....dang, should have put it on my x-mas list!!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

By the door, is usually where we recommend. If you grab it and are not sure about using it, follow this advice. I use it all the time when we do an extinguisher demo.

When in doubt, get out.

 

[Mr.N]

Make it easy to see and grab.



You know where it is, but if someone else needs to find it...

 

[HuskerMedic]

I agree with the other posters, put it by the door. That way, you have to go back to the fire, and should have a clear way to an exit.

Two things I suggest to people when buying an extinguisher: buy one with a metal tank, and buy one with the length of short, flexible rubber hose on the discharge nozzle. I've seen incidences where people had fires in cars or machinery that weren't in an easy place to get at; the hose lets an operator direct the stream of agent around or underneath things. Remember to get it serviced periodically; the manual should have a suggested service interval. Some extinguishing agents can cake up over time and the extinguisher becomes useless when needed. It may just be easier and/or cheaper to buy a new extinguisher periodically depending on how big you go.

I think NUTTSGT said it best, though; when in doubt, get out.

 

[ddawg16]

Just one? I have two downstairs and one upstairs.....

Downstairs, one is by the man door, the other is at the spirial stairway...part way up....basically accesible from either floor..

 

[1redTA]

when you use an extinguisher aim at the base of the fire
keep in mind of wind direction and stay uphill if possible also push the fire back onto the burnt area if you push the fire to new consumables you are providing fuel

 

[DaleK]

Make sure it's just inside the door, on the KNOB side, not the hinge side. Don't mean to point out the obvious, but.... obvious just doesn't work with some people.

 

[fireguy]

If the dry chemical FX does not have a hose, it is too small to be effective. Or, it was made before hoses were required. Dry chemical only packs down if moisture has been introduced into to the shell or if vibration has packed it down. If you have an extinguisher in a vehicle, it should be gently tipped upside down and tapped. Beating is not & has not been recommended by the manufacturers for some time. Using a hammer can break the plastic siphon tube used by cheap producers. When the plastic siphon tube breaks, the chemical will not come out. That is why we do not recharge all brands.

Halon is still available, & is less expensive than Halotron. Unless you live in Canada, where Halon has been recalled. Water mist is a good alternative to halon and halotron. But, it needs to be recharged with deionized water, not tap water.

For a FX of 40 # or less, the mounting height is 4 inches from the floor to a max of 60 inches from the floor to the top of the FX. Over 40 # the max height is 42 inches from the floor to the top of hte FX.

 

[ZRX61]

I have one by each door (4) & one by the welding table.

 

[D.J.]

All good points above and make sure if you are buying a new unit buy a quality one with a metal valve on top not plastic, most companies will not recharge plastic top valve types. Remember the accronim pass pull, aim, squeeze, sweep at the base of the flames when using a extinguisher. Also be sure at least by the mandoor aka service entrance that way you are at least headed in the right direction, out call out for someone to call 911 and then if you feel capable attempt to fight the fire in the incipient stages only. A delay in alerting authorities leads to more property damage and sometimes death.
Just my $ .02
D.J.
________
Reinsurance dicussion

 

[waltmcq]

I have one by each door and I'm going to get another one for the back wall.

 

[Wanna Ride]

I have nine in my garage (40'x30'). One next to the standard door, one next to the drill-press, one at each of the three stationary benches, one next to one of the overhead doors and two on the welding table. Ironically, there's a two C-cell Maglite mounted next to each extinguisher. I hat looking around for a flashlight, and in a bad spot, I don't want to be desperately looking around for an extinguisher either.

How many is too many? Oh well, a few bucks in extinguishers to protect tens of thousands in garage contents... yeah, I'm ok with it.

 

[dirttracker18]

I was noted earlier but worth repeating and emphasizing.

I am now of the theory that two is a minimum. You need one at the door and another at the back of the shop. The one at the back is in case the fire is blocking your path to the door and thus blocking your path to the fire extinguisher at that door.
That why should you get blocked in by a frire you have a chance to fight your way out.

Seems logical to me and am going to get a second one for just that purpose.

 

[Beachbum]

Don't forget, fire extingiuishers are there to create a way out and away from the fire. Most home size extinguishers will not put out a car fire or a fire on the stove unless you catch them very early. I am not saying that everyone won't try to protect their property from fire, just remember you can always buy more stuff. You can't replace people. Be safe. Get Out and don't go back in.

When using a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS:

P - Pull the pin

A - Aim

S - Squeeze

S - Sweep

As stated in the previous posts always start at the base of the fire.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas

 

[pfbz]

ALWAYS by the exit door...

Fire starts, retreat to exit, get extinguisher, re-enter area with extreme caution, and most importantly be aware of having your retreat cut off.

 

[Stephenw]

I have mine next to the door from the garage to the house.

General maintenance for a dry chemical extinguisher...

Monthly-give it a quick visual and check the gauge.

Annual-thorough visual inspection and weight check. The extinguisher should weigh within the weight range listed on the label.

6 Years-have it serviced by a fire protection service. It will be discharged and refilled.

12 years-have it service by a fire protection service. This will be a hydrostatic test.

The six and twelve year inspections are from the date on the extinguisher. This may be on the label or stamped on the bottom, not from the date of purchase. The fire protection service will put a ring around the neck when performing these services.

Your local requirements may vary.

 

[sailsup]

Thank you all for the suggestions. My man door into the house from the garage is in the back corner of the garage opposite the garage door. I'll mount the FX beside the man door.

Originally I was thinking that it should be mounted close to the garage door. (Most of the time that I am in the garage I have the garage door open and if a fire started my first instinct would probably be to run out the garage door and I was thinking that I could grab the FX on the way out.)

However, after further review of a fire scenario, if I ran out the garage door there is a 95% chance that my wife and 2 year old son would be inside the house with a fire in the attached garage while I am standing in the garage door opening attempting to suppress the fire with no good way to get inside the house to call 911, get them out, etc without running up and around to the front door. Not really ideal.

Long winded I know, but now I know that in a garage fire scenario I will have to fight instinct and run toward the man door to the house so that I could open it, yell up to wife to call 911 and get the he11 out and get to work with the FX. Having the FX beside the man door to the house will essentially mandate my direction of travel.

Thanks again to you all.

 

[trainer]

I have one by each door and I'm going to get another one for the back wall.

Back wall is a bad idea. Always near an exit. In the event it is needed, you will retreat to the door first, then fight the fire with your back to the exit.
I know people here will argue this, but it's the only way to certain that you have your escape route behind you.

Nothing ***** worse when responding to a garage fire than to have to go in and search for bodies.

(volunteer firefighter for 22 years)

 

[waltmcq]

Back wall is a bad idea. Always near an exit. In the event it is needed, you will retreat to the door first, then fight the fire with your back to the exit.
I know people here will argue this, but it's the only way to certain that you have your escape route behind you.

Nothing ***** worse when responding to a garage fire than to have to go in and search for bodies.

(volunteer firefighter for 22 years)

did you not read I have one by both doors?

 

[Shadowdog500]

Back wall is a bad idea. Always near an exit. In the event it is needed, you will retreat to the door first, then fight the fire with your back to the exit.
I know people here will argue this, but it's the only way to certain that you have your escape route behind you.

Nothing ***** worse when responding to a garage fire than to have to go in and search for bodies.

(volunteer firefighter for 22 years)

What if you are trapped because the fire is blocking you from getting to the door(and extinguisher)? Wouldn't it be better to have an extra extinguisher to fight through the fire to get out the door than to just be trapped by default and become a body that the firemen get to find later?

Chris

 

[frankkl]

A wise man once told me:
You can fire proof your garage all you want. Setting stuff on fire is not a big problem, putting the flames out, that 's the important part. .

 

[dirttracker18]

Back wall is a bad idea. Always near an exit. In the event it is needed, you will retreat to the door first, then fight the fire with your back to the exit.
I know people here will argue this, but it's the only way to certain that you have your escape route behind you.

Nothing ***** worse when responding to a garage fire than to have to go in and search for bodies.

(volunteer firefighter for 22 years)

What if you are blocked from getting to the door and thus your FX?

I say two is minimum in a home based shop. Certianly one by the exit but also one at the other side to allow you to get to the exit if neccessary.

 

[GTOGreg]

Good thread...I need an extinguisher. If I follow the consensus advice on here (putting by the man-door), it will be next to my furnace. It doesn't get hot around there, but was just curious as to whether there was any code restriction for this?

 

[jwillis]

Since you can buy the smaller wall mounted ones reasonably cheap, why not buy two? They are only around ten bucks apiece. That way you can have one on either side of the garage. Good luck.

 

[crewchief888]

i have several in the garage
one by the man door
one on my welding cart
several spares on the shelf that holds my compressor

also have one in my basement reloading/hobby room
one in the laundry room, nat gas dryer, boiler, & hot water heater
one under the kitchen sink, and another in the pantry.

both my trucks have them, as well as my service truck

 

[pdangerp]

seriously. Put it by the door, then if you want to fight the fire you can go back and will have the door to retreat to.

 

[dirttracker18]

seriously. Put it by the door, then if you want to fight the fire you can go back and will have the door to retreat to.

My concern is not fighting the fire but getting out. What if the fire is blocking you from getting to the door and your FX?

It just makes more sense to me to have the FX at the back so I can fight my way out if needed.

 

[pfbz]

National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) says this:

Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.

Small extinguishers aren't really going to be useful for "fighting your way out" of a major fire... They are for putting out small, early stage fires after everyone has exited safely. Hence the placement by the door.

Certainly having an additional extinguisher near a likely source of combustion (welding area, metalworking area, flammables cabinet, etc) makes sense, but again, not for emergency escape, but for knocking down small fires early before they become big fires, and definitely not in lieu of having your primary extinguisher by the exit.

If you really want to plan for emergency escape, some kind of emergency smoke hood is what you need, not portable fire extinguisher. In a fire, the smoke and gasses that will usually incapacitate you well before the heat or the flames.

 

[jwh]

Volunteer Firefighter 36 years here with my 2 cents......

- One by every door.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number first (or if you have a friend have them do it)
- MAKE FIRE PREVENTION DAY EVERY DAY. MY FIRST CHIEFS FAVORITE SAYING WAS:
"The best fire we ever fought is the one that never had a chance to start"

and to agree with my colleague: looking for bodies *****.

Merry Christmas from Rochester NY

John

 

[groucho]

I just put mine up yesterday.

I was told that the top of the extinguisher is usually around 32" to 36" from the floor,



Chris

What's the reason?