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In England and Wales, all fire safety legislation for non-domestic premises is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO). The RRO includes guidance on how many fire extinguishers a business should have.
However, the RRO is a complex piece of legislation, and the guidance isn’t exact. The best starting point in determining how many fire extinguishers you need is to undertake a fire risk assessment.
The fire risk assessment will help you identify the specific risks that exist in your premises to identify the necessary specialist firefighting equipment required.
The UK fire extinguisher standards (BS 5306-8) recommend a minimum of two ‘Class A’ extinguishers on every storey of your premises. Class A fire extinguishers put out wood, paper or fabric fires, also known as ‘carbonaceous’ fires.
Class A fire extinguishers include three- or six-litre foam or nine-litre water extinguishers.
However, if your premises are tiny and having two extinguishers could hinder escape, only one may be necessary.
As well as Class A extinguishers, you may need other types depending on your business’s equipment and fire risk.
CO2 extinguishers, used to fight electrical fires, are often necessary as they’re a legal requirement for all premises with electrical equipment.
2kg CO2 extinguishers are sufficient unless there’s 415 volt rated equipment, in which case 5kg CO2extinguishers are required.
As with Class A extinguishers, two per floor is the minimum standard.
Other types of extinguishers that your business might need include:
Given the complexity of the legislation and the potentially catastrophic consequences of getting it wrong, we recommend using a BAFE qualified engineer to assist with your fire risk assessment and fire extinguisher requirements.
If you’d like a survey of your premises and an assessment of your fire extinguisher requirements, please give us a call on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.
To book a free intruder alarm consultation and quote, please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.
