Portable Extinguishers for Business
Required in almost every workplace, and specific to what can burn there.
Portable extinguishers are the one piece of business fire protection you can buy over the counter, but what you need, how many, and where they hang is set by the fire code: NFPA 10 in the US, and NFPA 10 adopted through the National Fire Code of Canada and provincial codes. The right extinguisher depends on the fire class: ABC dry chemical for general use, CO2 or clean agent where residue would ruin equipment, Class K in kitchens, Class D for combustible metals. Most businesses buy and service them through a local fire equipment company, which also does the required monthly-check tags and annual maintenance.
Systems and products
7 guides · price bands $ to $$$$
Commercial ABC Dry Chemical Extinguishers
Rechargeable, metal-valve multipurpose extinguishers, typically 5–10 lb and rated from 2-A:10-B:C up to 4-A:80-B:C, are the baseline for offices, shops and warehouses. Unlike disposable home units, they are built to be serviced and recharged.
CO2 Portable Extinguishers
CO2 extinguishers leave no residue and are rated for flammable liquid and electrical fires (B:C). They are not rated for ordinary combustibles like wood, paper or cloth.
Clean Agent Portable Extinguishers (Halotron I, Halotron BrX, FE-36)
Halocarbon clean agent extinguishers discharge a liquid that evaporates and leaves no residue, which suits computer rooms, aircraft, museums and vehicles. They cost more per unit of fire rating than dry chemical.
Water Mist Portable Extinguishers (A:C Rated)
Deionized water discharged as a fine mist, rated for ordinary combustibles and safe near energized electrical equipment. Used in hospitals, including MRI-compatible versions, and in clean rooms.
Class D Extinguishers and Powders (Combustible Metals)
Special dry powders such as sodium chloride, copper or graphite, made for fires in magnesium, titanium, sodium and lithium metal in machine shops and labs. Ordinary extinguishers can make metal fires violently worse.
Lithium-Ion Battery Extinguishers (AVD and Others)
Products marketed for lithium-ion battery fires, often using aqueous vermiculite dispersion (AVD) or encapsulating agents. Evidence and listing status vary widely, and we could not verify a recognized North American rating for them.
Wheeled Extinguishers (Dry Chemical, Foam, Clean Agent)
Large-capacity extinguishers of roughly 50–350 lb on wheels, for fuel depots, hangars, refineries and industrial sites. They deliver a flow rate and range no handheld unit can.
Before you buy
- Size and spacing come from NFPA 10, by hazard and floor area. A fire equipment company will lay them out; a big-box store will not.
- Annual maintenance by a qualified technician is required, plus periodic internal examination and hydrostatic testing that depends on the extinguisher type.
- Do not use water or foam on energised electrical equipment unless the unit is rated for it. Water mist extinguishers carry a C rating; ordinary water does not.
- Be sceptical of 'lithium-ion' extinguishers. There is no recognised North American performance standard for them yet.
- Training matters as much as the hardware. Workplace safety rules in both countries expect staff who are expected to use extinguishers to be trained.