As of May 5, 2000 the rules for portable fire extinguishers have changed. Specifically, Title 3section 15-02 of the Rules of The City of New York has adopted the NFPA standard 10/98 in regards to fire extinguishers. The NFPA standard 10/98 is an extensive document, so in the interest of brevity a summary is listed below. If you have any further questions try consulting NFPA 10/98.
Maintenance and Servicing
1. In order to re-charge, service, or provide maintenance on portable fire extinguishers you must have a special Certificate of Fitness in extinguisher maintenance. Your FSD Certificate of Fitness does not qualify you to do this.
2. This maintenance must be performed annually
3. Maintenance must be recorded on a tag attached to the extinguisher, on this tag is the following information.
A. Name of the person servicing extinguisher
B. Month and year
C. Certificate of Fitness number
D. Name, Street address, and telephone number of servicing company.
4. Hydrostatic testing is performed according to the type of extinguisher and can either be every 5 years or every 12 years, consult the table on page 10 of NFPA 10/98.
Inspections
1. A quick visual check of the extinguisher, can be performed by the Fire Safety Director or someone designated by the FSD.
A. Looks to see if extinguisher is fully charged
B. Makes sure that the extinguisher is in correct location
C. Checks overall appearence
2. This inspection is performed every 30 days
3. FSD keeps record of this inspection.
A. Can be on a tag attached to extinguisher
B. Can be in a file
C. Can be electronically recorded (Bar code)
New Classification of extinguishers
1. NFPA 10/98 defines a Class "K" type extinguisher to be used on fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats)
2. To be used in kitchens
3. Located in the kitchen not moire than 30 feet from hazard
4. If there is kitchen range hood extinguishing system, a sign (placard) shall be placed near the extinguisher stating that " The range hood extinguishing system should be activated prior to using the fire extinguisher."
Requirements
1. Office buildings
A. One fire extinguisher of a minimum 2-A rating for every 6,000 square feet of floor area or part there of. (no change)
B. If fully sprinklered the office building needs one fire extinguisher of a minimum 2-A rating for every 12,000 square feet or part there of.
2. Hotels and Motels
A. One fire extinguisher of a minimum of 2-A rating for every 6,000 square feet of floor area or part there of. Sprinklered or not. (no change)
3. Places of public assembly
A One Fire extinguisher of a minimum 2-A rating for every 2,500 square feet of floor area or part there of. (no change)
4. For both Class E and J-1 buildings the above described extinguishers shall be located so that the travel distance to an extinguisher shall not exceed 75 feet. (sprinklered or not)
Placement/ mounting on wall
1. Extinguishers must be conspicuously located, along the normal paths of travel.
2. For extinguishers 40 lbs or less, the top of the extinguisher can not be higher than 5 feet above the floor.
3. For extinguishers greater than 40 lbs in weight, the top of the extinguisher can not be more than 3 1/2 feet above the floor.
4. In either case the extinguisher must have at least 4" of clearance between the bottom of the extinguisher and the floor.
Note: This is a brief summary of the new rules, for more information consult NFPA 10/98.
A. Name of the person servicing extinguisher
