James Shea

National Sales Manager

en-Gauge, Inc.

Video

Definition
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection
device used to extinguish or control small fires,
often in emergency situations. It is not
intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such
as one which has reached the ceiling,
endangers the user (i.e. no escape route,
smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise
requires the expertise of a fire department.

First Line of Defense

Provide for control of incipient fires
Provide emergency escape from life
threatening events
Limit property damage where fires are
contained
Tested with margin of safety for novice fire
fighters
Can be early warning device for evacuation

Noteworthy History
1723 - First Patent by
Ambrose Godfrey in
England
1818 - First modern fire
extinguisher by Captain
George William Manby
using potassium
carbonate & compressed
air
1866 first patented
soda acid fire
extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Evolution

1881 first US patent for
soda acid fire
extinguisher by Almon M.
Granger

1950s ABC dry chemical

introduced to US from
Europe
Today most common type
found in commercial
buildings and home use
is ABC

Assumptions on Standardization
Codes required fire extinguishers for specific
special hazard occupancies
Fires became unpredictable with addition of
new building materials
Operation of fire extinguishers varied from one
type to another

Assumptions on Standardization
Multiple types of extinguishers for different
fires created risk of improper application
True risk assessments of occupancy hazards
diminished due to level of experience and field
knowledge
Liability and ease made standardization more
palatable

Effective and Proven

94% of recorded incidents = a portable fire
extinguisher is totally effective in containing &
suppressing a minor fire.
89.9% of the known incidents where fire
extinguishers are used, the Fire Service is not
called.
86% of the incidents a fire extinguisher was
used by the building owner / occupier
Source: Assessment of the benefits of Fire Extinguishers as fire safety precautions
in New Zealand Buildings By: Biswadeep Ghosh

Effective and Proven

Worcester Poly Technical Institute (WPI) - Fire
Extinguishers in Academic Settings
15,000 fire incidents in US academic institutions
each year involving fire extinguishers
85% of the time fire extinguishers were effective
(72% extinguished / 10% containment / 3% life
safety)

EuroFEU Report 2000

80% fire extinguisher effective
75% Municipal support not required

Effective and Proven

State of Texas Reported Fires
47 fires within state agencies and state universities
45% fires were extinguished by a fire extinguisher
50% fires extinguished by Uniform officials

Cost of Fire
Annual Estimates
Roughly 4500 lives annually
100 fire fighters annually

$14M - $15M property damage

The Code World - One Common Theme

Fire Extinguishers Remain a Critical Part of Our Life Safety Systems and Are Required
By All The Various Authority Having Jurisdiction

One Common Theme

Uniform Fire Code

Required in all commercial occupancies

International Fire Code

Required in all commercial occupancies
2009 elimination of exceptions

Occupational Safety & Health

1910.157
Required in all occupancies

Joint Commissions

State, Local requirements

Insurance Underwriters

IFC 2009 Edition

Reasons for change as stated by the author
concern over the inclusion of an exception caused a
number of states to delete the exception upon
adoption of the IFC/IBC.
36% of IFC States plus Washington D.C. and New
York City have Deleted Line 1 Exception.

2 States have amended Section 906.1 and the

exception to require more extinguishers

IFC 2009 Edition

2 States use both NFPA 1 and the IFC with more
stringent code applicable.
17 additional States have adopted NFPA 1 as their
fire code instead of the IFC.
A total of 33 State jurisdictions and an unknown
number of local jurisdictions have chosen to delete
the exception in favor of providing the ability to
control a fire at its earliest stages.

Insurance Considerations
In assigning protection factors, insurers assess
both public protection, such as fire department
capabilities, fire hydrant distribution and available
water supply, and private protection, such as fire
extinguishers, automatic sprinklers, and fire alarm
systems, provided inside a building. The levels of
reliability of these and other fire-protection
systems and services can significantly affect the
overall level of fire protection provided to a
structure, as well as the insurance rates charged.
Source: The Canadian Wood
Council

Texas Commercial Property

Insurance
Five basic elements affect a buildings fire rating.
Construction. Of what materials is the structure built?
Are they fire-resistant? Are they combustible?
Occupancy. What businesses use the structure? Are
they high-risk or low-risk?
Location. Is the property within a city or town with good
fire protection? Is it located outside of a city or town, in
an area with limited or no fire protection?
Exposure. Do other hazards exist within the building or
within a specified distance that increase the risk of fire?
Fire Protection. Does the building contain sprinkler
systems, fire extinguishers and alarms that reduce the
risk of fire? What level of public fire protection is
available?

The Big Controversy

Flight vs. Fight
Who Decides?

*Human Behavior and Fire

It is human nature to attempt to extinguish a
fire at the incipient stage using whatever
means are at hand.
People will most likely look for a portable fire
extinguisher when encountering a fire at the
incipient stage.
People will wait for further instructions rather
than leave the building.

Human Behavior Several studies have taken place over the last
two decades that highlight human behavior in
a fire including:
National Research Council A Comparison of the
1993 And 2001 Evacuations of The World Trade
Center, Fahey; Proulx
NIST Technical Note 1619 Modeling Human
Behavior During Building Fires, Kuligowski
Fire Code Reform Technical Report FCRC TR-9711 Selected Literature Review On Human
Behaviour In Fire
Many Others

Common Sense Fire Safety Plans

It just makes good life safety sense

to insure those confronted by fire
have the latest in technology to
support their evacuation plan.

Response to Fire Alarm

Signal
*Occupants Fail to Respond - There is ample
anecdotal evidence that occupants often fail to
respond to fire alarms, particularly in facilities
other than private apartments or houses.
Occupants may ignore the fire alarm signal for
different reasons. There are four reasons that are
particularly interesting to explore:
Failure to recognize the signal as a fire alarm.
Unaware of the proper response.
Loss of confidence in the system because of nuisance
alarms.
Failure to hear the signal.
*Source: Fire Protection Engineering
Response to Fire Alarms
Author Gylene Proulx, PHD

Response to Fire Alarm

Signal
Many occupants assume that whenever they hear a
fire alarm, they can safely dismiss it as a nuisance
alarm; denial that the alarm signal is an indication of
a genuine problem is fairly common.
25% of occupants interpreted the sound of the fire
alarm as a potential indication of a real emergency

*Source: Fire Protection Engineering

Response to Fire Alarms
Author Gylene Proulx, PHD

Fight vs. Flight Real World

It is not always up to our life safety &
evacuation plans
Many occupants avoid early warning signals
and will wait till immediate danger is eminent
Many occupants are unable to evacuate due
to disability or impairment

Fight vs. Flight Real World

Many occupancies require a defend in place
strategy due to size, scope of an evacuation

Hi-rise buildings
Healthcare
Hotels
Large places of assembly

A Defend In Place Strategy Must Be Included In All Life Safety Plans

as a part of the Chain of Survival

A critical link in the chain of

survival?

Critical Link In Chain Yet

Improving Response Time

it is still possible that someone will first

reach for a portable fire extinguisher and
forget to sound an alarm or forget to notify the
fire department before trying to extinguish the
fire.

the benefit of interfacing with the building

fire alarm system to monitor the portable
fire extinguisher can improve the overall
effectiveness of the fire protection for a
building.

The point behind the value of the

extinguisher monitoring system rests with
an understanding of the critical importance
of time to truly effective fire protection. The
common thread to every successful or
unsuccessful outcome of a fire suppression
effort relates to time. Time represents the
yardstick of fire suppression

Using a Systems Approach and New

Technology to Reduce Response
Time
By: Wayne D. Moore, P.E., FSFPE

Fire Protection Engineering 2010

Q1Publication

Improving Response Time

The Monte Carlo Casino fire
raged for 15 minutes before
fire alarm system detected fire
Officials state up to ten
Monte Carlo owned fire
extinguishers were used prior
to alarm.
Officials further stated Had
fire extinguishers been
monitored by the buildings
alarm system, they would have
had a ten to fifteen minute
head start on fighting the fire.

January 25, 2008

$100M Business Interruption first

month

Improving Response Time

January 26, 2010

Family of students killed in Hoover motel fire file

wrongful death suit

The parents of two 18-year-old Cordova cousins killed Jan. 16 in a

motel fire in Hoover have sued the motel owner and an
employee who authorities believe accidentally started the
blaze The suit names as defendants Chris Parekh, one of
the owners of the Days Inn South
Other defendants, whose identities were unknown to the
plaintiffs, include the motel's insurance company, any

entity that did maintenance or repair work at the motel

and the manufacturer and/or distributor of a fire
extinguisher that authorities were told failed to work.

Allegations in the suit include that Bhagat and motel

management failed to properly respond to the fire,

failed to maintain fire extinguishers at the motel,
failed to notify authorities of the fire fast enough,
and failed to warn guests.

Good For Life Safety Good For The

Environment

Green Collar Research White Paper

Green Impact
Reduces use of water supply (sprinklers / municipalities
Reduces impact on landfills burnt materials / non-recyclable

equipment
Reduces CO2 impact Fire truck emissions / service vehicles
Reduces release of toxins water runoff / sulfur dioxide, arsenic,
others from diesel fuel consumption
Supports energy conservation

Technology Addresses Key

Concerns

Delays to sound alarm, notify public

Theft
Vandalism
Failure to work
Cost of monthly inspection

Summary
Fire extinguishers are proven and effective
Fire extinguishers are critical to all life safety
programs
Technology exits to link fire extinguishers to
the other monitored life safety and security
systems
Precedence for 24/7 surveillance is already
part of our codes
Evolution of fire protection systems to save
lives and protect property is paramount

Electronic Monitoring Systems

Appendix Material

NFPA 1Fire Code 2009

Edition
2.1 General The document or portions thereof listed
in this chapter are referenced in this code and shall be
considered part of the requirements of this document
2.2 NFPA Publications
National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471
NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2007
Edition

NFPA 1Fire Code 2009

Edition

Section 4.4.1.1 The design of every building or

structure intended for human occupancy shall be
such that reliance for property protection and safety
to life does not depend solely on any single
safeguard
Section 10.8.1 Persons shall not render any
portable or fixed fire extinguishing device or any fire
warning system or device inoperative or
inaccessible

NFPA 1Fire Code 2009

Edition
Section 13.1.2 The property owner shall be
responsible for the proper testing and
maintenance of the equipment and systems
Section13.1.4 A minimum of 36 (914 mm) of
clear space shall be maintained to permit access
to and operation of fire protection equipment, fire
department inlet connections, or fire protection
system control valves. The fire department shall
not be deterred or hindered from gaining
immediate access to fire protection equipment

NFPA 1 Fire Code 2009 Edition

Section 13.6.1 General Requirements The
selection, distribution, inspection, maintenance
and testing of portable fire extinguishers shall be
in accordance with NFPA 10 and section 13.6
Section 13.6.1.2 The selection and installation of
portable fire extinguishers is independent of
whether a building is equipped with automatic
sprinklers, standpipe and hose, or other automatic
fire protection equipment

IFC 2006 Edition

Table 901.6.1 (extracted)
Fire Protection Maintenance Standards
SYSTEM
Portable fire extinguishers

STANDARD
NFPA 10

IFC 2006 Edition

Section 906.1 - Where required. Portable fire extinguishers shall
be installed in the following locations.
1. In new and existing Group A, B, E, F, H, I , M, R-1, R-2, R-4
and S occupancies.
Exception: In new and existing Group A, B and E
occupancies equipped throughout with quick response
sprinklers, portable fire extinguishers shall be required only
in locations specified in Items 2 through 6.
2. Within 30 feet (9144 mm) of commercial cooking equipment.
3. In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored,
used or dispensed.
4. On each floor of structures under construction, except Group
R-3 occupancies, in accordance with Section1415.1.
5. Where required by the sections indicated in Table 906.1.
6. Special-hazard areas, including but not limited to laboratories,
computer rooms and generator rooms, where required by the fire
code official.

IFC 2006 Edition

906.2 General requirements. Fire extinguishers shall
be selected, installed and maintained in accordance
with this section and NFPA 10.

IFC 2009 Proposal

906.1 (IBC [F] 906.1)
Proponent: Robert J Davidson, Code Consultant/Alan Shuman, President,
representing the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)

Revise to remove the exception currently in 2006

standard:
906.1 (IBC [F] 906.1) Where required. Portable fire
extinguishers shall be installed in the following
locations.
1. In new and existing Group A, B, E, F, H, I , M, R1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies.

IFC 2009 Edition

Reasons for change
Since the first publication of the International Fire
Code, concern over the inclusion of an exception
caused a number of states to delete the exception
upon adoption of the IFC/IBC.
36% of IFC States plus Washington D.C. and New York City
have Deleted Line 1 Exception.
2 States have amended Section 906.1 and the exception to
require more extinguishers
2 States use both NFPA 1 and the IFC with more stringent code
applicable.
17 additional States have adopted NFPA 1 as their fire code
instead of the IFC.
A total of 33 State jurisdictions and an unknown number of local
jurisdictions have chosen to delete the exception in favor of
providing the ability to control a fire at its earliest stages.

IFC 2009 Edition

Reasons for change
Not in the original draft of the International Fire
Code
Did not exist in any of the legacy fire codes
Currently does not exist in NFPA 1 Uniform Fire
Code, NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire
Extinguishers or NFPA 5000 Building Construction
and Safety Code

Occupational Safety & Health

(OSHA)

1910.157(a) Scope and application.

The requirements of this section apply to the placement,
use, maintenance, and testing of portable fire
extinguishers provided for the use of employees.
Paragraph (d) of this section does not apply to
extinguishers provided for employee use on the outside
of workplace buildings or structures. Where
extinguishers are provided but are not intended for
employee use and the employer has an emergency
action plan and a fire prevention plan that meet the
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1910.39
respectively, then only the requirements of paragraphs
(e) and (f) of this section apply.

OSHA
1910.157(c)(1) The employer shall provide portable
fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and
identify them so that they are readily accessible to
employees without subjecting the employees to
possible injury
1910.157(c)(4) The employer shall assure that
portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully
charged and operable condition and kept in their
designated places at all times except during use

OSHA
1910.157(e)(1)The employer shall be responsible for the
inspection, maintenance and testing of all portable fire
extinguishers in the workplace
1910.157(e)(2)Portable extinguishers or hose used in lieu thereof
under paragraph (d)(3) of this section shall be visually inspected
monthly
1910.157(e)(3)The employer shall assure that portable fire
extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check.
Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal
examination. The employer shall record the annual maintenance
date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the
life of the shell, whichever is less. The record shall be available to
the Assistant Secretary upon request

State (Example of AHJ)

California Department of Boating and
Waterways
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Any vessel carrying passenger's for-hire must
carry fire extinguishers even if the vessel is less
than 26-feet in length propelled by outboard
motors, and has no closed compartments.

Joint Commissions
EC.02.03.01
Requires fire extinguisher inspections at 30 day
intervals
Requires proper record keeping and documentation
storage
Compliance is low hanging fruit for auditors
Failure to comply can delay federal $ to institutions