"How Many Fire Extinguishers Does My Business Require?"

Many businesses are at risk of facing costly fines for not having the right number of fire extinguishers. To avoid this, it is important to know how regulations set the standard. Our team has been receiving countless inquiries on this topic, and the most common question is "How many fire extinguishers does my business require?" The answer depends on various factors:

1. Size of Your Business Premises

The number of fire extinguisher units needed for a business is determined by the square footage of the premise.

Square Footage and Fire Extinguisher Requirements :

👉 For a normal shoplot (usually between 1,000-1,500 square feet), the minimum requirement is 2 units of fire extinguishers.

👉 It is highly encouraged to have at least one fire extinguisher for every 500 square feet of work area.

2. Nature of Your Business

The nature of your business also affects the number of fire extinguishers required. Not all fires are created equal, so specific fire extinguishers are necessary for different types of fires.

Types of Fires and Corresponding Fire Extinguishers

1. Class A: Most commercial buildings are at risk for Class A fires, which are the most common type of commercial and industrial fire. These include fires from paper, fabric, wood, and plastic, which are found in nearly every business space across the country.

2. Class B: fires include those started with propane, oil, gas, and other flammable liquids.

3. Class C: fires are electrical and often start from faulty wiring.

4. Class D: fire that involves flammable metals, such as sodium, magnesium and aluminum. These metals can burn at high temperatures and   react violently with water, air, or other chemicals 

5. Class K: These are cooking fires, so commercial kitchens will need to pay special attention to those requirements.

👇Quick Guide for Fire Extinguisher Requirements👇

✅ A 9kg ABC Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher is suitable for most situations. 

✅ If your company uses electronic machinery or has a server room, it is advisable to have a 2kg CO2 Fire Extinguisher on hand.

3. Fire Hazard Levels

In order to fully comprehend the different fire hazard levels, building owners should first be familiar with the five main classes of fire they could encounter which is I just mentioned above. (Class A,B,C,D and K). A fire hazard level refers to the amount of fire risk that exists in a given building. Fire hazards are classified into different levels based on the quantity and type of combustible materials and flammable liquids present in a building, as well as the potential sources of ignition. 

Light Fire Hazard: Light fire hazards have minimal fire risk and contain low amounts of Class A and B materials. 

Ordinary fire hazards : Ordinary fire hazards have moderate fire risk and contain moderate amounts of Class A and B materials. They are further divided into two sub-categories based on the proximity of the materials and the ignition sources. 

Extra fire hazards : Extra fire hazards have high fire risk and contain high amounts of Class A and B materials. 

4. Location And Placement of Fire Extinguishers

While matching the correct type of fire extinguisher for the correct hazard is essential to securing the safety of facilities and employees, it's only the first step in a larger process. fire extinguisher placement restrictions are based on the size of the area, the type of fire extinguishers, and the locations of potential hazards.

According to the Fire Services Act 1988 of Malaysia :

✅ Fire extinguisher should be mounted at least 10 cm above the floor and not higher than 1.2 m, unless it is heavier than 40 kg, in which case it should not be higher than 1.07 m. 

✅ Fire extinguisher should be located within 20 m of any point in the premises. The fire extinguisher should be suitable for the class of fire and the size of the premises. 

✅ Fire extinguisher should be marked with a label indicating its type, capacity, date of manufacture, and date of expiry. 

✅ Fire extinguisher should comply with the Malaysian Standards for Fire Safety and Protection. 

✅ The fire extinguisher should be inspected and maintained regularly by a competent person.

5. Regular Inspections and Maintenance

To ensure that your fire extinguishers remain in good working condition and comply with regulations, regular inspections and maintenance should be performed. This will help keep your employees and premises safe in case of a fire emergency.

Fire extinguisher must be serviced annually based on the regulation of Malaysia because it is a requirement of the Fire Services Act 1988 of Malaysia. According to the Act, fire extinguishers should be inspected and maintained regularly by a competent person to ensure their proper functioning and readiness in case of fire. The Act also states that fire extinguishers should comply with the Malaysian Standards for Fire Safety and Protection. Servicing fire extinguishers annually can also help extend their lifespan and reduce the cost of replacement.

6. Conclusion

Make sure that you have the right number and types of fire extinguishers in place to effectively deal with potential fires. The number and type of fire extinguishers needed for a building depend on the size, nature, and location of the fire hazards. To ensure compliance and safety, building owners should consult with a fire and life safety company that can advise them on the best fire extinguisher location and placement requirements. These requirements vary based on the class of fire and the maximum travel distance to reach a fire extinguisher