🔥Fire Extinguishers Must Be Visible and Accessible
Hiding Fire Extinguishers is a Design No-No
TL;DR
OSHA and NFPA guidelines mandate that fire extinguishers be clearly visible and easily accessible. Hiding them behind flush panels or drywall is a no-go, as it compromises safety and compliance.
OSHA and NFPA guidelines now explicitly state that fire extinguishers must be mounted, located, and identified so employees can reach them without risking injury. This means no more hiding them behind flush panels or drywall. The standards require extinguishers to be along normal paths of travel and clearly marked with signage if obstructed. Facilities teams and designers must prioritize accessibility over visual cleanliness, ensuring that emergency equipment is non-negotiable and accessible without delay. This change impacts every warehouse, office park, and retail chain, ensuring consistent safety standards.
Key Points
OSHA 1910.157 requires fire extinguishers to be mounted, located, and identified for easy access.
NFPA guidance mandates clear signage and unobstructed access for fire extinguishers along normal travel paths.
Maximum travel distance to an extinguisher depends on the hazard classification, ensuring quick access.
Facilities teams and designers must prioritize accessibility over visual cleanliness for emergency equipment.
Emergency equipment must be accessible, identified, and reachable without delay, per OSHA and NFPA standards.
Why It Matters
Facilities teams and designers must ensure fire extinguishers are clearly visible and easily accessible. For example, if you're designing a new office space, recessed installations without signage are a non-starter. Prominent labeling and unobstructed access are non-negotiable constraints. During an emergency, a recessed cabinet without signage is indistinguishable from drywall, risking lives.
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