NFPA 10 NOTES
NFPA 10 = Standard for Portable fire extinguishers.
Not applicable for permanently installed systems for fire extinguishment.
NFPA 22 = Standard for water tanks for private fire protection.
NFPA 45 = Standard for Fire protection for laboratories using chemicals.
NFPA 72 = National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code.
NFPA 75 = Standard for fire protection of IT Equipments.
NFPA 76 = Standard for fire protection of telecom facilities.
NFPA 96 = Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of commercial cooking
operations.
NFPA 99 = Health Care Facilities Code.
NFPA 101 = Life Safety Code.
NFPA 5000 = Building Construction and Safety Code.
Important Definitions:
Dry Chemical → A powder composed of very small particles, usually NaHCO3, KHCO3 or
NH4H2PO4 with added particulate material supplemented by special treatment to provide
resistance to packing, caking.
Wet Chemical → An aqueous solution of organic or inorganic salts or its combination.
Clean Agent → Electrically non-conducting, volatile or gaseous fire extinguishant that does
not leave a residue upon evaporation.
AFFF → Aqueous Film Forming Foam = Solution based on fluorinated surfactants plus foam
stabilizers to produce a fluid aqueous film for suppressing liquid fuel vapors.
FFFP → Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam = Protein foam solution that uses fluorinated
surfactants to produce a fluid aqueous film fo suppressing liquid fuel vapors.
Halons → CBrClF2 (Halon 1211), CBrFl3 (Halon 1301)
Halon agents are banned after Montreal Protocol due to its ozone depleting properties.
Alternatives → FM-200, Novec 1230, CO2.
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Travel Distance → Actual walking distance from a point to the nearest fire extinguisher
fulfilling hazard requirements.
General Requirements:
Each fire extinguisher shall be marked :
1. Organisation detail
2. Type of extinguisher
3. Classification
4. Performance & fire test standards
Class C extinguishers shall not contain an agent which is electrically conductive.
Selection of Portable Fire Extinguishers:
Factors →
1. Type of fire most likely to occur
2. Size of fire most likely to occur
3. Hazard category of the area
4. Energized electrical equipment in the vicinity of fire
5. Ambient temperature conditions
Selection shall be independent of whether the building is equipped with automatic sprinklers,
standpipe and hose, or other fixed protection equipment.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF FIRES →
1. Class A = Fire by ordinary combustible materials, such as woods, cloth, paper, rubber or
plastics.
2. Class B = Fire by flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils,
oil based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols or flammable gases.
3. Class C = Fire that involved energized electrical equipment.
4. Class D = Fire in combustible metals, such as Mg, Ti, Zr, Na,Li, K.
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5. Class K = Fire in cooking appliances.
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION →
1. Light Hazard
2. Ordinary Hazard
3. Extra Hazard
Buildings having an occupancy hazard subject to Class B or Class C fires, or both, shall have
a standard complement of Class A fire extinguishers for building protection, plus additional
Class B or Class C fire extinguishers, or both.
For example, ELV Room will have Class C & Class A both fire extinguishers.
For Class B Fire, large capacity DCP type extinguisher of 10 lb (4.54 kg) or greater and a
discharge rate of 1 lb/sec or more shall be used.
DCP type extinguisher shall not be used for electronic equipment.
Water or Foam extinguishers shall be installed in area where pool chemicals containing Cl &
Br are stored.
Installation of Portable fire extinguishers:
CLASS A
Shall be fully charged and operable at all times.
Shall be located along normal paths of travel, including exits from areas.
Portable fire extinguishers other than wheeled extinguishers shall be installed using any of the
following means:
1. On a hanger intended for the extinguisher.
2. In a bracket incorporating releasing straps of bands.
3. In approved cabinets or wall recesses.
Hangers and Brackets shall not be fabricated on the field.
FE subject to physical damage shall be protected against such damage.
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FE having gross weight not exceeding 40 lb (18.14 kg) shall be installed so that the top of the
FE is not more than 5 ft (1.53m) above the floor; vice versa, (except wheeled) 1.07m above
the floor.
Hand portable FE, minimum clearance 102mm bottom from floor.
FE Cabinets clearance shall be same as non-cabineted FE.
For fire rated walls embedded cabinets cannot be used.
For Class A, Maximum travel distance to extinguisher shall not exceed 75 ft (22.9m).
2 Water Type FE, with 1-A rating can be used to fulfill requirements of 1 2-A rated FE.
2 9.46L water type FE can be used to fulfill requirements of 1 4-A rated FE.
Up to 1-1/2 of the complement of fire extinguishers specified in table below shall be
permitted to be replaced by uniformly spaced 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) hose stations for use by the
occupants of the building. (NFPA 14)
Fire extinguisher size and placement for class A Hazards →
Criteria
Light Hazard
Ordinary Hazard
Extra Hazard
Rated Single Extinguisher
2-A
2-A
2-A
Floor area per unit of A
3000 sqft.
3000 sqft.
3000 sqft.
Floor area per extinguisher
11250 sqft.
11250 sqft.
11250 sqft.
Travel distance (max.)
75 ft
75 ft
75 ft
CLASS B
Upto 3 AFFF of FFFP FE of atleast 2-1/2 gal (9.46L) can be used to fulfill extra hazard
requirements; for ordinary 2 Nos with 1.6 gal (6L) capacity permitted.
Fire extinguisher size and placement for class B Hazards →
Criteria
Light Hazard
Ordinary
Extra Hazard
Minimum Extinguisher Rating
5-B, 10-B
10-B, 20-B
40-B, 80-B
Travel Distance (max.)
30 ft, 50 ft
30 ft, 50 ft
30 ft, 50 ft
Higher ratings FE fulfilling protection requirements, with 15.25m travel distance can be
permitted.
1-B = 1 sqft (0.09 sqm.)
For obstacle, pressure fire hazard, 3 dimensional fire & hand portable FE, travel distance = 30
ft (9.1m); for wheeled FE, travel distance 100 ft (30.5 m).
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CLASS C
Installation criterion as per Class A or Class B.
CLASS D
Maximum travel distance = 75 ft (22.9m).
Size determination shall be on the basis of the specific combustible metal, its physical particle
size, area to be covered, and recommendations by the fire extinguisher manufacturer based on
data from control tests.
CLASS K
Maximum travel distance = 30 ft (9.1m).
Cooking appliance (whether or not under hood) with fire volume of 0.14 m3 or less shall have
atleast 2-A rated water type FE or 1.6 gal (6L) wet chemical Class K FE.
Maintenance & Inspection of Portable fire extinguishers:
FEs to be inspected monthly once either manually or by electronic monitoring devices.
If wet chemical or water mist agent is partially discharged, all the remaining contents of the
cylinder to be discarded and not to be reused.
Hydrostatic Tests:
Shall include both internal & external visual examination of cylinder.
Fixed Fire Extinguishing systems →
NFPA 12 = Standard on CO2 Extinguishing system
NFPA 13 = Standard for the installation of sprinkler system
NFPA 14 = Standard for the installation of standpipe & hose systems
NFPA 15 = Standard for water spray fixed systems for fire protection
NFPA 16 = Standard for the installation of foam water sprinkler and water spray systems
NFPA 17 = Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing system
NFPA 17A = Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing system
NFPA 750 = Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection system
NFPA 2001 = Standard on clean agent fire extinguishing systems
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Explanations →
AFFF = the foam formed acts as a barrier both to exclude air or oxygen and to develop an
aqueous film on the fuel surface that is capable of suppressing the evolution of fuel vapors.
The foam produced with AFFF concentrate is dry chemical compatible and thus is suitable for
combined use with dry chemicals.
FFFP = in addition to an air-exluding foam blanket, this solution can deposit a vaporizationpreventing film on the surface of a liquid fuel. This solution is compatible with certain dry
chemicals.
Travel distance = For Class A → any point to extinguisher, other classes → Hazard to
extinguisher.
Class A Extinguishers →
1. Water Type
2. Halogenated agent type (Not in use)
3. Dry chemical powder type
4. Wet chemical type
Class B Extinguishers →
1. AFFF
2. FFFP
3. CO2 (Range 1 to 2.4m, does not leave residue, suitable for class C fires)
4. DCP (Range 3 to 9m)
5. Halognenated (Not in use)
Wheeled fire extinguishers are available in 125L for foam units & range from 13.6kg to
158.8kg.
Both AFFF & FFFP not suitable for freezing temperatures.
NH4H2PO4 suitable only for Class A fires.
Light hazard occupancies can include = offices, classroooms, churches, assembly halls, guest
rooms. For Class B, art departments, machine rooms.
Ordinary hazard occupancies can include = dining areas, mercantile shops, storage, light
manufacturing, research operations, auto showrooms, parking garages, work shops,
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warhouses.
All buildings have Class A fire hazards. In any occupancy, there could be a predominant
hazard as well as special hazard areas requiring extinguishers with ratings to match those
hazards. For example, a hospital will have need for Class A FEs covering patient rooms,
corridors, offices, but will need Class B FEs in laboratories, chemical storage, Class C FEs in
electrical / generator rooms, & Class K FE in kitchens.
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Fire Extinguishers (Brief Summary) →
Film Forming Foam Agents:
Intended for use on Class A & Class B fires.
AFFF & FFFP → Hand Portable Capacity = 6L & 9.46L, Wheeled = 125L
Ratings = 2A:10B, 3A:20B & 20A:160B, respectively.
The extinguishing agent is a solution of film-forming surfactant in water that forms
mechanical foam when discharged through an aspirating nozzle. On Class A fires, the agent
acts as both coolant and a penetrate to reduce temperatures to below the ignition level. On
Class B fires, the agent acts as a barrier to exclude air or oxygen from the fuel surface.
Carbon Dioxide Type:
Intended for use on Class B & Class C fires.
Hand Portable Capacity & Rating = 1.1 kg to 9.1 kg & 1B:C to 10B:C
Wheeled, 23 kg to 45 kg (10B:C to 20B:C)
The minimum discharge time for hand portables varies from 8 sec to 30 sec, depending upon
size. The maximum range of the discharge stream is 1m to 2.4m.
Dry Chemical Types:
NaHCO3, KHCO3 intended for Class B & Class C, NH4H2PO4 → Class A, B & C fires.
Stored pressure FEs → 0.5 kg to 14 kg (Hand Portable), 57 kg to 113.5 kg (Wheeled).
Cartridge FEs → 1.8 kg to 14 kg (Hand Portable), 20 kg to 159 kg (Wheeled).
Dry Powder Types:
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Intended for Class D fire.
Cartridge & Stored Pressure FE Hand Portable → 14kg
Wheeled FE → 68kg & 159kg
Range Hand Portable → 1.8m to 2.4m
Wet Chemical Extinguisher:
Class A fire as coolant and Class K fire forms a foam blanket to prevent ignition.
Hand Portable → 6L & 9.46L
Extinguishing agent compromises: Water Solutions with KC2H3O2, K2CO3 or C6H5K3O7
(Electrical conductors).
Water Mist Extinguisher:
Distilled water which is discharge as fine spray.
Capacity → 9.5L & 6.6L, 2A:C
Typical applications include operating rooms, museums & book collections.
Fire Extinguishers Distribution →
The actual placements of FEs can be accomplished through a physical survey of the area to be
protected. The area shall have following characteristics:
1. Provide uniform distribution
2. Provide easy accessibility
3. Be relatively free from blocking by storage and equipment or both
4. Be near normal paths of travel
5. Be near entry and exit doors
6. Be free from the potential of physical damage
7. Be readily visible
8. Be determined on a floor by floor basis
Class A →
Where floor area is less than 279 sqm. at least 1 FE of minimum size recommended should be
provided.
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If a building floor area is unobstructed and circular in shape with a radius of 75 ft (22.9m), it
would be possible to place one FE at the center without exceeding the 75 ft (22.9m) travel
distance. In that case, an area of 1644 sqm. could be assigned to one fire extinguisher of
adequate A rating.
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Class C →
The capacity of the FE supplied for each major class C hazard situation should be
individually judged according to the following factors:
1. Size of the electrical equipment
2. Configuration of the electrical equipment that influences agent distribution
3. Effective range of the FE stream
4. Amount of Class A & Class B material involved
For large installations of electrical apparatus where the power continuity is critical, fixed fire
protection is desirable. At locations where such fixed systems are installed, it is practical to
also provide Class C portable FE units to handle quickly discovered fires, the number and
size of this units can be reduced under such conditions.
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Class D →
Maximum travel distance = 22.9m
Class K →
Maximum travel distance = 9.15m
Family Dwelling FE:
Minimum recommendations per floor level:
1. A single extinguisher rated 2A:10B:C or higher
2. One extinguisher rated 2A or higher and a second extinguisher rated 10B:C or higher
One extinguisher rated 2A:10B:C or higher should be provided to protect an attached garage
that is under the residence or connected to the residence by a common wall.
Where provided, extinguishers for detached garages should have a rating of 2A:10B:C or
higher.
Maximum travel distance = 12m
Conditions of selection:
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