(a) Definition. As used in this Fire Prevention Code: “hand fire extinguishing equipment” means portable equipment intended for the control of small or incipient fires and designed for manual operation.
(b) Classification and Rating.
(1) For the purposes of this Code, units of hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be classified in accordance with the types of fires with which they are fitted to cope. Fires are classified as:
A. Class A fires: fires in ordinary combustible materials where the quenching and cooling effects of quantities of water, or of solutions containing large percentages of water, are of first importance.
B. Class B fires: fires in flammable liquids, greases, etc., where a blanketing effect is essential.
C. Class C fires: fires in electrical equipment where the use of a nonconducting extinguishing agent is of first importance.
(2) Hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be classified as to suitability in combatting Class A, Class B and Class C fires, and rated in terms of units of efficacy. For the purposes of this Code, the extinguishing value of two and one-half (2-1/2) gallons of water applied as a forced stream from a pressure cartridge or from a soda-acid extinguisher on a Class A fire constitutes one (1) unit of efficacy.
(3) Hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be classified and rated in accordance with the following table and the classifications and ratings established by the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals:
Classification and Rating of Hand Fire Extinguishing Equipment
Type
|
Size
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Type
|
Size
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Classifica- tion
|
Units of Efficacy
|
Chemical Solution (soda acid) | 2-1/2 gallon | A | 1 | ||||
1-1/2 gallon | A | 1/2 | |||||
Water | 2-1/2 gallon (stored pressure cartridge) | A | 1 | ||||
5 gallon (pump) | A | 1 | |||||
50 gallon cask with 3 pails | A | 1 | |||||
25, 35 and 40 gallon bucket tanks (6 pails) | A | 1 | |||||
2 1/2 gallon (pump) | A | 1 | |||||
12 quart pail | A | 1/5 | |||||
Anti-Freeze Solution | 2-1/2 gallon (stored pressure cartridge and internally generated pressure) | A | 1 | ||||
5 gallon (pump) | A | 1 | |||||
50 gallon cask with 3 pails | A | 1 | |||||
25, 35 and 40 gallon bucket tanks (6 pails) | A | 1 | |||||
2-1/2 gallon (pump) | A | 1 | |||||
12 quart pail | A | 1/5 | |||||
Foam | 2-1/2 and 5 gallon | A | 1 | B | 1 | ||
1-1/4 - 1-1/2 gallon | A | 1/2 | B | 1/2 | |||
Loaded Stream | 1 3/4 and 2 1/2 gallons | A | 1 | B | 1/2 | ||
1 gallon | A | 1/2 | B | 1/4 | |||
Vaporizing Liquid (carbon tetrachloride) | 1, 2 and 3 gallon | B | 1/2 | C | 1 | ||
1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2 and 2 quart | B | 1/2 | C | 1/2 | |||
Carbon Dioxide | 15 and 20 lbs. of carbon dioxide | B | 1 | C | 1 | ||
7 1/2 lbs.* & 10 lbs.* of carbon dioxide | B | 1/2 | C | 1 | |||
4 lbs. of carbon dioxide | B | 1/2 | C | 1/2 | |||
2 lbs. of carbon dioxide | B | 1/4 | |||||
Dry Compound | 15 and 25 lbs. of dry chemical | B | 1 | C | 1 | ||
* With 24 inch core | |||||||
(c) Number of Units.
(1) Hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be installed in each building not equipped with wet standpipes, with first-aid hose attached, of the following occupancy classifications, so as to provide the following numbers of units of efficacy for each five thousand (5,000) square feet of floor area. Equipment installed shall be suitable to the class of fire which might be experienced in each location and as directed by the Fire Chief.
Required Hand Fire Extinguishing Equipment in Buildings Not Equipped with Wet Standpipes with Attached First-aid Hose
Occupancy Classification
|
No. of units of efficacy for each 5,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
|
Maximum to Nearest Unit (in ft.) |
Residential – Class B Multiple Dwelling, Business, Institutional, *Industrial N.C., occupancies | 1 | 100 |
Mercantile – *Storage, Industrial C., Occupancies | 2 | 50 |
High Hazard Occupancy | 2 (plus additional units as directed by the Division of Fire) | 50 |
* None required where building and contents are incombustible. | ||
(2) For assembly occupancy, hand fire extinguishers shall be provided as required by Section 3125.67(c), and as specified in this Code for places of outdoor assembly.
(3) For educational occupancy, hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided as required by the Ohio Building Code.
(4) Irrespective of the occupancy classification of the building, hand fire extinguishing equipment shall also be provided at locations of unusual fire hazard where deemed necessary by the Fire Chief and as directed or approved by the Chief.
(d) Locations and Installation.
(1) The proposed locations of all hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be subject to the approval of the Division of Fire. Where first-aid standpipe hose is installed, required hand fire extinguishers shall be located adjacent to the same and may be within the cabinet containing such hose.
(2) All hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be properly supported, held in place and maintained ready for use at all times.
(e) Prohibited Installation of Hazardous Equipment. Hand fire extinguishing equipment of a type which might prove hazardous in use shall not be installed.
(1) Extinguishers liberating carbon tetrachloride or carbon dioxide shall not be installed where they would normally be used in confined occupied areas.
(2) Extinguishers which rely upon water as the major extinguishing medium shall not be installed where their normal use would be as a stream to extinguish burning flammable liquids. However, water spray and water fog may be used for that purpose.
(3) Only extinguishers liberating carbon dioxide or carbon tetrachloride shall be installed where their normal use would be in extinguishing fires in electric apparatus or equipment. However, carbon tetrachloride extinguishers shall not be installed where their use would liberate quantities of toxic gas.
(4) Only sand or inert powder extinguishers shall be installed where their normal use would be in extinguishing fires in moisture hazard substances such as calcium carbide or sodium peroxide.
(f) Recharging and Maintenance.
(1) All hand fire extinguishing equipment which requires periodic recharging shall be recharged at intervals not exceeding those determined by the Division. Each such piece of equipment shall have an attached label on which the date of recharging shall be marked with the signature of the person responsible for recharging.
(2) All hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be maintained in a usable and serviceable condition ready for instant use at all times.
(g) Protection Against Freezing. Hand fire extinguishing equipment installed in locations subject to temperatures below freezing shall be anti-freeze extinguishers or of a type not affected by low temperatures. Where water is the extinguishing medium, calcium chloride with other components may be added to prevent freezing, provided such mixture will not have a detrimental effect upon extinguishing action or upon the equipment or parts thereof.
(h) Approval. Hand fire extinguishing equipment shall be equipment approved by the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals. Equipment tested, classified and approved by a Nationally recognized testing laboratory which possesses adequate equipment for testing and is competent to classify and approve fire extinguishing equipment may be approved by the Board without additional tests.
(Ord. No. 991-49. Passed 6-27-49, eff. 6-27-49)