F-03 Fire Extinguisher Requirements on Construction Sites 1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the minimum fire extinguisher rating required on each floor of a building under construction under NYC Fire Code?

1-A:5-B:C
2-A:10-B:C (Correct answer)
4-A:40-B:C
10-A:80-B:C

Correct answer: 2-A:10-B:C

NYC Fire Code §1415 requires at minimum a 2-A:10-B:C rated extinguisher for each 3,000 square feet of construction floor area.

The 2-A:10-B:C rating means the extinguisher can handle: 2-A = equivalent to 2.5 gallons of water capacity for Class A (ordinary combustibles like wood, paper) fires; 10-B = can cover 10 square feet of burning Class B (flammable liquid) surface; C = suitable for use on energized electrical equipment. This rating is the minimum for construction sites because construction involves all three hazard classes: wood framing (A), flammable liquids (B), and temporary electrical systems (C). Areas with greater hazards (hot work, flammable liquid storage) require higher-rated extinguishers or additional units.

Question 2: What is the maximum travel distance to a fire extinguisher that is permitted on a construction floor?

25 feet
50 feet
75 feet (Correct answer)
100 feet

Correct answer: 75 feet

NFPA 10 and NYC Fire Code require that no worker be more than 75 feet of travel distance from an appropriate fire extinguisher.

NFPA 10 establishes maximum travel distances for fire extinguishers: for Class A hazards (ordinary combustibles), no person should be more than 75 feet of travel distance from an extinguisher; for Class B hazards (flammable liquids), the distance is reduced. On construction floors, the 75-foot rule typically governs extinguisher placement. For large floor plates exceeding 150 feet in any dimension, multiple extinguishers must be provided to maintain 75-foot coverage throughout the floor. The F-03 fire guard must verify extinguisher placement during daily inspections, as materials moved during construction can extend travel distances beyond the allowed maximum.

Question 3: How must portable fire extinguishers be stored on construction floors?

On the floor, readily visible near work areas
Mounted on walls or stands at specified heights, with proper signage, and accessible without moving obstructions (Correct answer)
In locked cabinets to prevent unauthorized use
Stacked in the stairwell for easy relocation

Correct answer: Mounted on walls or stands at specified heights, with proper signage, and accessible without moving obstructions

Extinguishers must be mounted (not floor-standing) at proper heights with clear signage, accessible without moving any obstruction.

Fire extinguisher installation requirements: must be mounted on wall brackets or wheeled carts — not placed on the floor where they can be knocked over or buried under debris; top handle must be no higher than 5 feet above the floor (for extinguishers over 40 lbs, maximum 3.5 feet to top); must be marked with green 'Fire Extinguisher' signs visible from at least 20 feet; must not be obstructed by materials, equipment, or locked enclosures; and must not be in locations where temperature extremes could damage the extinguisher. During daily inspections, the fire guard must ensure extinguishers remain accessible and have not been buried under construction materials or relocated by workers.

Question 4: What does the annual inspection tag on a fire extinguisher confirm?

The extinguisher has been tested with actual fire within the past year
A licensed fire extinguisher service company has inspected, serviced, and recharged the extinguisher within the past year (Correct answer)
The extinguisher was purchased within the past year
The extinguisher passed the monthly visual inspection

Correct answer: A licensed fire extinguisher service company has inspected, serviced, and recharged the extinguisher within the past year

The annual tag confirms a licensed service company has professionally inspected, tested pressure and discharge, and certified the extinguisher as ready for use within the past year.

Annual fire extinguisher service by a licensed fire protection contractor involves: verifying correct pressure via the gauge; checking for physical damage, corrosion, and tampering; verifying the pin and tamper seal are intact; inspecting hose and nozzle condition; verifying the correct type and amount of extinguishing agent; and hydrostatic pressure testing at required intervals (every 5-12 years depending on extinguisher type). The service tag records: the service date, technician signature, and company name. Extinguishers without current annual service tags must be removed from service and sent for professional inspection. Monthly visual inspections (checking pressure gauge and no physical damage) are the user's responsibility and do not substitute for annual professional service.

Question 5: What action must be taken after a fire extinguisher has been fully or partially discharged on a construction site?

Leave it in place — it can be used again for the remaining agent
Remove it from service immediately and arrange for recharge or replacement (Correct answer)
Refill it with water if the agent is depleted
Shake it to distribute remaining agent and return it to service

Correct answer: Remove it from service immediately and arrange for recharge or replacement

Any discharged extinguisher — even if only partially used — must be immediately removed from service and recharged before it can be relied upon.

After any use of a fire extinguisher: immediately remove it from its designated location and replace it with a fully charged unit; attach a 'DO NOT USE — EMPTY' tag; arrange for professional recharge by a licensed service company; do not return the extinguisher to service until professionally recharged and re-tagged; and document the use in the fire watch log including why the extinguisher was used, what fire was extinguished, and that a replacement was provided. A partially discharged extinguisher has reduced agent and pressure — it may discharge its remaining agent quickly or fail to provide adequate fire suppression when needed. A partial discharge can also affect the internal mechanism.

Question 6: Where should fire extinguishers be specifically located in relation to hot work operations?

In the nearest stairwell
Within 30 feet of the hot work operation, immediately accessible to the fire watch person (Correct answer)
At the building entrance for all-purpose emergency use
On the floor below where hot work is occurring

Correct answer: Within 30 feet of the hot work operation, immediately accessible to the fire watch person

Hot work requires a dedicated extinguisher within 30 feet — not a general floor extinguisher that may be 75 feet away.

For hot work operations, a dedicated fire extinguisher must be within 30 feet of the actual hot work location — this is separate from the general floor coverage requirement of one extinguisher per 3,000 square feet within 75 feet. The closer proximity requirement ensures the fire watch person can reach the extinguisher and begin suppression within seconds of spark ignition. The extinguisher must be the correct type for the hazards present — Class ABC dry chemical for most hot work. The fire watch person must know the exact location of this dedicated extinguisher before work begins. The general floor extinguishers mounted further away do not satisfy the specific hot work proximity requirement.

F-03 Fire Extinguisher Requirements on Construction Sites 1

What is the minimum fire extinguisher rating required on each floor of a building under construction under NYC Fire Code?