NFPA 10 provides standards for portable fire extinguishers. These standards are referenced in several safety regulations 2, 3. NFPA 10A-1970 specifically covers the maintenance and use of portable fire extinguishers 1, 4.

Key aspects covered by these regulations include:

• Availability: Ensuring access to firefighting equipment at all times [1].
• Location: Firefighting equipment must be conspicuously located [1].
• Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance of firefighting equipment are required, with defective equipment immediately replaced [1].
• Types of Extinguishers:
  • At least one fire extinguisher with a rating not less than 2A should be provided for each 3,000 square feet of protected building area. The travel distance to the nearest fire extinguisher should not exceed 100 feet [1].
  • A fire extinguisher rated not less than 10B should be provided within 50 feet of any location where more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are being used [2].
• Substitutions: In some cases, alternatives like a 55-gallon open drum of water with fire pails or a 1/2-inch diameter garden-type hose line may be substituted for a 2A-rated fire extinguisher under specific conditions [2].
• Prohibited Extinguishers: Carbon tetrachloride and other toxic vaporizing liquid fire extinguishers are prohibited [2].
• Approval: Fire extinguishers must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory [2].

It's also important to note that the employer is responsible for developing a fire protection program that includes providing the necessary firefighting equipment [1] and that extinguishers and water drums subject to freezing must be protected from freezing [2].