When it comes to office fire safety in Olive Branch, MS, simply having any old fire extinguisher in the building isn’t enough. To meet the fire safety standards set by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), certain classes of fire extinguishers must be in place, depending on the environment.

Depending on the type of office being outfitted, there are many different extinguishers that may be needed:

• Class A: Class A extinguishers are made to put out blazes started with commonly combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, and paper. According to the NFPA, there should be one Class A fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet of office space, and every employee should have access to a fire extinguisher within a 75-foot travel distance.
• Class B: Class B extinguishers cover flammable materials that may be found in workshops, storage areas, research areas, garages, warehouses, or service and manufacturing spaces. There should be a Class B fire extinguisher within 50 feet of any given employee.
• Class C: Class C extinguishers are made to fight fires in and around electrical equipment. The spacing of these devices is the same as Class A or B.
• Class D: Areas where metal powders, shavings, flakes, or similar materials are made at least once every two weeks must have Class D fire extinguishers present. There must be an extinguisher no further than 75 feet from the source of the materials in question.
• Class K: Cooking areas with combustible materials such as oils and fats are required to have Class K fire extinguishers no more than 30 feet away.

No matter the class, a fire extinguisher should be mounted on brackets or placed in wall cabinets 3 ½ to 5 feet off the ground. If the fire extinguisher is larger, it should be mounted 3 feet from the floor instead.

In addition to having the proper class of fire extinguisher in an area, every device should be inspected once a month to ensure they are in proper working condition.

A-1 Fire Protection has been making Olive Branch, MS, safer since 1986. With inspections, employee training, and a litany of other fire safety services, the company helps residents avoid fire-related dangers each and every day. For more information, call (662) 895-2177 or visit the website.