How to Choose the Right Fire Extinguisher Cabinet

Posted by Janiel D on June 1st, 2021

If a fire breaks out, do you know where your extinguisher is? Is it safe from debris and corrosion? Selecting a fire extinguisher cabinet to keep this important tool protected during long periods of inactivity, ensuring that it will function properly when needed. This guide can help you select the best cabinets to secure portable extinguishers at herbertwilliams.com for your home or office needs. Making the right choice can save property and lives.

Location

An extinguisher box should be located in an easy-to-access place within the building that is unobtrusive but which will allow rapid retrieval of the fire extinguisher when needed. Depending on the building, you may have to follow certain safety requirements that prevent the extinguisher box from protruding too far from a wall. In these cases, a professional can install a partially or fully recessed extinguisher cabinet in the wall. These options are most frequently utilized in commercial buildings; most residences may not have the luxury of building a full cabinet into an existing wall. Even for non-recessed cabinets, however, the extinguisher box should be firmly anchored in place to keep it from falling over.

Materials

Your choice of material can affect the final fire extinguisher box price. To choose your material, you should take any environmental hazards into account. If corrosion or physical damage is a risk, for example, a stainless steel fire extinguisher cabinet might be the best choice for you. Aluminium serves as a nice lighter option that may be lower in cost. If your area is free of excessive moisture and other environmental hazards, wood can be customized to go well with the rest of the building’s aesthetic. Usually, you’ll want your cabinet to have a glass front. This makes it easy to see the extinguisher inside and break the glass in case of emergency if you can’t open the box in another way.

Placement and Labeling

Generally, you should avoid placing a fire extinguisher on the floor, even if it has the protection of a cabinet. Doing so increases the risk of damage and corrosion. Most fire extinguisher boxes can be wall-mounted, allowing a better chance for people to see them in their line or sight and take advantage of easier access. After you have placed the fire extinguisher, you may want to consider signage or labels. The goal here is to point out where the extinguisher cabinet is should vision be obscured. You can purchase special reflective signs to help you identify precisely where the fire suppression equipment is if smoke has filled the room and you need to access the extinguisher immediately.

You should choose your fire extinguisher cabinet from a trustworthy brand. At the same time, you need to consider the location in the building, materials used in the cabinet, and placement for ease of access. Taking these steps will protect you and those in the building should a fire break out. Nobody ever wants to use their fire extinguisher, but they should always be prepared to do so.