The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Workshops and Garages fire extinguisers in your shop, garage, or work area

Mike "50GMC253" Barnes asked a good question in General Truck Talk about putting a fire extinguisher in his truck. We wondered about asking such a question here in the Workshops area. Now that Leo had just a scary incident to report, we thought we'd better go ahead and do it.

So .... tell us about your extinguishers in your work spaces. (And we still like photos. )

Safety first and always.

My nephew was working on his snowmobile in his shop, somehow a small fire started on the floor. Bit of oil was burning, tried stomping it out, was almost making it worse. Long story short, the fire spread til it was out of control, he got out of the shop which burnt to the ground. He didn't think about the fire extinguisher which was hanging on the wall nearby.
I have one in my garage, only had to use it once, glad it was there.

I would suggest a 20 lb. ABC dry chemical extinguisher. Maybe 2, depending on how big your shop is. The place I've been at for the last 20 years is a 100' x 120' shop, with another 20' x 80' attached wash area. Spread about the shop is an even dozen, 20 lb ABC extinguishers with one or two Purple K's. Although the Purple K's might be gone by now as they have become obsolete. All CO2 and Halon's are gone as we would rather breathe oxygen in a room fire situation than not. Outside, both sides of the shop have hydrants where I keep bins of fire hose. Within the last three years, all buildings have been retrofitted with sprinkler systems.

At my house, I have a 10 lb ABC in the kitchen, a 20 lb ABC in the garage and I added another 20 lb ABC at the side of the house where I paint. The fifth wheel has a 10 lb ABC on it. Oh, I also have a 2 lb ABC in the Suburban, although I'm probably just fooling myself.


If I was to be asked about any other recommendation, I would suggest one become familiar with the instructions written on the side of the extinguisher. The time to learn how to operate one is not the moment you need one. Most have an instruction about being 10-20 feet away from the fire. If you get too excited and run up to the fire, blowing the extinguisher through the fire is just as ineffective as being too far away from the fire. Also, check them regularly. Make sure they are in good shape. Don't let things like mud daubers make homes in the hoses. In my shop, they are on a documented monthly inspection schedule, as required by the state. They are also recertified or replaced once a year.

If you can locate a building code copy (try an architect or engineer's office), it should spell out minimum requirements for fire extinguishers. Mark's shop sounds like it exceeds the minimum requirement.

I have a 1A-10BC and a 10lb CO2 extinguisher right near the door in my garage, one under the kitchen sink, another next to the boiler, and another just inside the pantry door. Also carry extinguishers in both daily driver vehicles (I don't have one in my 1951 truck -YET - but it'll be there once it's back on the road). Another good practice on dry chemical extinguishers carried in vehicles is to take them out and turn them upside down and whack them with a rubber mallet occasionally to loosen up the powder inside, which tends to pack down with the vibration they see.

See my response in the other thread. Keep big extinguishers in the shop but put a few fire blankets around , too. They are much more effective than spray type extinguishers.

And no extra mess, either.

I've got a couple of welding blankets in the shop. The 'not so fun' about them is the tiny bits of fiberglass that come off. It looks like I painted the truck and engine and myself with a heavy stringy pearl shimmering in the sun.

You can Google the "International Building Code" to get commercial building requirements. It's online now so you don't have to buy the 4" thick $600 book. The last time I checked 47 states use the International Building Code. 2 states use the old Uniform Building code and California has their own code book. It's $3500. My attached shop is 35' X 32'. I have 3 20 pound extinguishers in the shop. One at the front and back doors and one going into the house. I have a 10 pounded at the mill and lathe. I have another one at the door to the glass blowing shop. I have a couple of 5 pounders I can sit where I'm working. Never leave right after doing hot work.

The IBC hard copy can be bought for under $200. But that’s still a lot for one time use. Online subscription is probably more, but you might be able to find a “free” (aka pirated) version online. That’s why I suggested borrowing one.

They come out every 3 years but many states use old versions So you need several. You also need to buy the addendums. I don't pay anything for my online service. I am a member of the International Building Code Counsel and can submit and vote on new codes and exceptions. That may be why I get my online for free. If anyone needs to have something looked up in any of my 7' rack of code books residential or commercial I'm happy to do that for you. Except California. I don't do work there.

We would occasionally use fire extinguishers that were past their service time for training employees. I had all the employees take turns using the extinguishers outside to be familiar with how to use them.

I can relate to Leo's nephew forgetting to use the extinguisher. I was grinding some welds down behind the shop and set the grass on fire. There was a water hydrant next to that area so I ran to find a hose. We had a fireman working part time and while I was searching for the hose, he calmly picked up the fire extinguisher, put out the fire, and returned to his work station. In the heat of the moment it can be hard to think logically.

Mark