How Many Fire Extinguishers Does Your Business Really Need?

Fire safety is not a topic for guesswork. Every workplace has its own risks, people, and layout, so the number of fire extinguishers you need will never be the same as another site. The aim is to provide enough cover so a small fire can be tackled quickly and safely while keeping routes clear and decisions simple.

Some businesses buy a few units and hope for the best. Others add more each year without a plan. The right path is to base your choices on a risk assessment, your building design, and the type of work you do. With a careful approach, you can choose numbers that are sensible, affordable, and effective.

This article explains how to make that decision. It walks through the key factors that shape provision, outlines the main points of UK law, and highlights common errors that reduce safety. It then offers practical steps you can use straight away. By the end, you will have a clear route to choosing, placing, and maintaining your fire extinguishers.

Key Factors That Determine the Number of Fire Extinguishers

There is no single formula that gives an instant answer. You weigh up several factors, then make a reasoned choice. Keep travel distances short, match units to risks, and make sure people can see and reach equipment without delay. The points below shape most decisions.

Size and Layout of the Building

Bigger premises need more units. As a guide, no one should have to walk more than about 30 metres to reach one. Long corridors, dead ends, and split levels stretch these distances if you are not careful. Map normal routes and place units where people pass them. In open-plan rooms, a single unit may cover a wide area if it is easy to see. In small rooms or storage aisles, you will need more, placed by doors and junctions. Multi-storey buildings need cover on each level, and stairwells should stay clear.

Type of Business Activities

Activities decide the fire classes you face. An office mainly faces paper, textile, and electrical risks. A workshop may have flammable liquids or hot work. A kitchen brings hot oils and high heat. Each needs the correct agent. Water or a water additive helps with paper and wood. Foam works on some liquid fires. CO2 is suited to energised electrical equipment. Wet chemical is designed for deep-fat fryers. If your site mixes these spaces, treat them as zones and provide the right type and number in each.

Number of People on Site

More people means more movement and more chance for hazards to appear. Shops, schools, and venues with regular visitors should provide wider coverage and clear signs. In busy areas, mounting two different types together can reduce confusion and cut response time. Trained staff, not visitors, should use the equipment, so think about where trained people usually are and place units along those routes.

Special Hazards Present

Some areas call for extra thought. Battery rooms, server rooms, spray booths, fuel stores, or spaces with gas cylinders may need specialist advice. The number of units is only part of the answer. You must also have the correct rating and medium. In high-hazard zones, put extra units close by and add clear labels. Do not forget outdoor spaces such as loading bays, smoking areas, and waste stores. If they are far from internal cover, fit dedicated units nearby and protect them from weather and tampering.

UK Fire Safety Regulations Explained

UK law expects every workplace to assess its risks and put sensible measures in place. The main law is the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005, which applies to most non-domestic buildings in England and Wales. Similar rules apply elsewhere in the UK. A responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment, act on its findings, and keep measures in good order.

Guidance suggests at least two Class A-rated fire extinguishers on each floor, unless the area is small and can be covered by one. Units should be easy to reach, placed on escape routes and near exits, and marked with signs. Equipment must be maintained and staff trained. Records of checks and services help show compliance. Sector needs can add duties. Kitchens that use deep-fat fryers need wet chemical units. Sites with flammable liquids or gases may need foam or dry powder, though dry powder is not ideal indoors because of visibility and clean-up. Where expensive equipment or data is present, CO2 can be paired with other media to limit damage while still tackling the fire.

Your risk assessment turns these points into the right number for your site. It should cover layout, activities, people at risk, and any special hazards. Review it when things change. A move of desks, new machinery, or a change to opening hours can alter the picture more than you expect.

Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Providing Extinguishers

Buying a few units and spreading them thinly is a frequent mistake. People then have to walk too far or turn back against the flow during an evacuation. Time lost in those first moments shrinks the chance of safe use and increases harm.

Another issue is a poor match between the risk and the unit chosen. Water used on live electrics can shock the user. Foam on hot oil can spread burning liquid. CO2 in a draught may not linger long enough to work. When the wrong unit is provided, even a quick response may fail.

Placement errors are also common. Units hidden behind stock, fixed behind doors, or mounted too high cause delays. So do units without clear signs. In some cases, people move units for short-term needs and never return them. Finally, maintenance is left until something goes wrong. Gauges sit in the red, pins go missing, brackets loosen, or servicing is overdue. A unit in poor condition can fail when it is most needed.

Practical Guidance for Getting It Right

The steps below turn general advice into a clear plan. Start simple, record decisions, and keep the plan live. Doing this saves money and improves safety for staff and visitors.

Carry Out and Update a Fire Risk Assessment

Walk the site and list the activities in each area. Note sources of ignition and fuel, people present, escape routes, and pinch points. Decide the likely fire classes and where a fire could start. Choose the extinguisher types that match those classes and decide how many are needed so travel distances stay short. Record why you chose each unit and where it will go. Review the plan whenever the layout or activity changes so new blind spots do not creep in.

Plan Placement, Visibility, and Access

Put units on normal routes and near final exits. Use stands or brackets so they sit at a consistent height. Fit signs so they can be seen over heads and stock. In high-risk areas, place two different types together so the right one is always to hand. Think about real-life use. Will trolleys, deliveries, or displays block access during busy times? Are units likely to be moved for cleaning or events? If so, use tethered stands or checklists to make sure everything returns to the correct spot. In shared buildings, agree on placement with neighbours so routes stay clear and units are not duplicated at random.

Train People and Maintain the Equipment

Train staff on when to use a fire extinguisher and when to leave it and evacuate. Show how each type works and let people handle a unit so the weight and pin action are familiar. New starters and role changes should trigger training, and short refreshers keep knowledge current. Set up a simple monthly check. Look for correct pressure, secure pins, clear access, and intact hoses. Check that signs are in place and nothing blocks the view. Book annual servicing with a competent technician and keep certificates on file. If a unit is discharged, arrange inspection or replacement. Treat these steps as part of normal operations.

Follow this process and the numbers will make sense. You will know how many fire extinguishers you need, where they go, and how to keep them ready. The result is a safer site, evidence of due care, and a team that knows what to do if a small fire starts.