Fire Extinguisher Compliance & Requirements - NFPA-101 Life Safety Code and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) as required by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

The Problem With Meeting ADA and NFPA-101 Compliance

Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, ambulatory, long-term care, nursing home and senior living centers must now comply with the 2012 edition of NFPA-101. Noncontinuous projections in corridors located below 38” are now limited to 4-1/2”. Projections above 38” are limited to no more than 4” per ADA and CMS. Most fire extinguishers, if surface mounted, do not comply with the new requirements.

The Easy Solution

Oval Brand Fire Products is proud to introduce the first and only fire extinguisher built for both NFPA-101 and ADA compliance, as required by CMS. By flattening the tank into a low-profile shape, Oval has created an extinguisher that projects less than 4″ from the wall. Oval Brand extinguishers can be mounted at the required locations throughout your facility and still remain compliant.

Due to the recently issued requirements by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Oval Brand’s low profile fire extinguishers are the only fire extinguishers which may be surface mounted in the corridors of healthcare facilities while maintaining compliance with the NFPA-101 Life Safety Code (2012 edition) and the ADA. All other brands’ 5 lb and 10 lb fire extinguishers protrude more than 4-1/2” when surface mounted, however Oval’s UL listed fire extinguishers project less than 4” and are always compliant.

Oval fire extinguishers may be either mounted on a wall or column or installed in a fully recessed fire extinguisher cabinet. In either case, the installation facilitates compliance with ADA, NFPA-101, and CMS requirements.

Fire Extinguisher with Button Hook for safety and to avoid injury

Surface Mounting

Surface mounted fire extinguishers are furnished with a patented swivel mounting hook for exposed mounting on a wall or column. The fire extinguisher projects 3 ½” from the wall surface. The unique swivel hook assures that, if the fire extinguisher is accidentally bumped or hit, it will swivel out of the way rather than be damaged or dislodged from the wall or column.

Cabinet Mounting

Fire extinguishers may also be installed in a recessed cabinet (supplied separately). Fire extinguishers for cabinet mounting are 3” deep. Oval recessed cabinets fit into 2 ½” and 3 ⅝” stud walls and 6” masonry walls. Oval fire-rated cabinets fit into 3 ⅝” stud walls. With Oval fire extinguishers and cabinets, it is no longer necessary to build an extra deep wall just for the fire extinguisher.

NOT COMPLIANT

Round Extinguishers

Traditional Extinguisher Out of Compliance within Healthcare Facility

Round extinguishers violate the projecting object limits when surface mounted in corridors.

COMPLIANT

Oval Brand Extinguishers

Oval Brand fire extinguishers always comply with the 4″ projecting object limits per CMS.

COMPLIANT

Partially-Recessed Cabinet

In addition to cabinet cost are expenses related to time, dust, labor, and coordination.

Many facilities currently have their extinguishers installed within recessed or semi recessed cabinets, and therefore they don’t have a compliance problem. However there are many older hospitals and facilities such as senior living, assisted living, long-term care, ambulatory care, and rehab which utilize surface mounted fire extinguishers. They currently have two viable options to solve their non-compliance with the LSC non-continuous object projecting object limits. Their first option is to install new fully-recessed or semi-recessed cabinets into their existing walls. The second option (which is also less invasive, fastest, cleanest, and less expensive) is to surface mount new Oval Brand extinguishers.