Fire Extinguisher Calculator | How Many Fire Extinguishers Do You Need?
Free tool to calculate the number and rating of portable fire extinguishers for a floor, with separate results as per IS 2190:2024 (India) and NFPA 10 (USA and international projects).
Fire Extinguisher Calculator
Answer three simple questions and get how many fire extinguishers you need, which type to buy and what to check on the label. Based on IS 2190:2024, the Indian standard for fire extinguishers.
Your result
Know Your Extinguisher’s Fire Rating
The number of extinguishers depends on the fire rating printed on the label, not only on the size. Under IS 15683:2018 each manufacturer declares the rating from fire tests, so two extinguishers of the same type and size can have different ratings, and only one of them may meet IS 2190.
Common portable extinguishers in India
| Extinguisher | Sizes (IS 15683) | Fire classes on the label | Best for | Remember |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC dry powder | 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 kg | A, B, C | Mixed risks: workshops, stores, general areas, vehicles | Most common choice for the general count, but ratings vary widely between makers |
| BC dry powder | 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 kg | B, C | Flammable liquids and gas | No Class A rating, so it never counts towards the Class A number |
| Mechanical foam (AFFF) | 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 litres | A, B | Fuels, oils, paints, solvents | Use alcohol-resistant foam for alcohols and other water-soluble liquids |
| Carbon dioxide (CO₂) | 2, 3, 4, 5 kg | B (C where marked) | Electrical panels, server rooms, laboratories | No Class A rating, so it never counts towards the Class A number |
| Clean agent | 2, 4, 6 kg | B, C; some models also A | Electronics, control rooms, archives | Count it for Class A only if the label shows a Class A rating |
Same size, different rating. Four ISI-marked 6 kg ABC powder extinguishers listed for sale in India in October 2026, checked against IS 2190:2024 for a moderate hazard area:
| 6 kg ABC powder | Rating on label | Class A, moderate hazard (needs 3A) | Class B, moderate hazard (needs 144B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker 1 | 4A 144B C | Qualifies | Qualifies |
| Maker 2 | 4A 55B C | Qualifies | No (light hazard only) |
| Maker 3 | 3A 21B C | Qualifies | No |
| Maker 4 | 2A 21B C | No (light hazard only) | No |
Detailed Floor-by-Floor Schedule (IS 2190 and NFPA 10)
For designers, consultants and Fire NOC files: enter every floor and zone, the exact ratings on the labels, and get a zone-wise schedule with separate totals as per IS 2190:2024 and NFPA 10.
How to use the detailed calculator
- Select the extinguisher type and size, then the fire ratings shown on its label: IS ratings (for example 4A and 144B) for ISI-marked extinguishers, and the UL rating (for example 4-A) for the NFPA 10 result. The box under the dropdowns tells you at once which hazard levels that rating meets.
- Add one row per floor. If a floor has areas of different hazard (for example an office and a store), add a row for each zone with the same floor name.
- Enter the Class B area for zones with flammable liquids, and the cooking area if there is a commercial kitchen.
- Click Calculate to get a zone-wise schedule with separate, clearly tagged totals as per IS 2190:2024 and NFPA 10.
- Click Download Schedule (Excel) to use the table in your layout drawing, BOQ, quotation or Fire NOC file.
Result
Minimum quantities for planning. The final number, type and location must be confirmed on the floor layout (travel distance) and accepted by the fire authority having jurisdiction.
Extinguisher Requirements at a Glance
| Hazard | IS 2190:2024 Class A (min rating / max area per unit / max travel) | NFPA 10 Class A (min rating / area per unit of A / max travel) |
|---|---|---|
| Light (low) | 2A / 300 m² / 20 m | 2-A / 278.7 m² (3,000 ft²) / 22.9 m (75 ft) |
| Moderate (ordinary) | 3A / 150 m² / 20 m | 2-A / 139.4 m² (1,500 ft²) / 22.9 m (75 ft) |
| High (extra) | 4A / 100 m² / 15 m | 4-A / 92.9 m² (1,000 ft²) / 22.9 m (75 ft) |
| Per floor | At least 2 (1 if floor < 100 m²) | At least 1; no extinguisher may cover more than 1,045 m² (11,250 ft²) |
| Bigger extinguisher | Allowed, but does not reduce the number (area and travel limits still apply) | Covers more area: rating × area per unit of A |
| Other fire classes | IS 2190:2024 | NFPA 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Class B / C (flammable liquids under 6 mm depth, gases) | Light 55B / 300 m²; moderate 144B / 150 m²; high 233B / 100 m²; travel 15 m; at least 2 per floor | Light 5-B within 9.1 m or 10-B within 15.25 m; ordinary 10-B / 20-B; extra 40-B / 80-B |
| Class B in deep tanks (over 6 mm) | 144 B units per m² of fire area (AFFF: 89B per m²); travel 15 m | Special rules (dip tanks etc.) |
| Class D (metals) | Travel 20 m; size by metal type and area | Travel 22.9 m (75 ft) |
| Class F / K (cooking oil) | Travel 10 m; 5F per 0.03 m², 15F per 0.05 m², 25F per 0.08 m², 75F per 0.25 m² of cooking area | Class K, travel 9.1 m (30 ft) |
How to Interpret Your Result
The calculator gives the minimum number by area for each standard. It is not a final design until you check it on the layout:
- Travel distance: place the extinguishers on the floor plan and check that nobody has to walk more than the limit to reach one (IS 2190: 20 m for light and moderate, 15 m for high hazard and for Class B; NFPA 10: 22.9 m for Class A). Long or L-shaped floors usually need more units than the area count.
- Rating: if your extinguisher's rating is below the minimum, it cannot be counted. The result tells you when this happens.
- Specific hazards: add units next to electrical panels, flammable liquid stores, kitchens and other special risks, on top of the general count.
Which Extinguisher for Which Area? (IS 2190:2024 Clause 6)
The count tells you how many; the type decides whether the extinguisher will actually work on the fire you expect. Select by the hazard in each area:
| Area / risk | Suitable extinguishers | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Offices, stores, workshops with paper, wood, textiles, plastics (Class A) | Water, foam or ABC powder with the required Class A rating (cl. 6.3.2) | Rating must meet Table 1; buckets do not count |
| Flammable liquids: oils, paints, solvents, fuels (Class B) | Foam (AFFF/FFFP), ABC or BC powder, CO₂, with the required Class B rating (cl. 6.3.3) | Deep tanks over 6 mm need 144 B units per m² of fire area (cl. 7.4.1) |
| Alcohols, ketones and other water-soluble liquids | Alcohol-resistant (multipurpose) foam | AFFF/FFFP only if the nameplate says it suits these liquids (cl. 6.4.3) |
| Flammable gases, LPG (Class C) | Same selection as Class B (cl. 6.3.4); powder for pressurised gas fires | Shut off the gas supply first; fixed systems may be needed (cl. 6.4.1) |
| Live electrical panels, MCCs, transformers | CO₂, powder, clean agent or water mist tested for electrical use (cl. 6.3.7) | No CO₂ extinguishers with metal horns; de-energise as soon as possible |
| Server rooms, control rooms, electronics | CO₂ or clean agent (cl. 6.2, 6.3.7) | Powder works but its residue can seriously damage the equipment |
| Combustible metals: magnesium, aluminium dust, sodium (Class D) | Class D extinguishers marked for that metal (cl. 6.3.5) | Travel distance 20 m; ordinary powders and water can make it worse |
| Commercial kitchens: fryers, oil and fat (Class F) | Class F rated extinguishers (cl. 6.3.6), sized by Table 3 | Travel distance 10 m |
| Large high-hazard risks: tank farms, fuel handling | Wheeled extinguishers for higher flow, range and capacity (cl. 6.4.4) | Still provide portable units for the surrounding area (cl. 7.4.3) |
When Do You Need This Calculation?
- Fire NOC and building approval. The fire authority checks extinguisher numbers and placement against IS 2190 and the building's occupancy.
- New factory, warehouse, shop or office fit-out. Budget and order the right quantity before handover.
- Fire safety audits and insurance surveys. Auditors check numbers, ratings, travel distance and maintenance records.
- Layout or occupancy change. A store converted to a workshop, or racks added to a warehouse, can change the hazard type and the number needed.
- Multinational client or GCC project. The client may specify NFPA 10. The two standards give different answers, so check which one the contract requires.
Data to Collect Before You Calculate
| Input | Where to get it | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Floor area | Approved drawings or measured layout | Use the area of each floor separately. Mezzanines count as floor levels. |
| Hazard type | IS 2190 cl. 3.6 and Annex B; NBCS 2026 Part F occupancy classification | Classify by what is stored and done, not by the building name. Mixed areas: protect each area for its own hazard. |
| Extinguisher rating | Label on the extinguisher or the supplier's data sheet | Rating depends on the fire test, not just the size. Two 9 kg extinguishers from different makers can have different ratings. |
| Special hazards | Site walk-through | List flammable liquid areas, electrical rooms, kitchens and metal processing, and protect each one. |
Rules and Formulas Explained
IS 2190:2024 (India)
- Max area per unit and minimum rating come from Table 1 (Class A) and Table 2 (Class B/C).
- Higher-rated extinguishers are allowed, but the area per unit and travel distance limits still apply (cl. 7.2.3), so a bigger unit does not reduce the count.
- Lower-rated units do not count towards the minimum, except two adjacent 2A water-type units for one 3A or 4A (Table 1 note) and up to three AFFF units whose Class B ratings add up to the required rating (cl. 7.3.2).
- Class F: number = cooking area ÷ max cooking area for the chosen rating (Table 3), rounded up.
NFPA 10
- Area per unit of A: light 3,000 ft², ordinary 1,500 ft², extra 1,000 ft². Travel distance 75 ft (22.9 m).
- Class B is set by travel distance only: a smaller rating within 30 ft (9.1 m) or a larger rating within 50 ft (15.25 m).
Worked Example: Two-Floor Engineering Workshop
An engineering workshop has two floors of 1,200 m² each, classed as moderate (ordinary) hazard. Each floor also has a 120 m² paint and oil store. For comparison, assume 4A-rated ISI extinguishers (also rated 144B) for the IS 2190 design and 4-A rated UL extinguishers for the NFPA 10 design.
| Step | As per IS 2190:2024 | As per NFPA 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Area covered by one extinguisher | 150 m² (Table 1, moderate) | 4 × 1,500 ft² = 6,000 ft² = 557.4 m² |
| Class A per floor | 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 | 1,200 ÷ 557.4 = 2.15 → 3 |
| Class A for 2 floors | 16 | 6 |
| Class B (paint store 120 m²) | 120 ÷ 150 = 0.8 → minimum 2 per floor = 2 per floor (144B) | 10-B within 9.1 m or 20-B within 15.25 m of every point |
| Travel distance check | 20 m (Class A), 15 m (Class B) | 22.9 m (Class A) |
Quick scenarios
| Situation | Inputs | As per IS 2190 | As per NFPA 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office floor | 250 m², light, 2A / 2-A | 2 (250 ÷ 300 = 1, but minimum 2 per floor) | 1 (one 2-A covers 557.4 m²; check 22.9 m travel) |
| Small shop | 80 m², light, 2A / 2-A | 1 (floor under 100 m²) | 1 |
| Paint shop | 600 m², high, 4A / 4-A | 6 (600 ÷ 100) | 2 (one 4-A covers 371.6 m²) |
| Restaurant fryers | 0.12 m² cooking area | 25F: 2 units; 75F: 1 unit; within 10 m | Class K extinguisher within 9.1 m |
Codes and Standards for Fire Extinguishers
| Code / standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| IS 2190:2024 (fifth revision, October 2024) | Selection, installation, inspection and maintenance of portable and wheeled extinguishers in India: hazard types (cl. 3.6, Annex B), quantity and travel distance (cl. 7, Tables 1–3), mounting with the top no higher than 1.5 m (cl. 5.8), inspection about every 90 days (cl. 8.3.1), yearly maintenance (cl. 8.4.1), service life 10 years, or 15 years for CO₂ (Annex G). Fire buckets are not a substitute for extinguishers. |
| National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026, Part F Fire and Life Safety (previously NBC 2016 Part 4) | Cl. 5.1.1 and Tables 7A–7J set which occupancies need extinguishers and other systems; first-aid fire fighting appliances are to follow IS 2190:2024. Fire services are a state subject, so state fire acts and building bye-laws decide the final requirement for a fire NOC. |
| NFPA 10 (USA and many international projects) | Class A area per unit of A and 75 ft travel; Class B 30/50 ft travel by rating; maximum 11,250 ft² per extinguisher. Values shown here are as adopted in California Code of Regulations Title 19, §568–569. |
| GCC projects | Follow the local civil defence code and the client specification; confirm which standard applies before ordering. |
Common Mistakes in Extinguisher Calculations
- Counting by area only. The area count is a minimum. Travel distance on the actual layout often adds units.
- Assuming bigger extinguishers mean fewer units. Under IS 2190 the area per extinguisher stays the same whatever the rating (cl. 7.2.3).
- Mixing IS and UL ratings. Designing to IS 2190 with UL ratings, or to NFPA 10 with IS ratings, gives wrong numbers.
- One extinguisher per floor. IS 2190 needs at least two per floor unless the floor is under 100 m².
- Wrong type for the risk. CO₂ with a metal horn on live electrical equipment, AFFF foam on alcohol or other water-soluble liquids (cl. 6.4.3), or powder on sensitive electronics, where the residue causes damage.
- Fire buckets in place of extinguishers. IS 2190 does not accept buckets as a substitute; they can only be extra.
- Mounting too high or hidden. The top of a portable extinguisher must be no higher than 1.5 m, and it must be visible and on the normal path of travel.
Placement and Maintenance Checklist
- Locate along normal paths of travel and near exits; never locked away or blocked.
- Top no higher than 1.5 m; bottom at least 30 mm above the floor; operating instructions facing out.
- Signage visible from the path of travel where the extinguisher itself cannot be seen.
- Inspection about every 90 days, maintenance once a year, refilling, hydrostatic testing and replacement as per IS 2190 (use the planner below).
- Replace any extinguisher taken for service with a spare of the same type and rating.
Extinguisher Inspection, Refilling & HPT Due-Date Planner
Missed inspections, overdue hydrostatic tests and extinguishers past their service life are among the most common fire audit findings. Enter one extinguisher's details to get every due date as per IS 2190:2024.
Inspection about every 90 days (cl. 8.3.1); maintenance once a year, at least six months apart (cl. 8.4.1); refill / discharge test per Annex E; HPT per Annex F; service life per Annex G. Managing many extinguishers? HSEFQ.com automates inspection and due-date tracking.
IS 2190:2024 testing and life schedule
| Type | Refill / discharge test (Annex E) | Hydrostatic test (Annex F) | Test pressure, hold time | Service life (Annex G) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (stored pressure or cartridge) | Every 3 years | Every 3 years | 35 kg/cm², 150 s | 10 years |
| Mechanical foam | Every 3 years | Every 3 years | 35 kg/cm², 150 s | 10 years |
| Dry powder – cartridge type | Every 3 years | Every 5 years | 35 kg/cm², 150 s | 10 years |
| Dry powder – stored pressure | Every 5 years | Every 5 years | 35 kg/cm², 150 s | 10 years |
| Carbon dioxide | Every 5 years | Every 5 years, and every time it is sent for recharging | 225 kg/cm², 30 s | 15 years |
| Clean agent (stored pressure) | Every 5 years | Every 5 years, and every time it is sent for recharging | 35 kg/cm², 150 s | 10 years |
Life is counted from the date of manufacture. An extinguisher that fails HPT must be discarded and replaced with the same type and rating. Non-rechargeable extinguishers more than 5 years old are obsolete (Annex D).
Fire Safety Services by Himaya Prevention
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Important Disclaimer & Professional Support
This calculator gives the minimum number of extinguishers by floor area. A full fire protection design also considers travel distance on the actual layout, special hazards, fixed systems and the requirements of the fire authority having jurisdiction. For a layout, design basis report or Fire NOC support, see our fire safety services or contact Himaya Prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fire extinguishers are required as per IS 2190?
Under IS 2190:2024, each floor needs one Class A extinguisher per 300 m² for light hazard, 150 m² for moderate hazard and 100 m² for high hazard, with at least two per floor (one if the floor is under 100 m²). Travel distance must not exceed 20 m (light and moderate) or 15 m (high hazard).
What is the maximum travel distance to a fire extinguisher in India?
IS 2190:2024 allows 20 m for Class A in light and moderate hazard areas, 15 m for Class A in high hazard areas and for Class B and C, 20 m for Class D and 10 m for Class F (kitchen) hazards.
Can I install fewer, bigger fire extinguishers?
Under IS 2190:2024, no. Higher-rated extinguishers are allowed, but the maximum area per extinguisher and travel distance still apply, so the number does not fall. Under NFPA 10, a higher Class A rating covers more area, up to 11,250 ft² (1,045 m²) per extinguisher.
Is NBC 2016 still used for fire extinguishers?
The National Building Code has been revised and renamed the National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026. Its Part F refers first-aid fire fighting appliances to IS 2190:2024. Your state fire service and building bye-laws decide what is enforced for a fire NOC.
Are fire buckets acceptable instead of extinguishers?
No. IS 2190:2024 does not recommend fire buckets in place of extinguishers. They may be provided in addition to the required extinguishers.
What fire rating does a 6 kg ABC fire extinguisher have?
It depends on the manufacturer. Under IS 15683:2018 the maker declares the rating from fire tests, and ISI-marked 6 kg ABC powder extinguishers are sold in India with ratings from 2A 21B to 4A 144B. Check the label: IS 2190:2024 needs at least 3A for moderate hazard and 144B for moderate hazard Class B areas.
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected?
IS 2190:2024 calls for an inspection about every 90 days, maintenance once a year (at least six months apart), and replacement at the end of service life: 10 years for water, foam, powder and clean agent extinguishers and 15 years for CO₂.
How often is hydrostatic pressure testing (HPT) required for fire extinguishers?
Under IS 2190:2024 Annex F, water and foam extinguishers are tested every 3 years, and dry powder, CO₂ and clean agent extinguishers every 5 years. CO₂ and clean agent extinguishers are also tested every time they are sent for recharging.
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References
- IS 2190:2024 Selection, Installation and Maintenance of First-Aid Fire Extinguishers – Portable and Mobile – Code of Practice (Fifth Revision), Bureau of Indian Standards.
- National Building Construction Standards 2026, Part F Fire and Life Safety, cl. 5.1.1 and Tables 7A–7J, Bureau of Indian Standards.
- NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers; California Code of Regulations Title 19, §568 (Class A) and §569 (Class B).
- IS 15683 and IS 16018 – portable and wheeled fire extinguishers (performance and ratings).
Prepared and reviewed by the fire safety team at Himaya Prevention Private Limited, Vadodara, India. Last reviewed: October 2026. Health | Safety | Environment | Fire | Quality · designed & automated by hsefq.com
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