Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
906 Portable Fire Extinguishers — 2025 California Building Code
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) § 906 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
[F] 906.1 Where required. Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in all of the following locations:
- In Group A, B, E, F, H, I, L, M, R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-2.2, R.3.1, R-4 and S occupancies. Exception: In Group R-2 occupancies, portable fire extinguishers shall be required only in locations specified in Items 2 through 6 where each dwelling unit is provided with a portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 1-A:10-B:C.
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Within 30 feet (9144 mm) distance of travel from commercial cooking equipment and from domestic cooking equipment in Group R-2 college dormitory occupancies.
In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used or dispensed.
On each floor of structures under construction, except Group R-3 occupancies, in accordance with Section 3315.1 of the California Fire Code .
Where required by the California Fire Code sections indicated in Table 906.1.
Special-hazard areas, including but not limited to laboratories, computer rooms and generator rooms, where required by the fire code official.
7. Large and small family day-care homes shall be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher having a minimum 2A:10B:C rating. 8. Where required by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3. 9. Within 30 feet (9144 mm) of domestic cooking equipment located in a Group I-2.
[F] TABLE 906.1—ADDITIONAL REQUIRED PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
| IFC SECTION | SUBJECT |
|---|---|
| 303.5 | Asphalt kettles |
| 307.5 | Open burning |
| 308.1.3 | Open flames—torches |
| 309.4 | Powered industrial trucks |
| 1204.10 | Portable Generators |
| 2005.2 | Aircraft towing vehicles |
| 2005.3 | Aircraft welding apparatus |
| 2005.4 | Aircraft fuel-servicing tank vehicles |
| 2005.5 | Aircraft hydrant fuel-servicing vehicles |
| 2005.6 | Aircraft fuel-dispensing stations |
| 2007.7 | Heliports and helistops |
| 2108.4 | Dry cleaning plants |
| 2305.5 | Motor fuel-dispensing facilities |
| 2310.6.4 | Marine motor fuel-dispensing facilities |
| 2311.6 | Repair garages |
| 2404.6.1 | Spray-finishing operations |
| 2405.4.2 | Dip-tank operations |
| 2406.4.2 | Powder-coating areas |
| 2804.3 | Lumberyards/ |
| 2808.8 | Recycling facilities |
| 2809.5 | Exterior lumber storage |
| 2903.5 | Organic-coating areas |
| 3006.3 | Industrial ovens |
| 3108.9 | Tents and membrane structures |
| 3206.10 | High-piled storage |
| 3306.5 | Buildings under construction or demolition |
| 3305.10.2 | Roofing operations |
| 3408.2 | Tire rebuilding/ |
| 3504.2.6 | Welding and other hot work |
| 3604.4 | Marinas |
| 3703.6 | Combustible fibers |
| 5703.2.1 | Flammable and combustible liquids, general |
| 5704.3.3.1 | Indoor storage of flammable and combustible liquids |
| 5704.3.7.5.2 | Liquid storage rooms for flammable and combustible liquids |
| 5705.4.9 | Solvent distillation units |
| 5706.2.7 | Farms and construction sites—flammable and combustible liquids storage |
| 5706.4.10.1 | Bulk plants and terminals for flammable and combustible liquids |
| 5706.5.4.5 | Commercial, industrial, governmental or manufacturing establishments—fuel dispensing |
| 5706.6.4 | Tank vehicles for flammable and combustible liquids |
| 5707.5.4 | On-demand mobile fueling |
| 5906.5.7 | Flammable solids |
| 6108.2 | LP-gas |
FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
[F] 906.2 General requirements. Portable fire extinguishers shall be selected and installed in accordance with this section and Cali- fornia Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3.
Exceptions:
- The distance of travel to reach an extinguisher shall not apply to the spectator seating portions of Group A-5 occupancies.
- In Group I-3 and in mental health areas of Group I-2, portable fire extinguishers shall be permitted to be located at staff locations.
[F] 906.3 Size and distribution. The size and distribution of portable fire extinguishers shall be in accordance with Sections 906.3.1 through 906.3.4.
[F]TABLE 906.3(1)—FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR CLASS A FIRE HAZARDS
| LIGHT (Low) HAZARD OCCUPANCY |
ORDINARY (Moderate) HAZARD OCCUPANCY |
EXTRA (High) HAZARD OCCUPANCY |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum-rated single extinguisher | 2-Ac | 2-A | 4-Aa |
| Maximum floor area per unit of A | 3,000 square feet | 1,500 square feet | 1,000 square feet |
| Maximum floor area for extinguisherb | 11,250 square feet | 11,250 square feet | 11,250 square feet |
| Maximum distance of travel to extinguisher | 75 feet | 75 feet | 75 feet |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 gallon = 3.785 L. a. Two 21/2-gallon water-type extinguishers shall be deemed the equivalent of one 4-A rated extinguisher. b._ California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3_concerning application of the maximum floor area criteria. c. Two water-type extinguishers each with a 1-A rating shall be deemed the equivalent of one 2-A rated extinguisher for Light (Low) Hazard Occupancies. |
[F]TABLE 906.3(2)—FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR FLAMMABLE OR
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS WITH DEPTHS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.25 INCHa
| TYPE OF HAZARD | BASIC MINIMUM EXTINGUISHER RATING | MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF TRAVEL TO EXTINGUISHERS (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Light (Low) | 5-B 10-B |
30 50 |
| Ordinary (Moderate) | 10-B 20-B |
30 50 |
| Extra (High) | 40-B 80-B |
30 50 |
| For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. For requirements on water-soluble flammable liquids and alternative sizing criteria, see Section 5.5 of_California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3._ |
[F] 906.3.1 Class A fire hazards. The minimum sizes and distribution of portable fire extinguishers for occupancies that involve primarily Class A fire hazards shall comply with Table 906.3(1).
[F] 906.3.2 Class B fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers for occupancies involving flammable or combustible liquids with depths less than or equal to 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) shall be selected and placed in accordance with Table 906.3(2).
Portable fire extinguishers for occupancies involving flammable or combustible liquids with a depth of greater than 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) shall be selected and placed in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3.
[F] 906.3.3 Class C fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers for Class C fire hazards shall be selected and placed on the basis of the anticipated Class A or B hazard.
[F] 906.3.4 Class D fire hazards. Portable fire extinguishers for occupancies involving combustible metals shall be selected and placed in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 3.
[F] 906.4 Cooking equipment fires. Fire extinguishers provided for the protection of cooking equipment shall be of an approved type compatible with the automatic fire-extinguishing system agent. Cooking equipment involving solid fuels or vegetable or animal oils and fats shall be protected by a Class K-rated portable extinguisher in accordance with Sections 906.1, Item 2, 906.4.1 and 906.4.2 of the California Fire Code, as applicable.
[F] 906.5 Conspicuous location. Portable fire extinguishers shall be located in conspicuous locations where they will have ready access and be immediately available for use. These locations shall be along normal paths of travel, unless the fire code official determines that the hazard posed indicates the need for placement away from normal paths of travel.
[F] 906.6 Unobstructed and unobscured. Portable fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. In rooms or areas in which visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, means shall be provided to indicate the locations of extinguishers.
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[F] 906.7 Hangers and brackets. Hand-held portable fire extinguishers, not housed in cabinets, shall be installed on the hangers or brackets supplied. Hangers or brackets shall be securely anchored to the mounting surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
[F] 906.8 Cabinets. Cabinets used to house portable fire extinguishers shall not be locked.
Exceptions:
- Where portable fire extinguishers subject to malicious use or damage are provided with a means of ready access.
- In Group I-3 occupancies and in mental health areas in Group I-2 occupancies, access to portable fire extinguishers shall be permitted to be locked or to be located in staff locations provided that the staff has keys.
[F] 906.9 Extinguisher installation. The installation of portable fire extinguishers shall be in accordance with Sections 906.9.1 through 906.9.3.
[F] 906.9.1 Extinguishers weighing 40 pounds or less. Portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds (18 kg) shall be installed so that their tops are not more than 5 feet (1524 mm) above the floor.
[F] 906.9.2 Extinguishers weighing more than 40 pounds. Hand-held portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight exceeding 40 pounds (18 kg) shall be installed so that their tops are not more than 3.5 feet (1067 mm) above the floor.
[F] 906.9.3 Floor clearance. The clearance between the floor and the bottom of installed hand-held portable fire extinguishers shall be not less than 4 inches (102 mm).
[F] 906.10 Wheeled units. Wheeled fire extinguishers shall be conspicuously located in a designated location.
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