Fire Extinguishers for Car Parks & Industrial Buildings

Car parks, rear staircases, smoke-stop staircases and industrial building corridors may attract little attention day to day, but they can become critical during a fire. They are escape routes and also routes along which fire and smoke can spread. The provision of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment therefore directly affects the safety of the entire building. Prepared by Fire Station, Hong Kong fire extinguisher specialists, this guide explains legal requirements, fire risks, the selection of approved extinguishers, positioning, signs and inspections for property managers, owners' corporations, car park operators and industrial tenants.

Contents

1. Why is the allocation of fire extinguishers in public locations particularly important?
2. A summary of the fire laws and regulations of Hong Kong
3. Garage: fuel, electricity and electric charge
4. Smoke-proof stairwells and back stairwells: the escape route cannot be changed to a warehouse.
5. Co-workshop corridor: large quantity of materials, concentration of risk
6. How do you choose the fire extinguisher for the parking lot?
7. Place, mark and mark stickers
8. Daily patrol list with FS251 annual inspection.
9. The eight most common mistakes of the Service
10. How do we buy fire extinguishers and arrange deliveries in the parking lot?
11. Common problems FAQ

Why is the distribution of fire extinguishers in public places particularly important?

Home-based fire alarms mainly affect their own units, but when accidents occur in the parking lot, smoke-proof stairs, and the corridor of the factory building, smoke and fire can spread quickly to several floors, or even into buildings. And these places are usually under-populated, and they are easily undetected at an early stage, until people notice that they have missed the golden time.

Fire extinguishers in public locations are three different from those in private establishments:

• Inhabitants: households, tenants, workers, drivers, visitors may be the first to detect fire alarms, so fire extinguishers must be good enough to be seen by all.
• Decentralization of responsibilities: the equipment for the common part of the building is usually the responsibility of the administration, the legal corps or the owner, the tenant within the unit, and the grey area is the most likely to appear “in the belief that the other party will handle”.
• The impact on the environment is significant: the parking lot has exhaust and humidity, the workers have dust and cargo, the stairs are littered and fire extinguishers are easily rusty, blocked or removed.

The minimum requirements are set out in the Code, but the day-to-day maintenance, placement, marking and inspection are done by the Administration with stakeholders.

II. Overview of relevant fire regulations in Hong Kong

The following are the regulations and guidelines that are most relevant to the parking lot, the stairs and the fire extinguishers.

Regulation / Guidance	Scope of application	Focus on fire extinguishers
Fire Protection (Equipping and Equipment) Regulations (Chapter 95B)	All premises equipped with fire-fighting devices and equipment	Equipment must remain operational at all times; at least once every 12 months will be checked by the registered contractor; FS251 certificates will be issued and copies sent to the fire department within 14 days of completion
Code of Minimum Fire Protection Devices and Equipment ( Fire Protection Service)	Construction of new buildings and alterations, including parking	Garages equipped with electrical vehicle charging facilities, which require an additional dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher at each larynx location on the floor of the facility
Fire Services Department circular No. 4-2020 and subsequent updates	Parking facilities with charging facilities for electric vehicles	Additional provisions include: fire detection systems for providing dry powder or CO2 fire extinguishers, heat or composite sensor detectors for each larynx location (except for flowers that have been sprayed); emergency switch for firefighters
Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Regulations (Chapter 636)	Target industrial buildings completed on or before 1 March 1987, or first submitted on or before that date	Entered into force on 19 June 2020; the Fire Department and the Buildings Department could issue fire safety instructions to owners to improve fire safety installations and equipment
Fire Safety (Buildings) Regulations (Chapter 572)	Joint-use building built on or before 1 March 1987	Improved fire-fighting installations in the public part of the old building; Fire Services Department Circular No. 3/2026 receiving the Internet fire detection system with hand-held fire extinguishers as an alternative to setting up the larynx system on the 6th floor or below with the requirements of the hand-controlled fire alarm system
Department of Labour, Fire at Work Guidelines	Various duty stations, including workshops, warehouses and offices	Appropriate fire extinguishers are provided to address different fire risks; equipment is properly maintained and placed in easily accessible and unblocked locations; employees need to know how to use fire extinguishers at the same side.

If you want to learn more about common laws and regulations, such as "I don't care if the building is equipped," Hong Kong Fire Safety Regulations: Common Mythsdown.

III. Garage: fuel, electricity and electric charge

1. Fire safety characteristics of the garage: fuel, wire and machine rooms

There is a large amount of fuel for vehicles, batteries and tyres in the parking lot, together with electrical equipment such as lighting systems, exhaust fans, watch rooms and distribution cabinets. A light-fired species, such as short circuits for vehicle wires, illegal modifications, overheating of electric brakes, and the presence of miscellaneous items on or near a car, have the opportunity to turn into fires. The garage is difficult to smoke and the smoke will accumulate quickly, affecting both escape and rescue.

Common risk position in the garage:

• Area of parking space: fuel, tyres, groceries
• Appliance room, distribution room, control cabinet: electrical equipment
• Fee booths, management room: computers, appliances, documents
• Garbage collection and stairwells: paper, rubber bags, abandoned homes
• Electric vehicle charging slots: charging stakes, cables and batteries
• Laundry, vehicle maintenance: oil pollution, solvent, cleaning agent

2. Additional fire-fighting provisions for electric vehicle charging parking areas

The Fire Department has attached fire safety provisions to the parking lot with electrical vehicle charging facilities.

• Fire extinguish ers: In floors equipped with charging facilities, each larynx setting site must provide an additional dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher.
• Fire detection systems: Fire detection systems with heat or composite sensor detectors (except for parking facilities with a flower-spray system) must be installed.
• Emergency switch for firefight ers: to be installed at the vehicle entry/exit, fire control centre or other locations accepted by the Chief of Fire Services Department.
• Exemption: Parking facilities for single-family buildings on or below the third floor of the building are not applicable, except for garage parking facilities.

If you intend to charge the parking lot, you should seek, at the beginning of the project, a certified fire-fighting contractor to evaluate with the accredited person and not wait for completion. In addition, the Fire Services Department has issued fire-safety regulations for battery rooms and charging facilities (communication No. 3/2025), which involve large quantities of battery storage.

3. Types of fire extinguishers suitable for use in the garage

• Dry powder extinguish ers: This applies to most fire alarms, including flammable liquids such as fuel and electric fires, so it is the most common option in the parking Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products.
• Carbon dioxide extinguish ers: For electric fires, flammable liquids and electronics, no residues, suitable for distribution rooms, metering rooms, control cabinets, charge-back systems and close to chargers.
• Fire-fighting sand drum s: Small oil spills can be handled in the same manner as the initial fires, often in the parking lot and in public places.

4. Lighting of electric car batteries: What does the fire extinguisher do and what does not do?

Hand-held fire extinguishers are only suitable for handling initial firework s, such as charge cables, plugs or charge-post cases. If lithium batteries have become hot and out of control (large quantities of white smoke, hissing, flames) the fire will be strong and easily rekindled, and ordinary people should not risk being rescued. The correct approach is to stop charging, notify others, immediately evacuate and call 999 if it is safe .

5. Operational focus of garage operations

• Fire extinguishers are placed in clear visible locations, such as along the pole or larynx, and stickers are attached to the "Fire extinguisher" instructions.
• Fire extinguishers must be kept open and may not be permanently blocked by parking, carts, miscellaneous items or garbage cans.
• The garage is wet and heavy, and special attention is being paid to the rusty adhesion.
• The pressure sheet is regularly inspected in the same condition as the shell and is replaced as soon as it is damaged or expired.
• Security and cleaning staff should know what the difference is between each fire extinguisher being placed on the side and dry powder and CO2.

If you want to actually see how the parking lot is configured, you can refer Customer Fire Safety Case Studiescustomer's use of the example of the front-runner parking lot and the trust parking lot.

4. Smoke-Stop & Rear Staircases: Escape Routes Must Not Become Storage Areas

1. Role of smoke-resistant stairs

The smoke-resistant stairway system was designed to allow residents and their employees to escape during fire alarms, in conjunction with the ventilation or pressure design of the building, to reduce smoke intrusion. The smoke-proof doors are kept closed and cannot be held up or locked to death by groceries, otherwise the smoke will enter the stairwell quickly. If the stairwells are packed with private, paper-boxed and miscellaneous items, on the one hand there is an obstacle to flight and on the other hand there is a large amount of fuel.

2. Role of fire extinguishers in stairwells

Many buildings are surrounded by fire hydrants and larynx, sometimes supplemented by hand-held fire extinguishers to facilitate initial fire alarms in the corridors or stairs. People can be handled immediately in a safe location. However, the main function of the smoke-proof stairs is always to escape, fire extinguishers are only auxiliary tools and must be used to ensure that they have a safe exit route.

3. The same stairwell as the public part of the old building

The common use of the old-style complex, which is regulated by chapter 572, may require improvements to the common sector in accordance with fire safety instructions. Fire Services Department Circular No. 3/2026 admits target buildings on or below the sixth floor, using a networked fire detection system as an alternative to hand-held fire extinguishers, To comply with the requirement to set up a larynx system and a hand-held fire alarm system. In other words, the role of hand-held fire extinguishers in improving fire safety in the old small buildings is becoming increasingly important, and when instructed to do so, the Mission may consult with the registered contractor on viable options.

4. Signing and placement points for stairwells

• Fire extinguishers should be placed on a stairwell platform or against a wall position, along Emergency Lighting & Exit Signs.
• Large-scale miscellaneous items or electrical appliances may not be placed in front of them in order not to hinder access to co-execution.
• Fire extinguishers and hangers should not highlight the breadth of the narrow escape route.
• Buildings with multiple floors should be designed by professionals for the same purpose, ensuring that each floor is adequately equipped.

How to divide emergency lights with exit lights can be seen Emergency Lighting & Exit Signs Explained.

V. The same workshop corridor in the factory building: large quantities of materials, concentration of risk

1. Working fire safety characteristics

In Hong Kong, factory buildings are used for a wide variety of purposes, some of which are still traditional manufacturing workshops, and some have become mini-warehouses, studios, studios, band houses or start-ups offices. The temperature of a fire and smoke rises very quickly when the common point system is rich, dense and complex and partly modified or split. In 2016, a mini-barracker in a big industrial village raised social concerns about fire safety at the same time as the mini-bar.

Common risks at work:

• Paper boxes, wooden boards, fabrics, plastics and packaging materials stacked in large quantities
• Machines, electrical tools, welding and cutting, etc., firework.
• Flammable liquids such as solvents, paints, lubricants
• Trailboards, cable aging, cooling and exhausting fan running long hours.
• The corridor was blocked by cargo, carts and abandoned objects
• Mini warehouse contents are not clear. They may be flammable or dangerous.

2. Common fire extinguisher type and configuration

• Dry powder extinguishers: Solid materials such as paper boxes, woodboards, fabrics, plastics, and flammable liquids and electric fires are the most common options for entering the same unit in the industrial corridor.
• Carbon dioxide extinguishers: applicable to electrical units, machine control boards, servers and electronics.
• Water-agent fire extinguish ers: Category A fire suitable for pure paper, wood, fabric, such as a warehouse of large quantities of paper, but not for electrical and oil-like fire.
• Foam extinguishers: workshops suitable for storage of fuel, solvents.

The Department of Labour ' s Fire Prevention Guidelines for Workplaces list the use of various types of fire extinguishers: carbon dioxide for electric fires and flammable liquids; Water for wood, plastics, textiles and paper; Netifier suitable for electronic instruments or documents; Foams suitable for flammable liquids; Dry powder is the widest applicable. Employers should ensure that employees are aware of the placement of fire extinguishers and of the different types of scope of application.

3. The impact of Chapter 636 on the owners of old-fashioned works

If your work was completed on or before 1 March 1987, or if you first presented a chart on or before that date, it would be the target industrial building of Chapter 636. The Fire Department and the Buildings Department may issue fire safety instructions to the owner to improve fire safety installations and equipment. The owners of the instructions received, together with the legal corps, should be approached as soon as possible for a registered fire operator to follow up with accredited persons. Chapter 636 does not apply if the building as a whole is already subject to Chapter 502 or 572.

4. Industrial management practices: inspection and education

• The Administration or the Chief of Security regularly inspects the corridors to ensure that there are no miscellaneous items in front of the fire extinguishers.
• Briefly explain to the tenant and the employee the same type of fire extinguisher in the vicinity, in particular the difference between dry powder and CO2.
• There are high-risk processes (e.g. welding, oil spray) within the unit, and alternative fire extinguishers should be installed near the process and designed by professional contractors in accordance with the code.
• Provide staff for fire extinguishers internships and fire drills, Fire Extinguisher & Staff Fire Safety Training.
• The gates of fire and exit must not be locked, and when people are working, the doors must be opened or the keys must be opened.

VI. How to select a fire extinguisher for the same work in the parking lot?

The following table shows fire extinguishers approved by Fire Services Department, which is permanently available.

Products	Height	Scope of application	Garage / common position at work
5kg dry powder extinguisher	About 50 cm	Paper, cloth, wood, solvent, fuel fuel, power buttons	Station area, by the throat, work corridor, warehouse
2kg dry powder extinguisher	About 36 cm	Paper, cloth, wood, solvent, fuel fuel, power buttons	Fee booths, management rooms, small units, studios
5kg CO2 extinguisher	About 64 cm	Solvents, fuel fuel, power buttons	Electric, watch, machine, large control cabinets
2kg CO2 extinguisher	About 50 cm	Solvents, fuel fuel, power buttons	Near chargers, servers, charge-back systems
9L Foam agent fire extinguishers	About 62 cm	Paper, cloth, wood, solvent, fuel	Vehicle maintenance space, workshop for storage of fuel solvents
9L Water extinguishers	About 56 cm	Paper, cloth, wood.	Solid paper or fabric warehouse (unsuitable for electrical and oil fires)
Fire cans.	About 25 cm x 25 cm	Small oil spills, early fire.	Parking, public spaces
Fire extinguisher sticker	—	Marking of fire extinguishers	Pillars, stairwell platforms, corridors

In order to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of fire extinguishers, we can see A Complete Guide to Fire Extinguishers in Hong Kongfor How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher in Hong KongKong.

Placement, marking and labelling of stickers

1. Placement principle: see, get, walk

• See: Place them at the entrance, at the entrance, at the pole, by the throat, not in the corner or behind the door.
• Get it: High enough to be easily accessible to ordinary adults, no obstacles ahead, no hangers.
• The fire extinguishers are best placed in the direction of the exit, and those who use them can exit immediately if they cannot be destroyed, when the exit is directed towards the source of fire.
• Corresponding risk: CO2 in the vicinity of the electric powerhouse, dry powder in the parking area along the corridors, and not randomly.
• Avoid poor environments: avoid long-term sun, water, extreme temperatures or corrosive gas.

2. Clear identification of stickers with instructions

The fire extinguisher should be clearly marked whether it is a parking lot or a stairway.

3. Not to be overshadowed by miscellaneous items

The Department of Labour’s Workplace Fire Guide states that fire-fighting equipment should be placed in a position where it is easily accessible and unblock ed, and that no one should destroy or interfere with fire-fighting equipment.

VIII. Daily inspection lists and the FS251 annual inspection

1. Monthly inspection checklist of the Management Service

Check items	Normal	How do we deal with the problem?
Location to Number	Each of them is in a designated position, not removed.	Put it back in place and buy it back if lost.
Pressure table	Pointers in green range (CO2 fire extinguishers usually have no pressure table)	Arrangements for contractor inspection, refilling or replacement
Insurance plugs and seals.	It's intact. It's not unopened.	Suspected of having been used, arrange an inspection.
The squirm with the nozzle.	No rust, dents, cracks or leaks.	Disable and replace
Hang up and place it.	Steady. Fire extinguishers didn't fall.	Maintenance or replacement of hangers
Front channel.	No groceries, vehicles or cargo shielding.	Immediately clear and notify the tenants concerned
Label & Check Record	The model, the method of use and the date of inspection are clear.	Retrieve the tags and check the annual logs.
Indicator sticker	It's clear. It's not faded or covered.	New sticker replacement

2. Statutory annual inspection and FS251 certificate

In addition to daily inspections, the law clearly requires that fire installations and equipment be inspected by a registered fire operator at least once every 12 months . After the contractor has completed the installation, maintenance, repair or inspection, it must issue to its client, within 14 days , a certificate of FS251 fire protection devices and equipment . And send a copy to the fire department. Hand-held fire extinguishers, blankets and sand drums fall within the scope of work of the class 3 registered contractor .

In view of the large amount of co-working equipment in the garage, it is proposed that the Administration:

• Number of all fire extinguishers, with location, type, capacity and date of production
• Harmonization of annual inspection dates to avoid separation due on a case-by-case basis
• Maintenance of calendar year FS251 certificates and maintenance records to facilitate verification by fire department
• Expired or unqualified fire extinguishers to be recovered by professional bodies and not placed in the back stairs

Detailed checks show Fire Extinguisher Inspection & Replacementfor Fire Extinguisher Servicing or Replacementers. Old drums can be used as fire extinguisher recovery services for Fire StationFire Extinguisher Recycling Serviceas Fire Extinguisher Recycling & Disposal.

IX. The eight most frequent errors committed by the Management Service

1. To assume that a larynx does not allow fire extinguish ers: the larynx and the fire extinguisher are complementary, the electric car charging parking lot is more likely to provide additional fire extinguishers at the larynx position.
2. Only one fire extinguisher was used in the whole room: the utility fire extinguisher in the electrical room would be at risk of electrocution and would have to be configured according to the risk position.
3. Fire extinguishers are blocked by parking or cargo: they are not available at the time of the incident and are not loaded.
4. Obsolete fire extinguishers are stacked on the back stairs: there is also a risk of pressure containers using escape routes.
5. There are no routine inspections, depending on the year: one visit a year, and no one has used, stolen or damaged the middle.
6. Employees are not aware of the use: security guards and cleaning workers are often the first to detect fire alarms.
7. Filling level does not synchronize fire assessment: Additional fire safety requirements may not be met.
8. Buying an unknown fire extinguisher: Not the fire department's approved model, which may not pass the annual inspection.

X. How do we buy fire extinguishers and arrange deliveries from the same workers in the parking lot?

Fire StationIt's in the Bay of Wing.Specialized fire extinguisher shopThe sameFire-fighting equipment supplierIt's in the industrial zone.G/F, Karrie Industrial Centre, Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen WanWe provide fire extinguishers, installation and maintenance services to customers such as the exhibition mall and the parking garage, the prestigious parking lot and the speed line.

What we can offer.

• Qualified fire extinguishers: dry powder, carbon dioxide, water and foam extinguishers approved by the Fire Services Department, with sand drums and stickers
• Fire extinguisher deliveries: all products have been packaged for basic delivery, all in Hong Kong, New Zealand, and a large number of orders can be delivered in batch or at specified times
• Door installation: Place as recommended in the field environment, mount and sticker
• Annual inspection maintenance: inspected by a level III fire operator and issued FS251 certificates
• New and old replacements: recovery of old cartridges on delivery of new fire extinguishers, once completed
• Emergency lighting package: Emergency Lighting & Exit Signsretailing, installation and year-to-year review
• Rental during the period of construction: renovation or fire works, Fire Extinguisher Rental in Hong Kongcompany FS251 certificates

Queries for quotations should be provided

• Type of premises: parking lot, common parts of work, workshop units, mini-warehouses, warehouses, etc.
• The number of floors equals the approximate size of each floor.
• Number and type of fire extinguishers available as at last year ' s inspection date
• Services required: new purchase, replacement, annual inspection, recycling or emergency lighting
• Date of delivery as desired

You can watch it first.Customer Fire Safety Case StudiesThe sameFire Safety Equipment Upgrade Case StudiesOnce you have the information available, you can do it.WhatsApp 96309976Call.3464 3987Or go.Contact Fire StationKeep information low.

Common issues FAQ

What are the rules for fire extinguishers?

There are also additional requirements for fire detection systems and emergency switches for firefighters.

Should the parking lot have a dry CO2 extinguisher?

The area of parking is usually dominated by dry powder extinguishers, since dry powder applies to most fire alarms, including flammable liquids such as fuel.

What are the fire regulations for old factory buildings?

The Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Ordinance (Chapter 636), which came into force on 19 June 2020, applies to construction on or before 1 March 1987, Or the target industrial building for which the building chart was first submitted on or before that date. The Fire Department and the Buildings Department may issue fire safety instructions to the owner to improve fire safety installations and equipment.

Can fire extinguishers in the work corridor be placed at the door of the unit or blocked by cargo?

The Department of Labour’s Workplace Fire Guide states that fire-fighting equipment at the workplace should be properly maintained and placed in a position where it is easily accessible and unobstructed, and that no one should destroy or interfere with fire-fighting equipment.

How often do you check the parking lot and the fire extinguishers?

In accordance with the Fire Protection (Equipment and Equipment) Regulations, fire protection installations and equipment at premises are inspected at least once every 12 months by a registered fire protection contractor. The contractor is required to issue the FS251 certificate within 14 days of completion of the work and send a copy to the Fire Services Department. Hand-held fire extinguishers fall within the scope of the Registered Contractor No. 3. The Service should also arrange daily inspections.

Can Items Be Stored in a Smoke-Stop Staircase?

Fire extinguishers should be placed on a stair platform or in an eye position against a wall, along with emergency lights and exit signs.

Can a Fire Extinguisher Put Out an Electric-Vehicle Battery Fire?

Fire extinguishers are only suitable for initial fireworks, such as charge cables or plug-in smoke. If the lithium batteries of electric vehicles have become hot out of control, smoke is high, or the fire is expanding, they should stop charging, immediately evacuate and call 999 under safe conditions, and should not risk being rescued at close range.

Where can I get a qualified fire extinguisher for parking and work?

Fire Station at G/F, Karrie Industrial Centre, Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan In this case, the dry powder approved by the Supply Fire Services Department, together with carbon dioxide extinguishers, sand drums and fire extinguisher stickers, has been packaged for basic delivery and can be arranged for door-to-door installation, annual inspection and maintenance, and FS251 certificates are issued by a level III fire operator. 3464 3987 ，WhatsApp 96309976 。

Fire extinguishers in public or semi-public spaces are not just for "offer work" but for real tools to buy time in the early days of the fire. As of today, pay attention to the fact that every fire extinguisher in the parking lot, in the stairwells and in the halls of the same work, has been kept in place, is not available and has not expired. An additional layer of security has been added to the building building. If you want a professional team to take a look at your current configuration, please Contact Fire Station.