Fire Extinguisher Planning for Shops & Offices

Opening a shop or moving an office already involves leases, refurbishment and stock, with fire safety requirements adding another set of decisions. Owners often ask: how many fire extinguishers do we need, and where should they go? Prepared by Fire Station, Hong Kong fire extinguisher specialists, this guide first explains the requirements stated in the relevant Hong Kong regulations. It then uses shops, restaurants, cafés, clinics, beauty salons and offices to explain how to choose, position and maintain approved extinguishers, so you can discuss your premises with the landlord, management office and contractor.

Contents

1. Regulations relating to fire extinguishers in Hong Kong's commerce and offices
2. Five factors affecting the number of fire extinguishers
3. Quick reference table for all categories of commercial fire extinguishers
4. Street and mall retail.
5. Catering and catering
6. Cafe and the light food store.
7. Clinics, beauty salons and hairhouses
8. offices and offices
9. Other common businesses: remedial societies, shared spaces, online store warehouses
10. Placement, marking and staff training
11. Coordination with the Office of Owners and Management
12. Maintenance, annual check-ups, FS251
13. Open and load the building's fire checklist.
14. How to buy fire extinguishers and arrange deliveries?
15. Common problems FAQ

I. Regulations relating to fire extinguishers in Hong Kong ' s commerce and offices

The following are the rules and documents most relevant to the business.

Legislation / Documentation	Scope of application	Focus on fire extinguishers
Fire Protection (Equipping and Equipment) Regulations (Chapter 95B)	All fire-fighting installations and equipment throughout the port	Article 3: Hand-held equipment, such as hand-held fire extinguishers and blankets, shall be approved by the Chief of Fire Services Department and may be supplied or sold. Article 8 (1): The equipment shall be kept in operational condition at all times and inspected by the registered contractor at least once every 12 months
Fire Safety (Commercial Places) Ordinance (Chapter 502)	For example, for use in commercial premises, such as over 230 square metres, banks, off-site betting stations, jewellery and gold shops, supermarkets, department stores or malls, and for the identification of commercial buildings	At least one hand-held fire extinguisher per 100 m2 floor area (less than 100 m2 and 100 m2); not applicable to premises equipped with a fire-fighting larynx system
Fire safety regulations for food licence plates of the Fire Services Department	General, small, factory canteens, bakeries, etc.	Type, specification and quantity of authorized hand-held firefighting equipment, by location, for example, 9 litres of water, 4.5 kg of carbon dioxide extinguishers, 1.44 m2 of blankets for fire control; normal food consumption generally requires the installation of automatic fire suppression systems that meet UL-300 standards at the boiler and frying sites
Building Fire Safety Code 2011	Design and alteration of buildings	Design requirements such as fire escapes, fire-resilient structures, etc.; renovations, intervals, etc.
Department of Labour, Fire at Work Guidelines	Various duty stations	To provide suitable fire extinguishers to address different fire risk; to place the equipment in a position where it is easily accessible and unblocked; and to know how to use the fire extinguishers at the side.

Example: Chapter 502 Fire extinguishers count?

Assuming that a commercial is subject to regulation 502, the floor area is 350 square meters (approximately 3,767 square feet) and there is no fire-fighting larynx system. 350 100 = 3.5, less than 100 m2 is also counted as 100 m2, so a minimum of 4 hand-held fire extinguishers are required. This number is the minimum legal requirement, and the actual placement takes care of each area.

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

II. Five factors affecting the number of fire extinguishers

The final number is determined by the professionals according to the regulations and the situation on the ground, but you can first make a rough assessment using the following five factors:

1. Size

The larger the area, the more fire extinguishers are needed and distributed in different locations to ensure that anything can move quickly to the nearest one.

2. Co-exit and entrance floors

The more numerous the entrances and the more complex the flow of people, the more careful the placements.

3. Number of employees versus traffic

It is more difficult to evacuate a large number of shops, excluding the number of fire extinguishers, and more important is the availability of trained and well-informed employees.

4. Business as fire risk type (most important)

• Clothing stores, grocery stores, stationery stores: large quantities of fabric, boxes, packagings, which are solid combustible.
• Dining room, Cafe: Open Fire, Cooking Oil Cooking Kitchen, Steaming, Gas Fuel.
• Clinics, beauty salons: medical or cosmetological instruments, fine appliances, alcohol disinfection.
• offices: computers, servers, printers, paperboxes.

5. Co-licensing requirements of the Building Regulations

The regulations applicable to the same building, which is located in the dining room and in the penthouse, may differ completely from the requirements of the licence plate.

The range of fire extinguishers can Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Productsor A Complete Guide to Fire Extinguishers in Hong Kong.

III. Quick reference table for all categories of commercial fire extinguishers

The following table shows the general practice of common businesses, for reference purposes only.

Type of business	Major fire risk	Recommended fire suppression equipment	Common Places
Small retail stores	Boxes, packaging, light box wires	Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products	Inside the gate, near the cash register.
Fashion stores, private stores.	Fabrics, timber, large stocks	Dry powder extinguishers; pure fabric or paper silos with water	Front entrance, back entrance.
Dining room, teahouse.	Cooking pans, gas stoves, gas-smoking systems	Water, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers and fire blankets are common, as prescribed by the fire department.	Kitchen entrance, dining area entrance and exit.
Cafe, light food store.	Coffee machines, stoves, electrical appliances	Dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguishers, fire blankets	It's near the bar, the kitchen entrance.
Clinics, beauty salons	Instruments, fine appliances, alcohol use.	Dry powder extinguishers; CO2 for instrumentation rooms	Outside the reception, the instrument room.
Hairhouse.	Wind cylinders, straight hair clips, flammable sprays	2kg dry powder extinguisher	The entrance, near the product storage.
Small office	Computer, towboard, paper	Dry powder or 2kg CO2 extinguisher	Near the entrance.
The whole floor of the building.	Lots of appliances, servers, files.	Dry powder fire extinguishers in subdistricts; Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products	Reception, printing area, outside the server room

IV. Streets and malls

1. Fine retail stores (within approximately 200 square feet)

There is usually only one entrance, two or three employees, and the shelf is concentrated.

• A dry powder extinguisher with a suitable capacity on the inside of the wall is already commonly used.
• Do not cover up the shelf and make it visible to both customers and employees, but do not put it in a place where kids can easily play.
• Goods should not be stacked close to a smallpox or light box to reduce the risk of an upward spread of the fire.

2. Medium retail stores (approximately 200 to 600 square feet)

For example, a fashion store, a chain of retail sales, and a small private store.

• Close to the entrance, one to take care of the customer area.
• An additional post-independence warehouse or storage space will be available to take care of the employee ' s work area.
• All fire extinguishers are fenced or placed in clearly marked locations and are not blocked by cargo.

3. Large retail stores, supermarkets and malls

The number of fire extinguishers is determined by law (in the absence of a larynx system, at least one for every 100 square metres).

In order to harmonize specifications in multiple branches, it is possible to refer Customer Fire Safety Case Studiesthe VANGO convenience store in China.

V. Dining room and catering

1. Fire safety provisions for the consumption of licence plates

For example, the Fire Services Department's Standard on Fire Safety for Eating Foods (Quick Foods) provides that the building's original fire-fighting equipment must be placed at a specified percentage of the approved type of portable fire-fighting equipment, such as:

• 9 litres of water extinguishers
• 4.5 kg of CO2 extinguishers
• 1.44 Square metres of fire blankets

The file shows how many units each have to be put together, so the number of fire extinguishers in the restaurant is to be implemented according to fire department regulations, without self-assessing. The usual diet is in all stoves, boilers and frying positions, with the automatic sprinklers system removed, and an automatic fire control or fire suppression system is to be installed that meets the U L-300 test criteria.

2. Carat furnaces, hotpots, extra attention.

If the usual food or factory canteens are to use a card-carat gas stove between the seats, the relevant card-holders condition is that the premises are to be equipped with an automatic graft system and 2.5 kilograms of dry powder hand-held fire extinguishers are to be placed between the seats, one per 100 square metres, plus one per VIP room or spaced room.

3. Daily configuration thinking

• The fire extinguishers are located near the kitchen entrance and are available at a safe location, without entering the kitchen.
• Fire blankets are safely accessible near kitchen entrances or stoves and are used to handle small cooking boilers and not to use water.
• Additional fire extinguishers are placed at the entrance to and from the dining area to take care of the guest area.
• The oil accumulated from walls, stoves and exhaust throats is regularly cleaned, and fire department documents warn of fire alarms about the accumulation of oil.
• Electrical frying pots or boilers with large amounts of cooking oil provide the contractor with access to wet chemical fire extinguishers that apply to food fires.

The details of the fire protection in the kitchen can be seen Fire Blankets & Kitchen Fire Safety, the handling of the cooking oil boilers can be seen Small-Fire Response: Extinguish or Evacuate?ers.

VI. Café and light food stores

Café usually has appliances such as coffee machines, stoves, and sandwich machines, which have less fuel than medium kitchens, but overheated appliances are as dangerous as local open fires.

• Dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguishers are placed near the coffee bar or kitchen entrance.
• There are fried or flat-floored cooking, and it is recommended that fire blankets be added.
• Keep clean near the buttons and do not stack boxes with coffee bags.
• Large power appliances such as coffee machines and furnaces should preferably have stand-alone plugs instead of tow boards.

VII. Clinics, beauty salons and hairdressers

Most of the clinics and beauty salons are located in commercial buildings with small space, but electrical density is high, such as instruments, heating lights and disinfection equipment; the waiting areas are covered with handiwork, and the smoke will be filled with a single unit quickly.

Configure Thinking

• A dry powder extinguisher is placed near the gate or next to the reception area to facilitate first-time use by staff.
• With a stand-alone instrument room or storage room, one can be added as required, and most electronic devices select a CO2 extinguisher.
• Alcohol, disinfectant, flammable sprays (e.g., stylist sprays in hair homes) should be kept in cold locations away from thermal sources.
• The corridors and the treatment rooms are kept open, and no instrument should be used to block escape routes for long periods.

VIII. STUDIES AND OFFICES

Many of the A1 buildings have their own well-developed fire protection systems, which can be supplemented by hand-held fire extinguishers in tenant units.

1. Single small office (less than 10 employees)

For example, accounting buildings, design firms, small agents.

• A suitable capacity of dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher is placed near the entrance.
• The document storage area should be kept away from the switchbox so that it does not spread so fast when the short road fires.
• Unrequired appliances and trailers are closed before work starts.

2. Whole or open office

A fire extinguisher is clearly insufficient for dozens or more of employees.

• One near the entrance or reception area.
• Printed area, one near the file storage area.
• There are microwaves and hot stoves in the tea room, which can be added to the area.

3. Server rooms and computer rooms

• The carbon dioxide extinguishers are placed outside the door, there are no powder residues, and they have less impact on other electronic devices.
• Small, closed server rooms run out of CO2 extinguishers and need to leave and ventilate as soon as possible.
• Keep the heat warm and don't pile boxes in the machine room.

A Office Fire Safety Checklist.

IX. OTHER RELEVANT BUSINESS: STUDIES, SHAPPINGspaces, STORE STORAGES

• Remedial associations, interest classes: students are numerous, classrooms are small, access to fireways and exits is maintained, and dry powder extinguishers are placed at the entrance and in the corridors.
• Shared workspace: Many tenants and many appliances should be centrally configured by the manager and a fire extinguisher location map should be posted in each district.
• Web store warehouse, display room: The boxes are packed with most of the materials in the building, bearing in mind the requirements of the chapter 636 Co-work Corridor, Fire Extinguishers for Car Parks & Industrial Buildings.
• Short-term Pop-up Store, exhibition stand: If not bought, Fire Extinguisher Rental in Hong Konger company FS251 certificate, as A Complete Guide to Fire Extinguisher Rental.

Placement, marking and staff training

Placement principle: see, get, walk.

• See: Place them at the entrance, the fire escape, the cashier's office, the kitchen entrance, etc., and do not bury them in front of the warehouse or behind the door.
• Get it: The height of the wall should be easily accessible to ordinary adults, and there should be no blockage in front.
• It' s better to put it in the direction of the exit, and the people who use it can carry it to the source of the fire.
• Corresponding risks: kitchens with fire blankets, electrical slots with carbon dioxide and general areas with dry powder.
• Avoid a bad environment: do not put it directly above the stove, next to the furnace, or in a wet position.

Mark with indicator sticker

Every fire extinguisher above or near it should have a "fire extinguisher" sticker, which can be used with arrows where it is large or has a corner. Fire Station Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Productsto facilitate uniformity of style.

Staff training

The Department of Labour directs employees to know how to use fire extinguishers.

• Location of each fire extinguisher with a blanket
• Draw needles, aim, push buttons, sweep four paces.
• What kind of fire extinguisher is used for side fires, e.g. electrical fire is not allowed to use water
• When are we supposed to evacuate and call 999?
• Fire route and assembly point.

Training arrangements may refer Fire Extinguisher & Staff Fire Safety Training. Details of How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: PASS & Common Mistakesare used.

XI. COORDINATION WITH HOLDERS AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

Many tenants assume that they are solely responsible for the fire-fighting equipment by the owner or the administration. In practice, fire-fighting devices in the common part of the building are generally the responsibility of the owner, the legal community, or the management company, but most of the equipment in the unit that is required by licence or by statute is the responsibility of the occupier or owner, depending on the same legal requirements as the lease.

Item	General party responsible	What tenants do.
Public part of the building, larynx, fire alarm, emergency lighting	Owners, members of the judiciary or management companies	Don't block it. We'll call the D.A.
Fire extinguishers set up by license plate or by statute in the unit	Occupant or owner (depending on the lease)	Purchase of approved products, organization of annual inspections, preservation of FS251
Renovation of fire-fighting installations	By a registered fire-fighting contractor	Prior to commencement of work, notify the owner and the Administration and obtain the relevant certificate upon completion
Staff training in fire suppression and evacuation	Employers	Organization of training and exercises

You can ask clear questions before signing.

• What kind of fire-fighting devices are available in the building? Such as larynx, flowers, fire alarms, emergency lighting.
• Is the fire extinguisher available in the unit the owner's property? When was the last year's inspection? Is there an FS251?
• Are there any additional fire-fighting requirements for new uses (e.g. catering)?
• Would it be advisable to notify the Management Service first or to submit a chart for refurbishment, installation or replacement of fire-fighting equipment?
• Did the building receive fire safety instructions from Chapters 502, 572 or 636?

Once you're clear, you'll have fire patrols, license applications or insurance inquiries later.

XII. MAINTENANCE, Annual Inspection

Fire protection devices and equipment set up by law must remain operational at all times and be inspected at least once every 12 months by a registered fire-fighting operator. After completing the inspection, maintenance or repair, the contractor must issue an F S251 fire-fighting device and equipment certificate within 14 days. And send a copy to the fire department. Hand-held fire extinguishers and blankets are covered by the class 3 registered contractor.

Note that, following the amendment of the Fire Protection (Equipment and Equipment) Regulations, 2024, only portable fire-fighting equipment set up by a household on a voluntary basis at home is exempted from inspection.

Daily self-inspection

• Pressure gauges in green range (CO2 extinguishers usually have no pressure table)
• Insurance plugs and seals complete.
• There's no rust, dents, or powder.
• The position is not removed or covered.
• Used fire extinguishers may not be returned to their original location and immediate arrangements for inspection or replacement

Details can be found Fire Extinguisher Inspection & Replacement. Fire Extinguisher Servicing or Replacementas Fire Extinguisher Recycling Serviceservice.

XIII. Opening and removal of building fire lists

Phase	Something to do.
Before the contract.	Identification of building usage and applicable regulations; clarification of existing fire-fighting equipment, annual inspection records and segregation of duties
Applying for license plates	Waiting for licensed premises, observing fire safety regulations issued by the fire department, preparing fire extinguishers and blankets, as required
During renovation	Don't block the original throat and exit; Fire Extinguisher Rental in Hong Kong
Before opening,	Purchase of fire extinguishers approved by the Fire Services Department, installation of hangers and stickers; issuance of FS251 by registered contractors; Emergency Lighting & Exit Signs
After the opening,	Training of new staff; monthly self-inspection; annual inspection every 12 months; maintenance of certificates and records
Relocation / Completion	Identification of who the fire extinguisher belongs to; end-of-life or no longer used Fire Extinguisher Recycling Service

XIV. How do business and offices buy fire extinguishers and arrange deliveries?

Fire Station is a specialized fire extinguisher shop, a specialized fire-fighting stores and a fire-fighting equipment supplier located in Wing Bay, which specialize s in the supply of fire extinguishers approved by the Fire Services Department. Clients include malls, chained retail brands, convenience stores, logistics companies and parking lots.

Other models include 1kg and 5kg dry powder, 5kg carbon dioxide, 9L water and 9L foam fire extinguishers.

What we can offer.

• Purchase of fire extinguish ers: dry powder, carbon dioxide, water agents, foam extinguishers and fire blankets approved by the Fire Services Department
• Fire extinguisher delivery: all products have been packaged for basic delivery, and all goods are delivered by the Hong Kong New Territories; serial brands can be delivered through stores
• Door installation: recommend placement, mount and sticker, and teach staff how to use
• Annual inspection maintenance: inspected by a level III fire operator and issued FS251 certificates
• Recovery replacement: recovery of old cartridges when new cylinders are delivered
• Emergency lighting: Emergency Lighting & Exit SignsRetailing, installation of same-year inspections

Queries for quotations should be provided

• Type of business shared, e.g. retail, restaurant, clinic, office
• Number of approximately the same floors
• Is there a fire request from the fire department or the department?
• Number of fire extinguishers available as at last year ' s inspection date
• Delivery address and date of wish to open or install

Once you have the information, you can do it.WhatsApp 96309976Call.3464 3987Or go.Contact Fire StationKeep information low.

Frequent issues FAQ

How many extinguishers do merchants need?

Depending on the purpose of the place, the area, the building regulations and the requirements of the same licence plate. For example, in the case of the commercial premises regulated by regulation 502, there is a minimum of one hand-held fire extinguisher per 100 square metres of floor space (less than 100 square metres, as well as 100 square metres). However, this is not applicable where a fire-fighting larynx system has been installed. If you wait for a licensed place, you will be assigned to the fire safety regulations issued by the Fire Services Department. The actual quantity should be assessed on site by the registered fire operator.

What kind of fire-fighting equipment does the restaurant have to prepare to eat license plates?

The Fire Services Department will issue fire safety regulations for individual meals, specifying the type, specification and quantity of authorized hand-held fire-fighting equipment to be placed, such as 9 litres of water extinguishers, 4.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide extinguishers and 1.44 square metres of blanket fire-fighting. Ordinary cooking stoves, in combination with fried areas, are typically equipped with automatic fire suppression systems that meet UL-300 standards.

Should the office use dry dusting of CO2 extinguishers?

General office areas can be used for dry powder extinguishers, with the broadest scope of application; electrically dense locations, such as server rooms, computer rooms and photocopying areas, are more suitable for carbon dioxide extinguishers, run out of powder and have less impact on electronic equipment.

Does a commercial fire extinguisher require an annual check-up?

Need. Fire-fighting installations and equipment set up in accordance with the law shall remain in operational condition at all times and shall be inspected at least once every 12 months by a registered fire-fighting operator. The contractor is required to issue the FS251 certificate within 14 days of its completion and send a copy to the Fire Services Department. Only portable fire-fighting equipment voluntarily installed by households in their homes has been exempted since 2024, and commercial establishments are excluded from the exemption.

How do you know if fire extinguishers are approved by the fire department?

According to Article 3 of Chapter 95B, all handheld equipment (e.g. hand-held fire extinguishers, blankets) must be approved by the Chief of Fire Services Department. It can first be supplied or sold in Hong Kong. You can check the list of authorized handheld equipment published by the fire department, or use the "handheld" "cleaning" function of the mobile fire department application. Scan tag identification.

Tenant owners are responsible for fire extinguishers?

As a general rule, fire-fighting installations in the common-use part of the building are the responsibility of the owner, the LegCo or the management company, and equipment in the unit that is required by licence plate or by statute is the responsibility of the owner or owner, depending on the same legal requirements of the lease agreement.

Where should fire extinguishers be placed in the shop?

Fire blankets should be mounted near the kitchen entrance and not above the top of the stove.

Where can we get a buyer and a qualified fire extinguisher for the office?

Fire Station at G/F, Karrie Industrial Centre, Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan Dry powder, carbon dioxide, water agents, foam extinguishers and fire blankets, approved by the Fire Services Department, have been packaged for basic deliveries, which can be arranged for door-to-door installation, annual inspection and maintenance, and FS251 certificates issued by level III fire operators. 3464 3987 ，WhatsApp 96309976 。

The fire extinguisher configuration of the compositing and offices is not aimed at "stacking into walls" but at the number and correct location of the code. Add trained users . Early planning, if there's a fire in the first place, you'll have to protect the employees, the customers, and the business. To use your position for specific suggestions, welcome Contact Fire Station.