Which extinguisher for which surface?
The French Labor Code (article R4227-29) and ERP regulations stipulate that fire-fighting first aid must be provided by a sufficient number of fire extinguishers, maintained in good working order.
There must be at least one portable water-spray extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 6 liters for every 200 square meters of floor space.
There is at least one appliance per level.
Where premises present special fire risks, particularly electrical risks, they are equipped with fire extinguishers of a number and type appropriate to the risks.
For industrial establishments, the risk is greater, so we recommend one fire extinguisher per 150m².
It's important to determine the type of activity (industrial or tertiary).
The APSAD R4 rule clarifies several points of this legal text and defines two levels of protection: general protection and complementary protection. It introduces the notion of zones (industrial or tertiary), communicating or non-communicating zones, basic zones and basic units.
Thus, for industrial risks, a 6L or 6Kg powder extinguisher can equip a fraction of 150m² for a total surface area greater than or equal to 200m².
Localized hazards (boilers, elevator machinery, compressors, generators, etc.) are treated as supplementary protection and must therefore have a specific extinguisher installed nearby, in addition to the basic fire extinguishers.
