floridafiresafety.org
What this site is for
If you own a small business in Florida — from a Clermont restaurant to an Orlando office to a Leesburg warehouse — fire-code rules can feel like they were written by and for someone else. They were not, but they are scattered across federal OSHA regulations, NFPA consensus standards, Florida state amendments, and your local fire marshal's preferences. This site translates those rules into the five or six things you actually need to know, and points you to the authoritative source when the stakes are high.
Browse by topic
Compliance & Legal Requirements
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157, NFPA 10, the 75-foot travel-distance rule, who can inspect, and what a Florida Fire Marshal actually looks for. The smallest set of requirements you can meet and still pass.
See Florida Compliance Requirements →Cost-Benefit & ROI
Is it cheaper to recharge or replace? What's a fair price for an annual tag in Florida? What do "6-year maintenance" and "12-year hydrotest" actually mean on your invoice?
See Fire Extinguisher Cost Breakdown →Extinguisher Types by Industry
Classes A, B, C, D, K — which you need for an office vs. a kitchen vs. an auto shop vs. a server room. Placement heights, sizes, and common mistakes.
See Extinguisher Types by Industry →Suppression Systems
Sprinklers, kitchen hood suppression, clean agent, and foam systems — which type each industry needs, what NFPA 13/25/96 require, what installation and inspection actually cost, and a pre-inspection walkthrough checklist.
See Suppression System Guide →Self-Audit Checklist
Walk your space the week before inspection. An itemized checklist that mirrors what most Florida fire marshals actually flag on site visits.
Run the Pre-Inspection Checklist →Glossary of Key Terms
Hydrotest, recharge, AHJ, Class K, "6-year teardown," K-factor — every term on a typical service invoice, defined in one place.
Browse Fire Safety Glossary →Official Sources
Links to OSHA, NFPA, and the Florida State Fire Marshal. When in doubt, these are the authorities your local inspector is citing.
Jump to Authoritative Sources →The 5 questions we hear most
1. Do I actually need a fire extinguisher in a small office?
In nearly every U.S. jurisdiction, yes. OSHA requires portable extinguishers in almost all workplaces, and your local fire code (usually based on the International Fire Code or NFPA 1) will set the specific count, class, and placement. See the Florida compliance breakdown →
2. What's the 75-foot rule?
NFPA 10 says that for Class A hazards (ordinary combustibles — paper, wood, fabric), an employee should never have to walk more than 75 feet to reach an extinguisher. Class B has its own travel-distance rules (typically 30 or 50 feet depending on hazard level). See the full fire extinguisher placement rules →
3. Is it cheaper to recharge or just buy a new one?
For a quality commercial-grade extinguisher (ABC, ~5-10 lb), recharging is almost always cheaper and keeps your service record clean for insurance. For a cheap big-box disposable, "recharging" often is not even possible — the valve is not serviceable. See the recharge vs. replace cost comparison →
4. What's the difference between an annual inspection, 6-year maintenance, and a 12-year hydrotest?
They're three separate required services at escalating intervals. The annual is a quick check and tag. The 6-year is an internal teardown and refill. The 12-year is a pressure test of the cylinder itself. Skipping any one will fail an inspection. See the plain-English service interval chart →
5. Can I inspect my own extinguishers?
You can — and you must do the monthly visual check yourself (OSHA requires it). But the annual, 6-year, and 12-year services must be performed by a licensed service company certified in Florida. See the monthly self-inspection checklist →
Authoritative sources
When there is any doubt, rely on the following rather than a blog post (including this one):
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 — federal workplace requirement for portable fire extinguishers. osha.gov
- NFPA 10 — Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers (placement, selection, maintenance). nfpa.org
- Florida State Fire Marshal — the ultimate AHJ for businesses across the state, including Lake County and Orange County. myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm
- Your local Fire Department — Lake County and Orange County fire departments often run free pre-inspection walkthroughs for small businesses.