Overview
ISO/TS 11602-1:2010 - Fire protection - Portable and wheeled fire extinguishers - Part 1: Selection and installation is a Technical Specification from ISO that sets minimum requirements for the selection and installation of portable and wheeled fire extinguishers. Published in 2010, it is intended as a companion to ISO/TS 11602-2 (inspection and maintenance). It covers classifications, ratings, placement, mounting, accessibility and environmental considerations for hand-carried and wheeled extinguishers, but excludes permanently installed suppression systems and extinguishers for aircraft, watercraft and vehicles.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope & purpose: Defines minimum selection and installation rules for portable/wheeled extinguishers as a first line of defence.
- Classification & ratings: Uses classifications and test-based ratings defined in ISO 7165 and ISO 11601 for Class A, B, C, D and F fires.
- Selection by hazard: Specifies that extinguisher type and rating must match the expected hazard class (e.g., powder for Class C; metal‑specific agents for Class D; Class F for cooking oil/fat fires). Clean agents are limited to situations where a residue-free medium is necessary.
- Installation and placement:
- Extinguishers must be conspicuously located, readily accessible, and preferably along normal paths of travel.
- Mounting: hangers, brackets or cabinets (wheeled types exempt); protect from dislodgement and physical damage.
- Height limits: units ≤18 kg - top not more than 1.5 m above floor; units >18 kg - top not more than 1.0 m; bottom clearance ≥ 3 cm.
- Operating instructions must face outward; cabinets outdoors or exposed to heat require ventilation.
- Avoid installing where temperatures fall outside the extinguisher’s marked range.
- Maintenance readiness: Extinguishers shall be maintained charged and operable; definitions for inspection (brief check) and maintenance (thorough exam and repair) are provided.
- Marking: Each extinguisher must display certification body, classification, rating and performance standard.
Applications and Users
This standard is practical for:
- Fire safety engineers and consultants specifying fire extinguishers for buildings
- Facility managers and building owners implementing fire protection plans
- Installers and contractors mounting extinguishers to comply with international best practice
- Safety officers, compliance auditors and regulators assessing extinguisher placement and readiness
Use cases include offices, factories, warehouses, retail spaces and public buildings where portable/wheeled extinguishers are part of the fire safety strategy.
Related Standards
- ISO/TS 11602-2 (Inspection and maintenance)
- ISO 7165 (Performance and construction - portable extinguishers)
- ISO 11601 (Wheeled extinguisher performance and construction)
- ISO 8421-1 (Fire protection vocabulary)
Keywords: ISO/TS 11602-1:2010, fire protection standard, portable fire extinguisher selection, fire extinguisher installation, extinguisher placement, extinguisher ratings, hazard classes.