1926.150(c): Portable Firefighting Equipment
Employers must provide portable fire protection on construction sites. A fire extinguisher rated at least 2A is needed for each 3,000 square feet with no more than 100 feet of travel, plus at least one per floor and one near the stairway in multistory buildings. A 10B extinguisher must be within 50 feet where more than 5 gallons of flammable liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are used.
Key takeaways
- 1926.150(c) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart F).
- OSHA cited it 369 times in the last 3 years, in 364 inspections, with $246,470 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IN (85), NC (67), VA (39).
- Related part: 1926.150(c)(1) Fire extinguishers and small hose lines (369 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.150(c) ("Portable firefighting equipment") is one requirement inside 1926.150 Fire protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart F). It includes 15 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(c) Portable firefighting equipment — 369 citations
(1) Fire extinguishers and small hose lines. Open (c)(1) 369 citations
(i) A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 2A, shall be provided for each 3,000 square feet of the protected building area, or major fraction thereof. Travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher shall not exceed 100 feet. Open (c)(1)(i) 128 citations
(ii) One 55-gallon open drum of water with two fire pails may be substituted for a fire extinguisher having a 2A rating.
(iii) A 1⁄2-inch diameter garden-type hose line, not to exceed 100 feet in length and equipped with a nozzle, may be substituted for a 2A-rated fire extinguisher, providing it is capable of discharging a minimum of 5 gallons per minute with a minimum hose stream range of 30 feet horizontally. The garden-type hose lines shall be mounted on conventional racks or reels. The number and location of hose racks or reels shall be such that at least one hose stream can be applied to all points in the area.
(iv) One or more fire extinguishers, rated not less than 2A, shall be provided on each floor. In multistory buildings, at least one fire extinguisher shall be located adjacent to stairway. Open (c)(1)(iv) 82 citations
(v) Extinguishers and water drums, subject to freezing, shall be protected from freezing.
(vi) A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 10B, shall be provided within 50 feet of wherever more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are being used on the jobsite. This requirement does not apply to the integral fuel tanks of motor vehicles. Open (c)(1)(vi) 40 citations
(vii) Carbon tetrachloride and other toxic vaporizing liquid fire extinguishers are prohibited.
(viii) Portable fire extinguishers shall be inspected periodically and maintained in accordance with Maintenance and Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers, NFPA No. 10A-1970. Open (c)(1)(viii) 119 citations
(ix) Fire extinguishers which have been listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, shall be used to meet the requirements of this subpart. Open (c)(1)(ix)
(x) Table F-1 may be used as a guide for selecting the appropriate portable fire extinguishers. Open (c)(1)(x)
(2) Fire hose and connections.
(i) One hundred feet, or less, of 11⁄2-inch hose, with a nozzle capable of discharging water at 25 gallons or more per minute, may be substituted for a fire extinguisher rated not more than 2A in the designated area provided that the hose line can reach all points in the area.
(ii) If fire hose connections are not compatible with local firefighting equipment, the contractor shall provide adapters, or equivalent, to permit connections.
(iii) During demolition involving combustible materials, charged hose lines, supplied by hydrants, water tank trucks with pumps, or equivalent, shall be made available.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.150.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2025 | 144 |
| 2026 | 103 |
Top states: IN (85), NC (67), VA (39), OR (21), SC (17)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MIGUEL NUNEZ | DOVER, DE | $35,488 |
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORP | MIDDLETOWN, DE | $12,676 |
| CORRALES CONTRACTORS, LLC | DOVER, DE | $8,297 |
| TOLL SOUTH RENO LLC | RENO, NV | $7,035 |
| EARL GRAY AND SONS INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $7,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.150(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Soda acid and inverted foam extinguishers are not approved portable refighting equipment. (2000-07-12)
- Portable extinguisher requirements and standpipe requirements in construction. (1975-09-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.150(c)(1) Fire extinguishers and small hose lines 369 citations
- 1926.150(c)(1)(i) 128 citations
- 1926.150(c)(1)(viii) 119 citations
- 1926.150(c)(1)(iv) 82 citations
- 1926.150(c)(1)(vi) 40 citations
- 1926.150(c)(1)(ix)
- 1926.150(c)(1)(x)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How many fire extinguishers are needed?
One rated not less than 2A for each 3,000 square feet of protected building area or major fraction, with travel distance not over 100 feet.
When is a 10B extinguisher needed?
Within 50 feet of wherever more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas are being used.
Can water drums replace an extinguisher?
One 55-gallon open drum of water with two fire pails may be substituted for a 2A-rated extinguisher.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.150 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-19
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.