For ordinary hazard occupancy, what is the minimum rated single extinguisher required?

In ordinary hazard occupancies, the minimum rated single extinguisher required is a 2-A rated extinguisher. This rating indicates that the extinguisher is suitable for fighting fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, and cloth. The ‘2’ in the rating signifies the extinguisher’s effectiveness in terms of the amount of water it is equivalent to (specifically, 2.5 gallons of water), and the ‘A’ indicates its capability against Class A fires.

Selecting a 2-A rated extinguisher is critical because it ensures that there is an adequate level of fire suppression available to handle the types of fires most likely to occur in ordinary hazard situations. This is a key safety requirement, aimed at reducing the risks associated with common fire hazards typically found within such occupancies. A higher rating would offer more firefighting capacity but is not necessary as a minimum requirement for these scenarios, while a lower rating would not provide sufficient protection against typical fire hazards.