Fire extinguisher: which one to choose for the home, where to put it and when to refill it

For the home, Québec.ca recommends a multipurpose dry chemical portable fire extinguisher marked "ABC", with the "ULC" logo and a minimum rating of 2A 10B C. This fire extinguisher is used to put out a small fire that does not threaten your safety. If the fire spreads or there is a lot of smoke, the official instruction is to evacuate immediately and dial 911: the rest is the firefighters' job.

Classes of fire: A, B, C, D and K

The letters on an extinguisher tell you which fires it works on. The Montreal and Quebec City fire departments list five.

Page consulted on October 11, 2026.

Which extinguisher for the home

Québec.ca's page on the fire extinguisher, updated on October 10, 2025, adds two tips: choose a light model and read the manufacturer's instructions.

The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM), Montreal's fire department, explains it in one sentence: a dry chemical portable extinguisher can put out most fires. The City of Gatineau strongly recommends an ABC dry chemical extinguisher of at least 5 lb.

ABC extinguisher, CO2 extinguisher, water and foam

The City of Repentigny names four types of portable extinguishers: water, multipurpose dry chemical, carbon dioxide (CO2) and foam. According to the city, the letter C is always found on multipurpose dry chemical and carbon dioxide extinguishers. It recommends A-B-C dry chemical.

Where to put the portable extinguisher

Québec.ca asks you to place it in plain sight, near an exit, within easy reach but out of reach of children.

• Never on the floor, always on a bracket designed for the portable extinguisher
• At least 10 centimetres from the floor and at most 1.5 metres
• At 1 metre from the floor if it weighs more than 18 kilos
• Away from the stove and heating appliances

Inspection, maintenance and refilling

Québec.ca sets three checkpoints.

• Every month: check that it is in place and unobstructed, weigh it, look for rust and check the pressure gauge needle, which must be in the green
• Every year: have it inspected by a qualified person
• Every 6 years, if it is rechargeable: have it refilled

It must also be refilled as soon as the extinguisher has been used, even for a few seconds. A single-use extinguisher is thrown away after use, as is any unit showing signs of deterioration, corrosion or leaks.

The City of Québec specifies that a rechargeable dry chemical extinguisher must be emptied and serviced every six years and undergo a hydrostatic test every 12 years.

How long a fire extinguisher lasts

Two official sources do not give the same figure for the disposable single-use extinguisher. Québec.ca writes that its lifespan is 12 years and that the date is marked under the unit. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal writes, in its January 2015 leaflet and on its page, that it can be kept for six years. The manufacturer's manual settles the question.

Using it: what the official instructions say

Québec.ca says not to use a portable extinguisher if the fire is bigger than a wastebasket. Its method fits in one sentence: pull the pin, aim the spray at the base of the flames while squeezing the lever, then sweep from left to right. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal sets three conditions first: evacuation is complete, 911 has been called and the situation poses no danger to you. Québec.ca asks you to dial 911 even if the fire seems to be out.

In a workplace

Section 36 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (chapter S-2.1, r. 13), up to date as of June 1, 2026, requires portable extinguishers in every building. Their selection, installation, use and maintenance follow the NFPA 10 standard. Section 37 sets four conditions.

• Be approved by Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
• Provide protection suited to the nature of the hazard
• Be refilled after use
• Bear the name of the person responsible for maintenance and the date of the last inspection

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), Quebec's building authority, points out that the Building chapter of the Safety Code (Code de sécurité) requires owners and operators to keep an inspection register. Its sheet on portable extinguishers provides for a check every month. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal writes that a business must have its extinguishers inspected every year by a specialized contractor, and that you should be able to reach one without travelling more than 22 metres.

This text summarizes public documents. It is not legal advice.

Further reading

• Fire prevention at home: the three devices
• Smoke detector: what the law requires in Quebec
• Carbon monoxide detector: where it is mandatory and what to do when it goes off
• Fire damage restoration: cleanup, rebuilding and jobs after a fire

Frequently asked questions

What type of extinguisher for the home?

Québec.ca recommends a multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher marked "ABC", with the "ULC" logo and a minimum rating of 2A 10B C. The City of Gatineau recommends at least 5 lb.

What are the 3 types of extinguishers?

The City of Repentigny names four: water, multipurpose dry chemical, carbon dioxide and foam. For a home, it recommends A-B-C dry chemical.

How long does an extinguisher last?

According to Québec.ca, a disposable extinguisher has a lifespan of 12 years, and the date is marked under the unit. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal says six years for a single-use extinguisher. A rechargeable extinguisher is refilled every 6 years.

Is it mandatory to have an extinguisher at home?

Québec.ca does not speak of an obligation: it writes that having a portable extinguisher at home is strongly recommended. In a workplace, section 36 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety requires one in every building.

Where can I get my extinguisher recharged?

The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal writes that recharging is done at a specialized retailer. The City of Gatineau mentions a qualified merchant who does the refilling, maintenance and inspection.

How do you recharge an extinguisher?

No official source consulted suggests doing it yourself. Québec.ca asks you to have it refilled. According to the City of Gatineau, the 6-year maintenance includes an external and internal inspection and replacement of the powder by a qualified technician.

Sources

• Gouvernement du Québec, Extincteur d'incendie, up to date as of October 10, 2025
• LégisQuébec, Regulation respecting occupational health and safety, chapter S-2.1, r. 13, sections 36 and 37, up to date as of June 1, 2026
• Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Registre d'inspection du bâtiment, February 2018, consulted on October 11, 2026
• Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Extincteurs portatifs, Fiche de vérification mensuelle, undated document, consulted on October 11, 2026
• Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, Extincteur portatif, undated page, consulted on October 11, 2026
• Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, Extincteur portatif, un allié dans la sauvegarde des vies et des biens, leaflet, January 2015
• Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, Extincteurs portatifs du commerce, undated page, consulted on October 11, 2026
• City of Québec, Extincteurs portatifs résidentiels, undated page, consulted on October 11, 2026
• City of Gatineau, Extincteur, undated page, consulted on October 11, 2026
• City of Repentigny, Conseils de prévention et de sécurité, Extincteurs portatifs section, undated page, consulted on October 11, 2026