What is a Firefighting Point: Equipment, Legislation, and Essential Standards

Fire prevention and firefighting are fundamental aspects of managing safety in the workplace and in public spaces. A fire point plays an important role in making sure that a fire can be quickly brought under control before it spreads and causes significant damage. In this article, we explain what a fire point is, what minimum equipment it must include under current legislation, where it should be located and how it can be managed effectively to protect both people and property.

What is a fire point?

A fire point is a fixed or mobile station, properly equipped with materials and tools for fighting fires. It can be installed in different types of buildings or premises, from industrial facilities to public spaces and even residential blocks. Its main role is to ensure a rapid first response in the event of a fire, until the arrival of the fire brigade or other specialist teams. In an industrial environment, a fire point is often the first line of defence used to extinguish or contain a fire.

What should a fire point include?

The contents of a fire point vary depending on the type of building and the specific risks identified. However, there is a number of mandatory items that must be included in any fire point for it to be effective. The basic equipment is set out by legislation and must comply with national and international fire safety standards.

Essential equipment for a fully equipped fire point:

1. Portable fire extinguishers: These are the core elements of a fire point. Extinguishers must be of a suitable type for the relevant fire classes (A, B, C, D, F). For example, a foam extinguisher is effective on fires involving flammable liquids (class B), while a powder extinguisher can be used for electrical fires or gas fires (class C).

2. Fire hoses: These must be positioned so as to allow quick and efficient distribution of water over the area affected by the fire. Hoses are often connected to pressurised water sources and must be easily accessible.

3. Sand buckets and shovels: These are used for small fires, especially those involving solid combustible materials such as wood, paper or textiles (class A fires). Sand can quickly smother a fire by cutting off the supply of oxygen at the source.

4. Firefighting tools: This includes axes, sledgehammers, pliers and other tools that can be used to break down doors or create access routes into areas cut off by fire.

5. Warning light / beacon: This is needed to clearly mark the intervention point and to guide rescue teams in low-visibility conditions.

6. First aid kit: The fire point must be equipped with a complete first aid kit, including dressings, disinfectant solutions, bandages and other materials needed to provide first aid to injured or smoke-affected persons.

7. Fire blanket: A fire blanket can be used to cover small fire sources, extinguishing them by cutting off the oxygen supply.

8. Mobile fire points: Where the layout requires it, mobile fire points can be used, equipped with all of the above items and easy to move to areas with increased fire risk or with difficult access.

Fire point – legislation

Romanian legislation regulates the requirements for the location and equipment of fire points, in order to protect both staff within a premises and any visitors. According to Law no. 307 of 12 July 2006 on fire protection, the obligation to equip premises with fire points lies with the owners or managers of the buildings.

Specifically, in Section 6 – “Obligations of the manager, head of institution, user and employee”, Article 19 of Law 307/2006 sets out the obligations regarding fire protection equipment and measures that must be complied with by owners or managers of buildings and other types of facilities.

Article 19 – Obligations of owners and managers:

“The manager or head of the institution, as applicable, has the following main obligations:

1. a) to establish, by written provisions, the responsibilities and the organisation of fire protection within the unit, to update them whenever changes occur, and to bring them to the attention of employees, users and any interested persons;
2. l) to ensure the use, inspection, maintenance and repair of fire protection equipment by certified personnel, in accordance with the designer’s instructions;
3. q) to use within the unit only technical fire protection means certified in accordance with the law.”

In addition, these rules are complemented by other regulations, such as the Fire Safety Code for Buildings, code P 118/1-2025, approved by Order of the Minister of Development, Public Works and Administration no. 267/2025, which regulates fire safety in buildings:

1. “4.3.11. Open-air facilities shall be equipped with first-response fire-fighting means, providing one outdoor fire point for every maximum 1000 m² and one portable extinguisher of at least 6 kg for every 250 m².”
2. “4.3.26. Camping sites shall be equipped with first-response fire-fighting means, providing at least one outdoor fire point for each camping platform.”
3. “4.3.38. Mountain buildings shall be equipped with first-response fire-fighting means (portable and wheeled extinguishers and fire points), appropriate to specific conditions.”

Under the legislation, a fire point must meet the following requirements:

• Strategic location: The fire point must be installed in visible and easily accessible places, at reasonable distances from areas with a high fire risk.
• Clear signage: Fire points must be clearly marked and easy to identify so that intervention is as fast as possible.
• Regular maintenance: The equipment in the fire point must be checked periodically to ensure that it is in good working order. This includes inspecting extinguishers, fire hoses and the condition of hand tools.
• Trained personnel: Besides having suitable equipment, it is essential that the designated staff are trained in the correct use of all fire-fighting means.

Fully equipped fire point: why the right equipment matters

A fully equipped fire point is essential for protecting people and property in the event of a fire. For the response to be effective, it is not enough for the equipment simply to be present – it must also be in good working condition. Faulty equipment or a lack of training can lead to critical delays in the intervention.

Furthermore, a fully equipped fire point is not limited to classic equipment. Depending on the activity carried out on site, in special cases with a high fire risk, additional equipment may be required, such as fire-resistant suits or smoke protection masks.

Minimum equipment for a fire point

The requirements for the minimum equipment of a fire point depend on the type of building and the specific risks identified. We consider that the minimum equipment may include:

• One fire bucket;
• One fire shovel;
• One fire pick-axe;
• One fire hook;
• One fire spade.

Fire point equipment standard

According to the technical code P 118/1-2025, the equipment of a fire point must be designed according to the identified risks and the size of the premises. This code regulates the type and quantity of equipment required to effectively cover an area or space with a fire risk. For example, in an industrial hall, the fire point must be equipped with specialised equipment, such as powder extinguishers for electrical risks or CO₂ extinguishers for sensitive installations.

Conclusion

A fully equipped fire point is a fundamental component of any fire protection system. Depending on national legislation and the specific regulations for each sector, the equipment of a fire point may vary, but the goal remains the same: rapid intervention to limit damage and protect lives. Complying with the rules on equipment and location is essential for overall safety, and ensuring a properly designed fire point can make all the difference in an emergency.