How to Install a Cato Fire Extinguisher Cabinet

Cato cabinets ship unassembled and bulk packed as standard, so the first job is assembly and the second is getting four fasteners into the right places. The whole sequence below comes from Activar's installation and maintenance guide 14I-120. Read it through once before you start.

What you need

• Four screws specific to your wall type — not included
• A drill, as needed
• A 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) bit
• Plastic wall anchors, or expansion shields for masonry
• A level

Surface mount: Chief, Island Chief, Pull to Open, Warrior

1. Strip it down. Remove all hardware and glazing. Unlock the cabinet if a lock is provided.

2. Fit the break tool, if the cabinet has one. See the section below.

3. Mark the holes. Place the cabinet in position, level to the floor, and mark the attachment locations on the studding using the 1/4 in. holes as marking guides. The cabinet must be attached by at least four points, two of which must be in framing members. Mounting hole templates for every Chief and Warrior size are printed on page 3 of 14I-120 — holes are measured from the back edge, and the images are not to scale, so work from the measurements.

4. Drill. Remove the cabinet and drill 1/4 in. holes through the studs at the marked points. Install plastic wall anchors in no more than two places if needed. For masonry walls, install expansion shields at the marked points.

5. Fasten. Place the cabinet back in position and attach with self-drilling screws — or, for masonry, the appropriate screws for the expansion shield.

6. Load it. Place the fire extinguisher in the cabinet.

7. Peel the plexiglass. Remove the protective plastic film from the acrylic.

8. Glaze and trim. Align the glazing on the inside of the door and install the trim by snapping it into place.

9. Assemble the rest of the pieces.

10. Lock it, if a hex key and lock are provided. Put the key in the lock and turn a quarter turn clockwise to open, a quarter turn counter-clockwise to lock.

Break tool installation — Chief only

The hammer or stainless break bar arrives with a removable fastener already attached. Insert that fastener into the pre-drilled 9/32 in. hole at the top of the cabinet. When the frame is placed on the cabinet it locks the fastener in place. To remove it later, take the frame off and push the fastener out from the inside with your fingers.

The Island Chief and Warrior have no break tool — the Island Chief's PETG panel is pulled off by its oval notch, and the Warrior cover lifts once the seal is broken.

Optional extinguisher tray

Cato's rust-prevention tray, part 10300, lets air move under the cylinder so condensation does not sit against the bottom of the extinguisher.

1. Place the tray flat side up, balls side down, in the bottom of the cabinet. The longer part of the tray goes across the width of the cabinet, side to side.
2. Stand the extinguisher on the tray.

The tray is available for the 5 and 10 lb sizes; Cato does not offer it for the 20 lb.

Semi-recessed: 405-10 (41001)

1. Strip it down — remove all hardware and glazing, unlock if a lock is provided. Do not remove the Styrofoam protection inside the trim. It stays in for the install.

2. Frame the opening above, below and at both sides. The rough opening is 10-1/2 in. wide x 25 in. high x 4 in. deep. On load-bearing walls the studs must be doubled on either side of the cabinet tub, and if a stud has to be cut, a load-bearing header must be installed above the tub.

3. Mark the holes with the cabinet in position, using the 1/4 in. holes as guides. Same rule: at least four points, two in framing members.

4. Drill 1/4 in. holes through the studs. Anchors in no more than two places; expansion shields for masonry.

5. Fasten with self-drilling screws, or the appropriate masonry screws.

6. Check the door for freedom of movement. If it binds, shim as necessary — this is the step people skip and then live with.

7. Peel the plexiglass and install the decal.

8. Load and lock. Place the extinguisher in the cabinet and lock it if a lock is provided.

How high?

Height is governed by the ADA and by NFPA 10, not by the installation guide. In short: the cabinet handle sits no higher than 48 in. above finished floor for a forward or side wheelchair approach, and the top of an extinguisher under 40 lb gross sits no more than 5 ft above the floor. For the wall opening formula and the 4 in. projection rule, see our guide on mounting height and ADA projection.

Maintenance

Cato's cabinets and accessories are designed to be maintenance-free. Three things to keep doing:

• Keep debris and dirt away from the hinges and outer surface for smooth operation.
• If metal latches, locks or hinges are present and need lubrication, use a "3 in 1" type light oil and remove the excess with a cloth.
• Clean with a mild solution of detergent and water, and rinse well.