Free checklist and calculator Fire extinguisher inspection checklist
What to check on every extinguisher each month, what annual and six-year maintenance cover, and when each type needs its hydrostatic test. Work out the next due dates below.
Monthly inspection
About every 30 days, a quick visual check of each extinguisher (NFPA 10, Chapter 7). Record the date and your initials on the tag or in your inspection record.
| # | Check | Common failures | OK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In its assigned place, visible and not blocked | Moved, hidden behind stock or furniture, signage missing. | |
| 2 | Operating instructions legible and facing out | Label faded, peeling or turned to the wall. | |
| 3 | Safety pin and tamper seal in place | Pin missing or seal broken: it may have been used. | |
| 4 | Gauge in the operable range, or weight correct | Needle in the red, or a CO2 unit lighter than its stamped weight. | |
| 5 | No damage, corrosion, leaks or blocked nozzle | Dents, rust, leaking agent, a nozzle plugged by dirt or insects. | |
| 6 | Hose and nozzle in good condition | Cracked or brittle hose, a loose or missing nozzle. | |
| 7 | Full, confirmed by weighing or hefting | Feels light, or the agent has caked (dry chemical). | |
| 8 | Bracket or cabinet secure, correct height | Loose bracket, cabinet door jammed or glass broken. |
Annual and six-year maintenance
- Annual maintenance, not more than a year apart, by a certified technician: a thorough examination of the mechanical parts, the agent and the expelling means, and a new service tag (NFPA 10, Chapter 7).
- Six-year maintenance for stored-pressure extinguishers with a 12-year hydrostatic test: emptied, examined inside and recharged. A hydrostatic test restarts the six-year count.
- Hydrostatic test every 5 or 12 years depending on the type (NFPA 10, Chapter 8), from the date of manufacture or the last test.
Service intervals by type
| Extinguisher type | Hydrostatic test | Six-year maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| ABC dry chemical | Every 12 years | Yes |
| BC dry chemical | Every 12 years | Yes |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | Every 5 years | No |
| Water (APW) | Every 5 years | No |
| Wet chemical (Class K) | Every 5 years | No |
| Clean agent | Every 12 years | Yes |
| Foam (AFFF) | Every 5 years | No |
| Dry powder (Class D) | Every 12 years | Yes |
Intervals also depend on how the extinguisher is built; check the nameplate and the manufacturer's manual.
Questions
How often do fire extinguishers have to be inspected?
A quick visual inspection about every 30 days, annual maintenance by a certified technician, and depending on the type a six-year maintenance and a hydrostatic test every 5 or 12 years (NFPA 10, Chapters 7 and 8).
Who can do the monthly extinguisher inspection?
The building owner or someone they assign can do the monthly visual check and record it. Annual maintenance, six-year maintenance and hydrostatic testing are done by a certified service technician; many states also license extinguisher service companies.
What is the difference between inspection and maintenance?
The monthly inspection is a quick look to confirm the extinguisher is there, charged and undamaged. Maintenance is a thorough examination of the mechanical parts, the agent and the expelling means, done at least once a year and recorded on a service tag.
When is a hydrostatic test due?
Every 5 years for water, foam, wet chemical and CO2 extinguishers, and every 12 years for stored-pressure dry chemical, clean agent and dry powder units, counted from the date of manufacture or the last test marked on the cylinder.
What is the six-year maintenance?
Stored-pressure extinguishers with a 12-year hydrostatic test, such as ABC dry chemical, are emptied and examined internally every six years, then recharged. The clock restarts when the unit is hydrostatically tested.
What has to be recorded?
Monthly inspections need the date and the initials of the person who did them, on a tag or in an electronic record. Maintenance and tests are recorded on a tag or label with the month and year, the work done and who did it.
Our own summary of common NFPA 10 inspection and maintenance points, not the standard's text. Follow the edition adopted by the authority having jurisdiction and the manufacturer's manual.