InspectKeeperMonthly inspection: what to check
- In its designated place
- Visible, nothing blocks access to it
- Operating instructions legible and facing outward
- Safety pin in place, tamper seal unbroken
- Full: hefted, or weighed if it has no gauge
- No damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle
- Pressure gauge in the green (operable) range
- Service tag present, annual maintenance not overdue
How often fire extinguishers need to be inspected
Monthly. NFPA 10 asks for a visual inspection when an extinguisher is first installed and at intervals of about 30 days after that, and more often where extinguishers can be knocked, tampered with or exposed to the weather. OSHA 1910.157(e)(2) requires the same monthly visual inspection in workplaces.
The monthly check is not the only one. On top of it:
- Annual maintenance by a certified technician, who updates the service tag (NFPA 10, OSHA 1910.157(e)(3)).
- Six-year internal maintenance for stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers.
- Hydrostatic testing every 5 or 12 years, depending on the type of extinguisher.
Who can do the monthly check
Anyone the building owner or manager assigns. The monthly visual inspection needs no certification: it is a look, a heft and a few boxes to tick. Annual maintenance, six-year maintenance and hydrostatic tests are the ones that need a certified technician.
What to record
NFPA 10 asks for the month and year of the inspection and the initials of the person who did it, kept for at least 12 months. The record can be on the tag, on a checklist kept on file, or kept by an electronic method. Keep a note of anything that failed and what was done about it.
If something fails
Take the extinguisher out of service or put a charged spare in its place, and call your fire protection company. A discharged, damaged or low-pressure extinguisher should not stay on the wall until the next annual visit.
Questions
How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
Visually every month (about every 30 days), plus annual maintenance by a certified technician, six-year internal maintenance for stored-pressure dry chemical units and hydrostatic tests every 5 or 12 years by type.
Does OSHA require monthly fire extinguisher inspections?
Yes. 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2) requires portable fire extinguishers in the workplace to be visually inspected monthly, and (e)(3) requires annual maintenance with a record kept.
Can the inspection log be kept electronically?
Yes. NFPA 10 allows inspection records to be kept on a tag, on a checklist on file or by an electronic method, as long as they show the date and the person who did the check.
What is the difference between inspection and maintenance?
Inspection is the quick monthly look anyone can do. Maintenance is the thorough yearly examination by a certified technician, who may repair, recharge or replace the extinguisher.
A plain-language summary, not a substitute for the standard. Your local authority having jurisdiction has the final word.