Fire Extinguisher Inspection and Maintenance
Overview
Fire extinguishers only work when they are properly maintained, correctly placed, and matched to the right fire class. Regular inspection and maintenance ensure these critical safety devices will perform when seconds count.
Why This Is Important
NFPA data shows that nearly 20% of fire extinguishers fail to operate properly when needed, almost always due to lack of maintenance. A fire extinguisher that is discharged, damaged, blocked, or missing from its designated location is useless in an emergency. Monthly visual checks and annual professional inspections are required by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.157) and NFPA 10 to keep extinguishers in service-ready condition.
Best Practices & Safety Tips
- Conduct monthly visual inspections — verify the pressure gauge is in the green zone, the safety pin and tamper seal are intact, and the unit shows no physical damage or corrosion.
- Ensure accessibility — extinguishers must be mounted in designated locations, unobstructed, and visible. Never block an extinguisher with equipment, materials, or vehicles.
- Check placement distance — OSHA requires extinguishers within 75 feet of travel for Class A hazards and 50 feet for Class B hazards. Know the distances in your work area.
- Verify annual professional inspections — a licensed fire protection company must perform detailed annual inspections, documented with a dated inspection tag.
- Schedule hydrostatic testing — stored-pressure extinguishers require hydrostatic testing every 5 to 12 years depending on type (per NFPA 10).
- Know the fire classes and matching extinguisher types:
- Class A (ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, cloth) — water or dry chemical
- Class B (flammable liquids: gasoline, oil, grease) — CO2 or dry chemical
- Class C (energized electrical equipment) — CO2 or dry chemical (never water)
- Class D (combustible metals) — specialized dry powder agents
- Class K (cooking oils and fats) — wet chemical
- Report and replace immediately — any extinguisher that is discharged, damaged, missing its pin, or has a gauge in the red must be taken out of service and replaced.
- Tag and document — initial and date monthly inspection records. Maintain a log of all inspections and maintenance activities.
Discussion Questions
- Where are the fire extinguishers located in your immediate work area, and when were they last inspected?
- What fire classes are most likely in our workplace, and do we have the correct extinguisher types for them?
- Have you ever found an extinguisher that was blocked, discharged, or missing? What did you do?
- Who is responsible for monthly inspections in your area, and how are they documented?
- What would you do if you needed an extinguisher and the gauge showed it was not charged?
Takeaway
A fire extinguisher is only as good as its last inspection. Monthly visual checks take less than a minute per unit and ensure these life-saving devices will work when needed. Know your extinguisher locations, verify they are charged and accessible, and report any issues immediately.