NFPA 10 & OSHA 1910.157 Compliant
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist
Monthly, annual, 6-year, and hydrostatic — every inspection point your facility needs to document, with the specific NFPA 10 and OSHA requirements behind each one.
By Daniel Beauchesne, Florida State Fire Marshal Licensed Technician · License #EF-0001479 · Class 01 & 04 · 25+ Years
How This Checklist Is Organized
Fire extinguisher inspections are not a single event — they are four separate processes that run on different schedules and carry different documentation requirements. Most facilities only think about the annual inspection. That is one of four required checks, and the monthly one carries its own OSHA documentation obligation that most safety officers are not aware of.
This checklist covers all four levels: the monthly visual check that any employee can perform, the annual inspection that must be done by a licensed technician, the 6-year internal maintenance, and the hydrostatic test schedule. Each section includes what to check, what to document, and what a failure at that level means for your compliance status.
Monthly Visual Inspection Checklist
Authority: OSHA 1910.157(e)(1) · NFPA 10 Section 7.2 · Can be performed by a designated employee — no license required
The monthly check is a visual walk-through — not a technical inspection. Its purpose is to confirm that each extinguisher is in its designated location, has not been actuated or tampered with, and shows no obvious physical condition that would prevent operation. OSHA requires this to be documented. The date and inspector's initials must be recorded on the tag attached to the unit or in a separate inspection log.
Annual Inspection Checklist
Authority: NFPA 10 Section 7.3.1 · OSHA 1910.157(e)(2) · Florida Statute 633 · Must be performed by a licensed fire equipment technician
The annual inspection is a comprehensive examination of every component — external and internal indicators — performed by a qualified technician. In Florida, this must be done by a dealer licensed by the Florida State Fire Marshal under Statute 633. Self-inspection does not satisfy this requirement. The result must be documented on a dated, signed tag attached to the unit. Our annual inspection service starts at $8 per unit.
A current signed tag is the documentation OSHA inspectors look for first
6-Year Internal Maintenance Checklist
Authority: NFPA 10 Section 7.3.2 · Applies to all stored-pressure extinguishers · Must be performed by a licensed technician
The 6-year internal maintenance is a complete disassembly and internal inspection — it goes far beyond what can be verified externally. The unit is fully discharged, taken apart, and each internal component is examined and replaced as needed before the unit is reassembled and recharged. This is the most commonly skipped maintenance requirement, and the one most likely to reveal a unit that would have failed to discharge correctly. Learn more about 6-year maintenance intervals and what they cover.
Hydrostatic Testing Checklist & Intervals
Authority: NFPA 10 Section 8 · OSHA 1910.157(f) · Must be performed by a DOT-authorized facility
Hydrostatic testing is the only way to verify that a cylinder can safely contain its rated pressure. It must be performed by a facility with DOT authorization and proper test equipment. Serviced Fire Equipment is DOT-authorized for hydrostatic testing (RIN D133). The test interval depends on the extinguisher type.
| Extinguisher Type | Test Interval | Test Pressure | Hose Test? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stored pressure dry chemical (ABC, BC, Purple K) | Every 12 years | Per manufacturer spec | No |
| CO2 | Every 5 years | 5/3 of service pressure | Yes — every 5 years |
| Water, AFFF, FFFP (stored pressure) | Every 5 years | Per manufacturer spec | No |
| Wet chemical / Class K | Every 5 years | Per manufacturer spec | No |
| Clean agent (Halotron, Cleanguard) | Every 12 years | Per manufacturer spec | No |
| Cartridge-operated dry chemical | Every 12 years | Per manufacturer spec | No |
What to Do When an Inspection Fails
Not every deficiency found during inspection requires the same response. Some issues require immediate removal from service. Others can be corrected at the next scheduled maintenance. Knowing the difference prevents both over-reaction and under-reaction.
- Pull pin missing or tamper seal broken
- Gauge reading in the red (either direction)
- Visible evidence of discharge or prior use
- Hose cracked, split, or missing
- Deep corrosion, pitting, or weld cracks on cylinder
- Unit has been physically damaged (dropped, dented)
- Nozzle or valve is missing or damaged
- Annual inspection tag expired or missing
- 6-year maintenance overdue
- Hydrostatic test overdue
- Operating label faded but unit otherwise functional
- Surface rust without deep pitting
- Mounting bracket loose but unit still hung
When you pull an extinguisher from service, you need a replacement in place before the unit leaves the wall — not after. A location without an extinguisher is a compliance failure the same as a non-functional unit. We keep swap-ready units in stock for exactly this reason. Our walk-in service lets you bring in the deficient unit and leave with a certified replacement the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
A monthly visual check is required under OSHA 1910.157 and must be documented. An annual inspection by a licensed technician is required under both OSHA and NFPA 10 — and in Florida, under state law as well. Additionally, stored-pressure extinguishers require internal maintenance every 6 years and hydrostatic testing every 5 or 12 years depending on type. All four are separate requirements that run on their own schedules.
You can perform the monthly visual check yourself — it does not require a license. The annual inspection is a different matter. OSHA requires it to be performed by a "qualified person," and in Florida, state law requires a dealer licensed by the Florida State Fire Marshal. Self-inspection does not satisfy either requirement. The signed tag that a licensed technician places on the unit is your documentation of compliance — without it, you have no proof of inspection.
At minimum, the tag must show the date of the inspection and the technician's signature. In Florida, the technician's license number is also required. Tags that are present but undated, unsigned, or illegible do not satisfy the documentation requirement. Tags must remain on the unit and be accessible to inspectors — not filed away in an office.
The annual inspection is an external examination — pressure, physical condition, label, tamper seal, and accessible components. It does not require disassembly. The 6-year internal maintenance requires full disassembly: the unit is discharged, the valve is removed, and the interior of the cylinder and all internal components are examined and replaced as needed. Annual inspection tells you what the outside looks like. Internal maintenance tells you whether the unit will actually work.
It depends on what failed. A unit with a discharged gauge, missing pull pin, or evidence of use must be removed from service immediately and either recharged or replaced before being returned to its bracket. A unit that is simply overdue for annual inspection can remain in place while service is scheduled, but should be treated as potentially non-functional. A unit that fails hydrostatic testing is condemned and must be destroyed — it cannot be returned to service under any circumstances.
OSHA 1910.157(e)(4) requires that maintenance records be retained and available for inspection. The standard specifies at least one year for maintenance records. In practice, keeping records for the life of the unit is advisable — a complete service history is your best defense in the event of a fire, a liability claim, or an OSHA audit. The tag on the unit covers the most recent inspection; a log or digital record covers the full history.
Ready to Get Your Extinguishers Certified?
Bring them in. We perform annual inspections, 6-year internal maintenance, and hydrostatic testing in-house — all with the documentation your facility needs to satisfy OSHA 1910.157, NFPA 10, and Florida Statute 633. No appointment needed.
Business Hours
Walk-ins welcome, no appointment
Pricing Reference
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RIN D133 authorized