OSHA Fire Extinguisher Inspection Requirements

Monthly inspections, annual maintenance, and hydrostatic testing, explained

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Portable fire extinguishers are one of the most frequently inspected pieces of safety equipment in any facility, and one of the easiest to get wrong on paper. A missed monthly check or an expired hydrostatic test is simple for an OSHA inspector, fire marshal, or insurance auditor to spot, because the evidence hangs on the wall.

This guide summarizes what OSHA and NFPA 10 expect for inspection, maintenance, and testing, who can do each task, and what records to keep. It's a summary, not a substitute for the standards themselves. Links to the official sources are at the end.

The Short Answer

Task	How often	Who usually does it	What to record
Visual inspection	Monthly	Trained employee	Date and inspector, on the tag or electronically
Maintenance check	Annually	Certified technician	Date of maintenance (OSHA requires this record)
Internal examination	Every 6 years, for stored-pressure dry chemical units with a 12-year hydrostatic test	Certified technician	Service record and label
Hydrostatic test	Every 5 or 12 years, by extinguisher type	Trained person with test equipment	Date, tester's signature, extinguisher serial number

Where the Requirements Come From

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 covers portable fire extinguishers in general industry. It makes the employer responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and testing every extinguisher provided for employee use, sets the monthly and annual intervals, and lists hydrostatic test intervals by extinguisher type.

NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, is the detailed technical standard. OSHA references it, and most state and local fire codes adopt it, so your fire marshal and insurer will often hold you to NFPA 10 even where OSHA's text is shorter.

On construction sites, OSHA 1926.150 applies. It requires extinguishers to be inspected periodically and maintained according to NFPA guidance.

Monthly Inspection

Every extinguisher gets a quick visual check at least once a month. It takes a minute or two per unit, and its purpose is to confirm the extinguisher is where it should be and ready to use. A typical monthly check covers:

The extinguisher is in its designated place, visible, and not blocked
Operating instructions face outward and are readable
The pressure gauge reads in the operable (green) range
It feels full when lifted (hefted) or weighed
The safety pin and tamper seal are in place
No visible damage, corrosion, leakage, or clogged nozzle
The hose is in good shape
The inspection tag shows the last monthly and annual dates

Record the date and the inspector's initials or name for each monthly inspection. NFPA 10 allows this on the tag or in an electronic system.

Annual Maintenance

Once a year, each extinguisher gets a more thorough maintenance check: a close look at its mechanical parts, extinguishing agent, and means of expelling it. Under NFPA 10 this work is done by a certified person, which in practice usually means an outside fire protection service company. The technician attaches a service tag or collar with the date.

OSHA requires you to record the annual maintenance date and keep that record for one year after the last entry, or for the life of the shell, whichever is less.

Six-Year Internal Examination

Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers that need a hydrostatic test every 12 years must also be emptied and fully serviced every 6 years. The 6-year service is often combined with the annual maintenance in the year it comes due.

Hydrostatic Testing

A hydrostatic test pressurizes the extinguisher shell to make sure it can still safely hold pressure. OSHA's Table L-1 lists the interval for each type. Broadly:

Every 5 years: water-based, foam (AFFF), wet chemical, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical units with stainless steel shells
Every 12 years: most stored-pressure dry chemical units with mild steel, brazed brass, or aluminum shells, and halon units

Hydrostatic tests must be done by trained people with proper test equipment. OSHA requires a record showing the test date, the signature of the person who did it, and the extinguisher's serial number, kept until the extinguisher is tested again or taken out of service. See hydrostatic testing in our glossary for more detail.

When an Extinguisher Fails

Handling a failed extinguisher

Fail found
Monthly inspection
Out of service
Tag and record why
Spare in place
Equivalent protection
Recharge or repair
Certified technician
Back in service
Re-inspected

Can also end as: Replaced

Common failures are a gauge reading low, a missing pin or seal, physical damage, a blocked location, or a used extinguisher hung back on the wall. OSHA requires equivalent protection while an extinguisher is out for maintenance or recharging, so a spare should go up before the failed unit comes down. Learn more about taking equipment out of service.

Other Requirements Worth Knowing

Employee training. If employees are expected to use extinguishers, OSHA requires training when they're hired and at least once a year after that.
Total evacuation exemption. Employers with a written policy of immediate total evacuation, an emergency action plan, and a fire prevention plan, where extinguishers aren't intended for employee use, may be exempt from parts of 1910.157. Your local fire code may still require extinguishers and inspections.
Local fire codes. Fire marshals enforce the fire code your jurisdiction has adopted, which usually points to NFPA 10. Check with them about local rules.

What OSHA and Auditors Look For

When an OSHA compliance officer, fire marshal, or insurance auditor walks your facility, they typically check:

Extinguishers are in place, accessible, and the right type for the hazard
Monthly inspections are current and recorded
The annual service tag is within the last 12 months
Hydrostatic test dates are within the required interval
You can produce records for any extinguisher they point to

The fifth point is where paper systems struggle. Tags fade, get torn off, or are replaced at the annual service, taking the year's monthly history with them.

Tracking Fire Extinguisher Inspections in ToolWorks

ToolWorks keeps each extinguisher's inspection history with the extinguisher, instead of on a tag that gets replaced every year:

Ready-made checklist. The Portable Fire Extinguisher Inspection (NFPA 10 / OSHA 1910.157) preset covers location and access, gauge and charge, seals and physical condition, and checks that the annual service collar and hydrostatic test dates are current. Edit it to match your program.
Recurring schedules. Put each extinguisher on a 30-day interval schedule. ToolWorks creates the next inspection automatically, and due and overdue inspections show on the inspector's home screen.
Scan and inspect. Inspectors scan the extinguisher's barcode or QR code with the mobile app, work through the checklist, take photos, and sign, even without a signal.
Failures go out of service. A major failure, such as a discharged extinguisher, marks it out of service and notifies staff right away.
Inspector qualifications. Require a certificate, such as an NFPA 10 technician certificate, on checklists that need one, and ToolWorks checks it before the inspection starts. See competent person vs. qualified person.
Records on request. Filter inspections by extinguisher, inspector, result, and date, download a PDF, or share a signed record by link with an auditor, no login required.

Inspections and recurring schedules are included on plans with compliance features. See pricing.

Stop chasing tags. Start your free trial or see how ToolWorks handles industrial safety equipment inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does OSHA require fire extinguishers to be inspected?

OSHA 1910.157 requires a visual inspection of every portable extinguisher at least monthly and a maintenance check at least once a year. Hydrostatic testing is required every 5 or 12 years depending on the extinguisher type.

Who can do the monthly fire extinguisher inspection?

Monthly inspections are usually done by trained employees, such as facility or maintenance staff. Annual maintenance, 6-year internal examinations and hydrostatic tests are done by certified technicians, often from an outside fire protection company. NFPA 10 sets the certification requirement for maintenance.

Do monthly fire extinguisher inspections have to be recorded?

NFPA 10 requires monthly inspections to be recorded, either on the tag attached to the extinguisher or electronically. OSHA explicitly requires a record of the annual maintenance date, kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less.

Can fire extinguisher inspection records be electronic?

Yes. NFPA 10 allows electronic records for inspections, and OSHA does not require paper. What matters is that each record shows the extinguisher, the date, who did the work, and the result, and that you can produce it when asked.

What happens when an extinguisher fails inspection?

Take it out of service and get it recharged, repaired or replaced. OSHA requires equivalent protection while an extinguisher is out for maintenance or recharging, so put a spare in its place.

Official Sources

This guide summarizes publicly available requirements for general information. It isn't legal advice. Confirm the requirements that apply to your sites with the standards, your local fire authority, and a qualified safety professional.