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Frequently asked questions
Monthly visual inspection — A quick check of the gauge, pin, seal, and physical condition. Building staff can do this without certification, but it still needs to be logged.Annual maintenance — A full internal/external check performed by a certified technician (that's us). This confirms the unit is fully charged, mechanically sound, and code-compliant.6-year internal maintenance — Required for stored-pressure extinguishers that carry a 12-year hydrostatic test interval (most dry chemical units). The extinguisher is emptied, examined internally, and recharged.Hydrostatic testing — A pressure test of the cylinder itself, done every 5 or 12 years depending on extinguisher type (see below).We handle the annual, 6-year, and hydrostatic tiers, as is required for a technician to perform. If needed, we'll set your business up with a simple monthly visual-inspection routine so you're covered on all four.
It depends on what's inside the cylinder and what that agent does to the metal over time:
Water, water mist, wet chemical (Class K), and CO2 extinguishers — every 5 yearsAFFF/FFFP foam extinguishers — internal exam every 3 years, hydrostatic test every 5 yearsDry chemical extinguishers (stainless steel cylinder) — every 5 yearsDry chemical extinguishers (mild steel, stored-pressure or cartridge-operated) — every 12 yearsDry powder extinguishers (Class D, combustible metals) — every 12 yearsWet chemical and CO2 units get shorter intervals (5 years) because their agents are more corrosive to the cylinder over time. CO2 extinguishers also don't carry a pressure gauge, so hydrostatic testing is really the only way to confirm the cylinder can still safely hold pressure.
On the other hand, non-rechargeable (disposable) extinguishers are never hydrostatically tested — they're simply removed from service and replaced 12 years from their manufacture date.
Some conditions mean an extinguisher can be recharged and returned to service. Others mean it has to be permanently condemned. Watch for:
Gauge needle in the red zone — over- or under-pressurized, no longer reliableBroken or missing tamper seal / pin — can't confirm it hasn't been dischargedVisible corrosion or pitting on the cylinderDents, especially near seams, the base, or the shoulderCracked hose, damaged nozzle, or broken handleIllegible or missing label — you can no longer confirm class, agent, or manufacture dateEvidence of welding, soldering, or patch repairs on the cylinder — automatic condemnation, no exceptionsWall thickness reduced beyond code limits or fire/heat damage — condemned on sight
If any of these show up during a monthly visual check, don't wait for the annual visit — give us a call and we'll get it swapped or serviced before it becomes a compliance gap.
Did you know there are multiple kinds/classes of portable fire extinguishers? If not, that's okay, we've got your back! The information below will tell you everything you need to know. Extinguishers are classified by the type of fire they're rated to fight:
Class A — Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth, trash). Typically water or multipurpose dry chemical.Class B — Flammable liquids and gases (gasoline, oil, solvents). CO2 or dry chemical.Class C — Energized electrical equipment. Uses a non-conductive agent — dry chemical or CO2.Class D — Combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, sodium). Requires a specialty dry powder agent — a standard extinguisher can make this fire worse.Class K — Cooking oils and fats in commercial kitchens. Wet chemical agent, designed for the higher-heat cooking-oil fires that Class B units aren't rated for.Multipurpose (ABC) dry chemical — Covers Class A, B, and C in one unit, which is why it's the most common extinguisher in offices, retail, and light commercial spaces.
The right type — and the right size — depends on your occupancy, hazard class, and square footage under NFPA 10's placement rules. If you're not sure what's currently mounted on your wall is actually right for your space, that's exactly what our site survey covers.
Yes. NFPA 10 requires monthly visual inspections in addition to annual professional maintenance — they cover different things. The monthly check confirms the unit is present, accessible, and hasn't obviously discharged or lost pressure since last month. It's meant to be fast and doesn't require certification, but the AHJ (fire marshal) will expect to see it documented. We can walk your team through a simple tagging system so this stays effortless.
Every visit is logged and tagged so you have a clean paper trail for insurance, fire marshal inspections, or AHJ walkthroughs. Depending on where your units are in their service cycle, a visit may include:Full annual maintenance and rechargeReplacement of all required parts, per manufacturers' manual6-year internal maintenance (for eligible stored-pressure units)Hydrostatic testing coordinationReplacement of condemned or non-compliant unitsUpdated inspection tags with technician initials and date, per NFPA 10 Section 7.2.4 recordkeeping requirements
We provide inspection, testing, maintenance, certification, and tagging for portable fire extinguishers. Our service is designed to help keep extinguishers ready and compliant with local and state-wide codes. Monthly visual inspection support — setting clients up with a simple tagging/log system, even though this tier is done in-house by the client. We're happy to get you set up with a logging system that works for you and your team. If you'd rather not worry about it at all, we'd love to put you on our monthly rotation.Annual maintenance — full internal/external inspection and recharge by a certified technician, performed as required per NFPA 10.6-year internal maintenance — for eligible stored-pressure units. Service includes replacing required parts per fire code and manufacturer's manual.Hydrostatic testing coordination — every 5 or 12 years depending on extinguisher type. This service invovles removing all of the chemicals from the tank, pressure testing the tank, replacing reuqired parts, and finally, adding new chemicals back in to the tank and pressurizing it accordingly. Recharge and repair of serviceable units. Recharging is required after a fire extinguisher has been used; we can get it back in to your service rotation, so it's there and ready for use when you need it again.Replacement of condemned or non-compliant units as needed. Sometimes, the extinguishers we keep have gone bad due to things such as heat and rust. We keep a extinguisher inventory on hand, and will be able to swap them during service. Inspection tagging and record-keeping — dated, initialed tags plus documentation for insurance, fire marshal inspections, or AHJ walkthroughs. We keep copies of everything, so it's there if you ever need it. Site surveys — confirming the right extinguisher type, class, and placement for a given occupancy under NFPA 10 rules. Portables are our specialty and we can make sure that your construction project isn't slowed down because of fire extinguishers.
Our inspection, testing, maintenance, certification, and tagging services are built to support annual fire code and manufacturer's requirements. Staying current with these services helps you remain in compliance. We tag and keep detailed, accurate records, which can prove that we did the work.More importantly, it means that your extinguishers will be there and do the work when you need them most.
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