Requirements
How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
The four intervals at a glance
| Interval | Requirement | Performed by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Visual inspection | Trained employee | NFPA 10 §7.2; OSHA 1910.157(e)(2) |
| Every 12 months | Maintenance examination | Certified person (NFPA 10 §7.3) | NFPA 10 §7.3; OSHA 1910.157(e)(3) |
| Every 6 years | Internal examination (stored-pressure dry chemical) | Certified person | NFPA 10 §7.3.3 |
| Every 5 years | Hydrostatic test (CO2, water, foam, wet chemical) | Certified person | NFPA 10 Ch. 8; OSHA 1910.157(f) |
| Every 12 years | Hydrostatic test (dry chemical, halogenated) | Certified person | NFPA 10 Ch. 8; OSHA 1910.157(f) |
Monthly: the one you own
The monthly inspection is a quick visual check: right place, accessible, gauge in the green, pin and seal intact, no damage, tag current. NFPA 10 phrases it as "at intervals not exceeding 31 days," which is why most facilities pick a fixed day each month. There is no requirement that it be done by a contractor. See the full monthly checklist.
Note the clock: the next inspection is due 30 days after the last one. If you inspected on the 3rd, the 31-day window closes on the 3rd or 4th of next month, not "sometime in the month."
Annual: the one you schedule
Once every 12 months, a person certified under NFPA 10 §7.3 (in practice, a fire protection contractor; some states also license this work) performs a thorough maintenance examination: mechanical parts, extinguishing agent, expelling means, and physical condition. They attach a new service tag with the date. OSHA 1910.157(e)(3) requires the employer to "assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check" and to record the annual maintenance date and keep that record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Federal OSHA does not itself say who must perform the check; NFPA 10 and state rules do.
Six-year: the one everyone forgets
Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers (the common red ABC units) must be emptied and internally examined every 6 years. The technician applies a six-year label. If your tag shows the last six-year service and it was more than 72 months ago, the unit is out of compliance even if the annual tags are current.
Hydrostatic: the one that depends on type
The cylinder itself is pressure-tested on a cycle set by construction and agent: every 5 years for carbon dioxide, water, foam, and wet chemical units; every 12 years for dry chemical and clean-agent units. The date is stamped or labeled on the cylinder. A unit past its hydrotest date must be removed from service.
When inspections are required more often
NFPA 10 §7.2.1.1 calls for more frequent inspection when any of these apply: high frequency of fires in the past, severe hazards, locations that make units susceptible to mechanical damage or tampering, exposure to abnormal temperatures or corrosive atmospheres, or a history of the units being blocked or obstructed. Many warehouses and outdoor installations move to weekly checks for these reasons.
What "electronic monitoring" changes
Recent editions of NFPA 10 recognize electronic monitoring as an alternative to some manual monthly checks when a monitoring system continuously supervises the extinguisher's presence, pressure, and obstruction and reports to a constantly attended location. Very few facilities have such sensor systems, and whether the provision applies depends on the edition your jurisdiction adopted. Scanning a QR code and recording a check in software is not electronic monitoring; the monthly walk remains required, and a digital record of that walk is simply the modern form of the tag.
Frequently asked questions
Is the monthly inspection required by law or only by NFPA?
Both. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2) is federal law for general industry workplaces and requires monthly visual inspection. NFPA 10 is the consensus standard adopted by most state and local fire codes, and it sets the same interval along with the detail of what to check.
What happens if I miss a month?
Perform the inspection as soon as you notice and document the gap honestly. A single late inspection is a correctable deficiency; a pattern of missing months, or no records at all, is what draws an OSHA citation (maximum $16,550 per serious violation under the 2025 penalty schedule).
How often must extinguishers be replaced?
Extinguishers are not replaced on a fixed schedule; they are maintained and tested. Disposable (non-rechargeable) units are typically replaced after 12 years. Any unit that fails maintenance or a hydrostatic test is removed and replaced.
Track this automatically
FireGuard schedules the monthly interval for every extinguisher, walks your team through the checklist on a phone, shows which units were missed, and produces the records an inspector asks for. 45-day free trial, no card.
This guide is general information about NFPA 10 and OSHA 1910.157 and is not legal advice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and edition adopted; your Authority Having Jurisdiction has final say.