A Safety Officer’s Guide to Fire Extinguisher Inspection

What is a Fire Extinguisher Inspection?

A fire extinguisher inspection is a thorough examination conducted to verify the condition, operational effectiveness, and readiness of a fire extinguisher. It typically involves checking the physical condition of the extinguisher, ensuring it is fully charged, verifying pressure levels, inspecting tamper seals, and confirming the presence of a current inspection tag.

An external safety professional or an organization’s own safety officer conducts a monthly fire extinguisher inspection as part of the overall fire safety strategy. This process often includes both fire extinguisher maintenance and testing.

Why is it Important?

Conducting routine inspections is crucial to ensure that the fire extinguisher will function properly in the event of a fire emergency. Over 90% of fires in commercial properties are extinguished early on by members of the public using a fire extinguisher, which highlights the importance of having functioning extinguishers within the immediate environment. 

Moreover, it is critical that a safety officer knows how to efficiently perform a fire extinguisher inspection and is aware of the most common issues identified during the process. Performing regular inspections also provides records of compliance in regard to fire extinguishers to ensure compliance with relevant safety regulations and standards. 

Are Fire Extinguisher Inspections Required by OSHA?

Fire extinguisher inspections are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As part of their fire protection regulations, employers are responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and testing all available portable fire extinguishers in the workplace (1910.157(e)(1)). These fire extinguishers must be given monthly visual inspections to ensure they’re in pristine condition, while annual maintenance is needed to verify that the extinguishers function as intended. 

In addition, carbon dioxide extinguishers are required to be tested every 5 years at 5/3 of the service pressure stamped onto the cylinder, while nitrogen extinguishers are hydrostatically tested every 10 years.

Other relevant standards for fire extinguisher inspections include:

• NFPA 10 - Mandates monthly visual inspections and annual maintenance to verify equipment readiness.

• Hydrostatic Testing Intervals - Requires fire extinguisher cylinders to be hydrostatically tested typically every 5, 6, or 12 years depending on the extinguisher type

• Fire Extinguisher Placement and Accessibility - Ensures extinguishers are properly located and unobstructed, with a maximum travel distance for employees to reach them typically not exceeding 75 feet.

How to Perform a Fire Extinguisher Inspection in 3 Minutes

Fire extinguisher inspections can be a quick and efficient process when a safety officer is knowledgeable of what to look for and check. Here are five key steps to help complete this inspection in as quick as three minutes:

1. Check Accessibility

Identify if a fire extinguisher is present in the area and take note if it is easily visible, especially in highly flammable zones. Ensure that it is not blocked by any equipment or other objects that would make it difficult to access during an emergency.

Portable fire extinguishers other than wheeled types must also be secured in a specific location (e.g., inside an unlocked glass cabinet or a wooden box) to prevent them from being moved.

2. Examine the Physical State

It is important to verify the labeling and overall condition of a fire extinguisher while also checking for physical defects. Here are some things to inspect:

• Fire extinguisher’s serial number and readability of its labeling

• Check if the cylinder and other external metal parts are free of corrosion, dents, and other signs of damage

• Inspect if there are cracks in the hose or a leak in

  the nozzle

• Check if the locking pin goes through the holes of the discharge lever and handle, and if the pin is secured well by the seal

3. Check the Pressure Gauge

Examine where the gauge needle is. The needle hovering within the green zone indicates that it is in good condition. However, a needle in the left red zone means that the fire extinguisher is undercharged and warrants a recharge, while a needle in the right red zone signals a danger of being overcharged.

4. Look for the Inspection Tag

Note if an inspection tag is available. The tag indicates that a fire extinguisher is regularly inspected and has received the proper maintenance activities to ensure it works properly. 

5. Recommend Action Plans

After the inspection, summarize the observations and create an action plan, if needed. Generating a report regardless of the results makes it easier to track and monitor maintenance activities for proper compliance. 

Top 5 Most Common Issues Identified During a Fire Extinguisher Inspection

While it is important to know how to identify a properly functioning fire extinguisher, it is equally important to be aware of the common issues that arise and how to mitigate these issues. Here is a quick guide:

Location Obstructed

Obstructions should be immediately removed, but changing the location of the fire extinguisher is also an easy way of addressing this issue. Place it somewhere easily seen by everyone, such as a hallway or an entryway. There should also be a clear sign that a fire extinguisher is in its place. 

Damaged Cylinder

As fire extinguishers often remain unused, they can experience physical deterioration due to humid or corrosive environments, constant transfers, or accidental bumps. Physical defects can lead to malfunction or dangerous explosions. 

When this happens, the fire extinguisher should immediately be forwarded to the manufacturer for replacement.

Over or Under Charging

An extinguisher with a good charge will have sufficient velocity to spur the chemical 10-20 feet. An overcharged fire extinguisher can cause leakage or worse, a cylinder explosion. An undercharged one can be equally dangerous and be unable to extinguish the fire. 

If this issue arises, the fire extinguisher should be sent to the manufacturer for replacement or recharge.

Faulty Locking Pins and Seals

Locking pins and seals can go missing when they have not been replaced after training exercises, have been tampered with, or were simply not installed in the first place. These two must always go together as they prevent accidental pressing of the lever and release of the fire extinguisher’s contents.

If any of these pieces are missing, immediately get replacements from your supplies. Pins and seals are either made of metal or plastic. If not in stock, contact the local fire extinguisher provider or go to the  nearest hardware store.

Poor Placement 

A fire extinguisher placed directly on the floor may cause others to accidentally bump it, causing further damage to the body. The changing temperature of the floor can also directly affect the fire extinguisher, which can cause a change in pressure.

Depending on the cylinder size, the standard practice is to mount it via metal brackets on a wall, 3.5 – 5 feet above the floor. Alternatively, you could also use wooden or steel fire extinguisher stands for secure placement. 

For reference on mitigating commonly identified issues, here is a sample fire extinguisher inspection report that presents a comprehensive example for recommended action plans:

Fire Extinguisher Inspection Sample Report