Free checklist · Safety equipment
Monthly fire extinguisher inspection checklist (free, printable)
OSHA requires portable fire extinguishers to be visually inspected every month. Check that each one is in its place, visible and unblocked, the gauge needle is in the green, the pin and tamper seal are intact, the hose and nozzle are clear, there's no damage or corrosion, the label is readable, it feels full when lifted, and the annual maintenance tag is current.
- How often
- Monthly
- The rule
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2)
- Items
- 16 checks
- Takes
- About 4 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
Monthly fire extinguisher inspection checklist
Monthly
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location and access | |||
| In its designated placeMounted or in its cabinet where it belongs. | |||
| Visible and markedEasy to see; a sign or marker shows where it is. | |||
| Nothing blocking itClear path; not behind boxes, carts, pallets or doors. | |||
| Bracket or cabinetBracket secure; cabinet opens easily; glass or break bar intact. | |||
| The extinguisher | |||
| Type | ☐ ABC dry chemical ☐ CO2 ☐ Water ☐ Class K ☐ Clean agent ☐ Other | ||
| Pressure gaugeNeedle in the green (operable) zone. | |||
| Pin and tamper sealPin in place; seal unbroken. | |||
| Hose and nozzleNot cracked, split or blocked; CO2 horn not cracked. | |||
| ShellNo dents, rust, corrosion, leaks or powder residue. | |||
| Handle and leverNot bent, cracked or loose. | |||
| Label and instructionsReadable and facing out. | |||
| Full when liftedFeels full; no sign it has been partly discharged. | |||
| Gross weightWeigh CO2 and cartridge units against the label, if you weigh them. | ________ lb | ||
| Tags and dates | |||
| Annual maintenance tagDated within the last 12 months by your service company. | |||
| 6-year and hydrostatic test datesNot overdue for 6-year maintenance or hydrostatic testing. | |||
| Monthly tag initialedDate and initials added, if your site uses the tag. | |||
Problems found and action taken:
If anything is a problem, don't use the machine: tag it out and report it. Free checklist from checkbadges.com — put it on a QR sticker and operators can fill it in on their phone.
What to check on a fire extinguisher, item by item
Location and access
- In its designated place — Mounted or in its cabinet where it belongs.
- Visible and marked — Easy to see; a sign or marker shows where it is.
- Nothing blocking it — Clear path; not behind boxes, carts, pallets or doors.
- Bracket or cabinet — Bracket secure; cabinet opens easily; glass or break bar intact.
The extinguisher
- Type (ABC dry chemical / CO2 / Water / Class K / Clean agent / Other)
- Pressure gauge — Needle in the green (operable) zone.
- Pin and tamper seal — Pin in place; seal unbroken.
- Hose and nozzle — Not cracked, split or blocked; CO2 horn not cracked.
- Shell — No dents, rust, corrosion, leaks or powder residue.
- Handle and lever — Not bent, cracked or loose.
- Label and instructions — Readable and facing out.
- Full when lifted — Feels full; no sign it has been partly discharged.
- Gross weight — Weigh CO2 and cartridge units against the label, if you weigh them. (reading, in lb)
Tags and dates
- Annual maintenance tag — Dated within the last 12 months by your service company.
- 6-year and hydrostatic test dates — Not overdue for 6-year maintenance or hydrostatic testing.
- Monthly tag initialed — Date and initials added, if your site uses the tag.
How often a fire extinguisher has to be inspected
Every month, plus an annual maintenance check and longer-interval servicing. OSHA's rule is 29 CFR 1910.157(e): "Portable extinguishers or hose used in lieu thereof... shall be visually inspected monthly" ((e)(2)), and "The employer shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check" ((e)(3)).
| Check | How often | Who usually does it | OSHA rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Monthly | A trained employee, with this checklist | 1910.157(e)(2) |
| Maintenance check | Annually | A fire extinguisher service company | 1910.157(e)(3) |
| Empty and maintain stored-pressure dry chemical units that need a 12-year hydrostatic test | Every 6 years | A service company | 1910.157(e)(4) |
| Hydrostatic test | At the interval for the extinguisher type (Table L-1) | "Trained persons with suitable testing equipment" | 1910.157(f) |
These rules apply even where employees aren't expected to fight fires. If extinguishers are provided but not intended for employee use, and you have an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan, "only the requirements of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section apply" (1910.157(a)), and paragraph (e) is the inspection one. Your local fire code may add requirements; many fire codes reference NFPA 10, so ask your fire marshal or service company. The full picture is in fire extinguisher inspection requirements.
How to do the check
- Work from a list or map of every extinguisher location, so a missing one gets noticed.
- At each location, check the extinguisher is there, visible and unblocked.
- Read the gauge and check the pin and tamper seal. CO2 extinguishers have no gauge; they're checked by weight.
- Lift it off the bracket. It should feel full. A light one has probably been used.
- Look over the shell, hose, nozzle and label, turning it so you see all sides.
- Check the annual maintenance tag is less than 12 months old, and the 6-year or hydrostatic test isn't due.
- Record the date and your initials, and hang it back with the label facing out.
The defects that take it out of service
| Defect | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Gauge needle in the red, either side | Undercharged units may not discharge fully; overcharged ones need service too |
| Pin missing or tamper seal broken | It may have been used or partly discharged |
| Cracked hose or blocked nozzle | The agent can't reach the fire |
| Dents, corrosion or leaks on the shell | OSHA requires a hydrostatic test when there's "new evidence of corrosion or mechanical injury" (1910.157(f)(4)) |
| Feels light or under the label weight | It isn't full |
| Annual maintenance tag over 12 months old | The annual check OSHA requires hasn't been done |
| Missing from its place | No protection in that area |
What to do when something fails
Swap it for a spare straight away, then send the faulty one for service. OSHA requires extinguishers to be "maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times except during use" (1910.157(c)(4)), and "alternate equivalent protection" while one is out for maintenance or recharging ((e)(5)). Any extinguisher that has been used, even briefly, goes for recharging. Hang an out-of-service tag on the faulty unit so nobody puts it back on the wall.
Keeping the record
OSHA requires a record of the annual maintenance date: "The employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less" ((e)(3)). OSHA's text doesn't spell out a record for the monthly check, but initials on the tag or a dated log is how you show it happened, and your fire code may require one. See fire extinguisher inspection requirements and equipment inspection record keeping.
Monthly checks by QR code
A QR sticker on each extinguisher's cabinet, or on the wall beside it, gives every extinguisher its own dated history: who checked it, when, and a photo of a gauge in the red, emailed to you straight away. CheckBadges can replace the monthly punch card, but not the annual maintenance: that still has to be done and tagged by your service company, and if your fire marshal expects initials on the tag, keep doing both. See QR code equipment checklists.
Skip the clipboard
Put this fire extinguisher inspection checklist on a QR sticker.
- Operators scan the sticker with their own phone's camera. No app, account or password.
- Anything marked Problem emails you right away, with photos, and warns the next operator.
- Every check is saved by machine with who did it and when. Print one or export a CSV.
Free for 3 machines. Every item above is already filled in — edit anything. No card.
Fire extinguisher 1
Fire extinguisher inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
Visually every month (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2)) and given an annual maintenance check (1910.157(e)(3)). Some stored-pressure dry chemical units also need emptying and maintenance every 6 years, and all need hydrostatic testing at the interval for their type.
Who can do the monthly fire extinguisher inspection?
OSHA doesn't say who; it makes the employer responsible for inspection, maintenance and testing (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(1)). Any employee trained on what to look for can do the monthly visual check; the annual maintenance is normally done by a fire extinguisher service company.
Does the monthly extinguisher inspection have to be recorded?
OSHA's text requires a record of the annual maintenance date, kept one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3)). It doesn't spell out a record for the monthly check, but your local fire code may, so date and initial each one.
What does it mean if the extinguisher gauge is in the red?
On the left (recharge) side, the extinguisher has lost pressure and may not discharge fully; on the right (overcharged) side, it's over pressure. Either way, take it out of service and replace it with a charged one until it's serviced.
Do extinguishers need monthly inspection if employees aren't meant to use them?
Yes. Where extinguishers are provided but not intended for employee use, and the employer has an emergency action plan and fire prevention plan, the inspection, maintenance and testing paragraphs still apply (29 CFR 1910.157(a)).
Keep reading
- Fire extinguisher inspection rulesOSHA requires a monthly visual check and an annual maintenance check of portable fire extinguishers, with the annual date recorded. Who does what, and when.
- Eyewash station inspection checklistFree eyewash station inspection checklist: weekly activation, clear access, dust caps, clear flushing fluid, tepid water, signs and self-contained unit expiry.
- AED inspection checklistFree AED inspection checklist: ready indicator, pads sealed and in date, battery in date, spare pads, rescue kit, cabinet alarm and signs. Follow your manual.
- FacilitiesFacility equipment inspection checklists on QR codes for lifts, ladders, scrubbers, generators, extinguishers and eyewash. Staff scan with their phone; no app.
- SchoolsSchool shop safety checklists on a QR sticker per table saw, drill press and welder. Students or teachers scan with a phone or shop tablet; no app or login.
- Out-of-service tag makerPrint DANGER – DO NOT OPERATE and OUT OF SERVICE tags for defective equipment. Fill in the machine, problem and date, or leave blanks. Free, no signup.
Do your fire extinguisher checks by QR code.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.