A monthly visual check for each extinguisher, with a log that shows who checked it and when.
A quick monthly look catches the common problems: an extinguisher blocked by boxes, a gauge in the red, a missing pin. The log shows that checks happen.
This visual check does not replace the maintenance and testing that fire codes and your local fire authority require.
11 items. Keep it on a tablet, or print a copy for the clipboard.
During the monthly check, a restaurant manager finds the kitchen extinguisher blocked by a supply rack and the gauge of the dining room unit near the red zone. She moves the rack, calls the service company, and records both issues and fixes on the log.
OSHA’s portable extinguisher rule (29 CFR 1910.157) requires monthly visual inspections and annual maintenance with a record, and NFPA 10, adopted by most fire codes, sets the details. In a repair shop with fuel, oils and solvents near the bays, a charged and reachable unit is the first line of defense before a fire spreads.
| Unit and location | #3, by the bay 2 door, Oak and Iron Auto Repair, Columbus |
|---|---|
| Type | 10 lb ABC dry chemical |
| Visible and accessible | Yes, after moving a tire cart out of the way |
| Gauge | In the green |
| Pin and seal | Pin in place, tamper seal missing |
| Service tag | Annual service Feb 2026 |
| Inspector and action | Monique, Nov 3; unit swapped with a spare, sent for service |
A missing seal can mean the unit was partly used, so Monique took it out of service even though the gauge looked fine. A spare went on the hook the same day so bay 2 was never without one.
A monthly visual check is common. Follow your fire code.
A qualified technician.
Take it out of service and replace it.
It is a general aid. Check your local requirements.
The monthly check is a quick visual inspection that anyone trained can do. Under NFPA 10, many stored-pressure dry chemical units also need internal maintenance every six years and a hydrostatic test every twelve, done by a certified technician. The service tag shows when those were last done.
In most businesses, yes, because fire codes based on NFPA 10 require portable extinguishers regardless of sprinklers. OSHA has an exception when an emergency action plan calls for everyone to evacuate and no employee is expected to use one, but the local fire code may still require them.
More for the same job
Use the fire extinguisher inspection checklist for the record you need today. To see who clocked in, and when, book a demo of EZTime.