Fire Extinguisher Inspection Tags Explained
The little punched paper tag hanging off your fire extinguisher is more than decoration. It's a legal record of who serviced the unit, when, and to what standard. In Florida, a missing or expired tag is one of the fastest ways to fail a fire marshal inspection. Here's how to read them.
What the tag records
The service technician's Florida State Fire Marshal license number.
The company name and license.
The month and year the annual inspection was performed (punched holes).
The type of service: annual, recharge, internal (6-year), or hydro test (12-year).
Space for monthly initials by the on-site staff doing 30-day checks.
Why tag color matters
Florida uses a color rotation so fire marshals can tell at a glance whether a tag is current. The current-year color changes every 12 months.
If the color on your tag doesn't match this year's color, you're due — regardless of what the month punches say.
Some counties use additional stickers for the 6-year internal maintenance and 12-year hydro test. Those are separate from the annual tag.
What fire marshals look at first
A licensed tag with the current year's color and a punched month within the last 12 months.
Monthly inspection initials (or a digital log) showing at least the last few months.
The tag firmly attached — not tucked behind the unit or missing.
The tag matching the extinguisher (serial numbers should line up on the service record).
Lost your tag or bought a used extinguisher?
You can't re-tag it yourself, and you can't legally use it in a business until it's been inspected by a licensed company. We can pick it up, service it, and re-tag it — usually same week.
Need a fresh tag before your next fire marshal visit? Call (954) 560-8847 and we'll come to you.
(954) 560-8847