NFPA 10 Monthly & Annual Inspection Checklist (2026)
NFPA 10 (the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers) requires two separate levels of inspection: a quick visual check every 30 days by any trained person on-site, and a full annual inspection by a licensed servicing company. If either lapses, you can fail a fire marshal inspection and, more importantly, be left with an extinguisher that won't work when it matters. Here's exactly what to check.
Monthly (owner / on-site staff)
The monthly inspection is a 60-second visual check. Any trained employee can do it, but it must be documented (usually a paper tag on the extinguisher or a digital log). If you skip months, the annual inspection can't cover for it.
Confirm the extinguisher is in its designated location, visible, and unobstructed.
Check the pressure gauge — the needle must be in the green zone.
Look at the safety pin and tamper seal. Both must be intact.
Inspect the hose, nozzle, and cylinder for physical damage, corrosion, or leaks.
Verify the operating instructions on the label are legible and facing outward.
Confirm the annual service tag is present and not expired.
Initial and date the monthly inspection tag or log.
Annual (licensed servicing company)
The annual maintenance inspection is more thorough and must be performed by a company licensed by the State Fire Marshal. It includes everything in the monthly check, plus internal and mechanical verification.
Full external examination for dents, corrosion, and wear.
Weight or hydrostatic check against manufacturer specs.
Verification of hose, nozzle, and O-ring condition.
Confirmation that the extinguisher class rating matches the hazard it protects.
Application of a new State Fire Marshal certification tag with month, year, and technician ID.
Documentation delivered to the property owner or manager for the compliance file.
Every 6 and 12 years
Beyond the monthly and annual checks, NFPA 10 requires deeper service on a schedule based on extinguisher type:
6-year internal maintenance: most stored-pressure dry-chemical extinguishers must be emptied, internally inspected, and reassembled.
12-year hydrostatic test: the cylinder is pressure-tested to verify structural integrity. If it fails, the unit is destroyed and replaced.
CO₂ and water extinguishers have their own schedule — a certified technician will track it for you.
Common failures we see in South Florida
Coastal humidity accelerates corrosion, so extinguishers near the water often need earlier service.
Kitchen units miss their Class K rating — an ABC extinguisher does not satisfy NFPA 96 for cooking-oil fires.
Missing monthly tags. The annual is fine, but 11 blank months in a row is a code violation.
Extinguishers mounted too high (must be reachable — max 5 ft to the top for units under 40 lb).
Want us to handle the annual inspection and set you up with a monthly tag routine? Call (954) 560-8847.
(954) 560-8847