How to tell if your fire extinguisher is expired
A few dates and checks decide whether an extinguisher is still in service. Here is where to find each one. These are the same things the photo check reads for you.
- Inspection tag (every year): the tag hanging from the neck is punched with the month and year of the last annual inspection by a licensed technician. If the last punch is more than 12 months ago, the annual inspection is overdue.
- 6-year maintenance: rechargeable dry chemical extinguishers (the common kind with a gauge) are emptied and checked inside every 6 years. Look for a separate label or a collar around the neck.
- Hydrostatic (pressure) test: every 12 years for dry chemical and clean agent units, every 5 years for CO2, water and Class K. The date is stamped on the cylinder or printed on a hydro test label.
- Disposable units: extinguishers with a plastic valve head can’t be recharged. Replace them 12 years after the manufacture date on the label or the bottom of the cylinder.
- Gauge, pin and seal: the needle should sit in the green, and the pin should be in place with its plastic seal unbroken.
The full schedule for each extinguisher type is in How often do you need a fire extinguisher inspection?
Questions
How do I know if my fire extinguisher is expired?
Look at the inspection tag. If the last punched month and year is more than 12 months ago, it’s due for its annual inspection. Also check that the gauge is in the green, and for a disposable unit, that it is less than 12 years past its manufacture date. Not sure how to read it? Upload a photo above.
How often does a fire extinguisher need to be inspected?
Under NFPA 10, you give it a quick visual check every month, and a licensed technician inspects and re-tags it every year. Depending on the type, it also needs 6-year maintenance and a hydrostatic test every 5 or 12 years.
Is the photo check an official inspection?
No. It’s a free first look that helps you see what is due. It can misread a tag, and it doesn’t certify anything. Only a licensed technician can inspect and tag an extinguisher.
My extinguisher is overdue. What now?
Book an inspection. We come to homes and businesses across Snohomish County and North King County, inspect every unit on site and re-tag it. See your price and book online.
What happens to my photos?
They are used only to check your extinguishers and are deleted after 60 days. We only describe the extinguishers, never anything else in the picture.