Inspection
of Portable Fire Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers should be periodically inspected to ensure that that remain in their proper designated place and are in working order. This is critical to help ensure that an extinguisher will be accessible and functional at the time of a fire.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFP) Standard No. 10 defines an inspection as a "quick check" that a fire extinguisher is available and will operate. It is intended to give reasonable assurance that the fire extinguisher is fully charged and operable. This is done by verifying that it is in its designated place, that it has not been actuated or tampered with, and that there is no obvious or physical damage or condition to prevent its operation.
Fire extinguishers should be inspected when initially placed in service and thereafter at approximately 30-day intervals. However, the NFPA Standard states that Fire extinguishers shall be inspected at more frequent intervals when circumstances require. Frequency of fire extinguisher inspections should be based on the need of the area in which fire extinguishers are located. The required monthly inspection is a minimum. An inspection should be more frequent if any of the following conditions exist:
- High frequency of fires in the past
- Severe hazards
- Susceptibility to tampering, vandalism, or malicious mischief
- Possibility of, or experience with, theft of fire extinguishers
- Locations that make fire extinguishers susceptible to mechanical injury
- Possibility of visible or physical obstructions
- Exposure to abnormal temperatures or corrosive atmospheres
- Characteristics of fire extinguishers, such as susceptibility to leakage
Periodic inspection should include a check of at least the following
items:
Location in designated place
No obstruction to access or visibility
Operating instructions on nameplate legible and facing
outward
Safety seals and tamper
indicators not broken or missing
Fullness determined by weighing or "hefting"
Examination for obvious physical damage, corrosion,
leakage, or clogged nozzle
Pressure gauge reading or indicator in the operable range
or position
Condition of tires, wheels, carriage, hose, and nozzle
checked (for wheeled units)
HMIS label in place
NFPA Standard No. 10 requires that when an inspection of any fire extinguisher reveals a deficiency immediate corrective action shall be taken.
Personnel making inspections shall keep records of all fire extinguishers inspected, including those found to require corrective action. At least monthly, the date the inspection was performed and the initials of the person performing the inspection shall be recorded. Records shall be kept on a tag or label attached to the fire extinguisher, on an inspection checklist maintained on file, or in an electronic system (e.g., bar coding) that provides a permanent record.
Commercial/Business Series - 