NFPA 10, the standard Florida adopts for portable fire extinguishers, calls for a quick visual inspection of every extinguisher at least once a month, separate from the annual maintenance performed by a licensed company. The monthly check takes a minute or two per unit and catches the most common problems — a discharged or low-pressure extinguisher, a blocked one, or a unit that's gone missing — long before an annual visit would. Use the checklist below for each extinguisher, record it, and call a licensed technician for anything that fails.

  • It's in its designated place and mounted securely
  • Nothing blocks access to it or hides it from view, and any location signage is visible
  • The pressure gauge needle is in the green operable range (or the push-to-test indicator works on non-rechargeable units)
  • It's full: lift it to check the weight feels right ("hefting"), or weigh it
  • The safety pin and tamper seal are in place and unbroken
  • There's no obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle, and the hose isn't cracked
  • The operating instructions on the label are legible and facing outward
  • For wheeled units: tires, wheels, carriage, hose and nozzle are in good condition
  • The inspection is recorded with the date and the inspector's initials

How to check each item

Start at the gauge: on most stored-pressure extinguishers the needle should sit in the green band. A needle in the red on either side — undercharged or overcharged — means the unit needs service. Then lift the extinguisher; if it feels noticeably lighter than others of the same size, it may have been partly discharged. Look for a missing pin or broken tamper seal, which suggests it may have been used. Check the body for dents, rust and chemical residue, and the nozzle or horn for blockages such as insect nests.

Finally, confirm it's where it belongs. An extinguisher moved into a closet or blocked by stock or furniture won't help in an emergency.

Recording the monthly inspection

NFPA 10 requires the monthly inspection to be recorded. Most businesses initial and date the back of the inspection tag attached to each extinguisher, or keep an electronic log. The record should identify the extinguisher (location or serial number), the date, who did it, and any problem found. Keep records available — fire inspectors and insurers often ask for them.

What Florida requires from a licensed company

Florida law (Chapter 633, Florida Statutes) requires anyone who services, recharges, repairs, tests, inspects for certification or installs portable fire extinguishers as a business to hold a license from the State Fire Marshal. Annual maintenance, recharging after use, internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing must be done by a licensed technician, who attaches a new service tag. The monthly visual check above doesn't replace that annual service — it fills the eleven months in between. If you're unsure what your occupancy requires, ask your local fire marshal or your service company.

Beyond monthly: the longer service intervals

Besides the annual maintenance, NFPA 10 sets longer intervals depending on extinguisher type: stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers that require it receive internal maintenance every six years, and hydrostatic testing of the cylinder is due every 5 or 12 years depending on the type. Water, wet chemical and CO2 extinguishers are on the 5-year schedule; most dry chemical units are on the 12-year schedule. Your service company tracks these dates from the cylinder markings and labels.

Common fire extinguisher inspection problems in Tampa

  • Gauge needle in the red after an unreported discharge
  • Extinguisher blocked by stock, furniture or equipment
  • Missing pin or broken tamper seal
  • Unit moved from its mounted location
  • Corroded or damaged cylinders in humid or outdoor areas
  • Gaps in monthly records discovered during a fire inspection

Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist FAQs

How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected in Florida?

Two different checks apply. A quick visual inspection at least once a month, which many businesses handle with staff using a checklist like this one, and annual maintenance by a technician licensed by the Florida State Fire Marshal. Some extinguishers also need six-year internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing every 5 or 12 years depending on type.

What should I do if an extinguisher fails the monthly check?

Take it out of service or place a working extinguisher of the same type nearby, and call a licensed service company to recharge, repair or replace it. Don't try to recharge or repair it yourself — in Florida that work must be done by a licensed technician.

This content is reviewed by the Tampa Fire Extinguisher Inspection editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Fire Extinguisher Inspection. Read our editorial standards.

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