Do fire extinguishers have to be inspected?

Answer 1

The owner of a commercial occupancy is required to inspect fire extinguishers monthly and to keep written records. These duties may be delegated to the Facility Manager, but the owner remains responsible.

During any annual inspection by the local fire inspectors, the inspector may examine a few extinguishers, but will be primarily interested in seeing the records of the monthly inspections and notations of when each extinguisher is due for maintenance, testing or replacement.

Answer 2

Yes, otherwise they might not work when you need them. There are different standards for homes and businesses. For instance, many of the smaller ones used in the home have an expiration date on them and should just be replaced. Once they are used, you'll need to replace them. There are several different types depending on what caused the fire--make sure you have the best type for each.

In many communities, the fire department will inspect them for you, or you can contact the manufacturer of yours and see if they have a local representative who will inspect it for you. There are also companies that do it for a fee, which is definitely worth the money for safety and peace of mind. A reminder: Always keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen and laundry room area, as well as the garage. Keep another one in the hallway where it can be quickly accessed for fires in bedrooms and bathrooms. Make sure everyone in the household knows where they are and how to use them.

Answer 3

Yes, any required fire extinguisher must be inspected, tested and maintained according to its type, age and location. As a general rule, inspection in other than one- and two-family dwellings should be monthly and testing or maintenance annually with hydrostatic testing as required.