NFPA 10 fire extinguisher inspection requirements.
Under NFPA 10, portable fire extinguishers need a visual inspection at least every 30 days and maintenance by a certified technician every 12 months. Stored-pressure dry chemical units also need 6-year maintenance, and every type needs a hydrostatic test every 5 or 12 years.
What is due, and how often.
Checked November 2026.
| Check | How often | Who does it | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection (in place, accessible, gauge, seal, damage) | At least every 30 days (or electronic monitoring) | Staff | NFPA 10, ch. 7 |
| Annual maintenance | Every 12 months | Certified technician | NFPA 10, ch. 7 |
| 6-year maintenance: stored-pressure dry chemical | Every 6 years | Certified technician | NFPA 10, ch. 7 |
| Internal examination: CO2 and wet chemical (K) | Every 5 years | Certified technician | NFPA 10, ch. 7 |
| Hydrostatic test: water, CO2, wet chemical (K), water mist | Every 5 years | Certified technician | NFPA 10, ch. 8 |
| Hydrostatic test: dry chemical (steel shells) | Every 12 years | Certified technician | NFPA 10, ch. 8 |
| Non-rechargeable extinguishers | Removed from service 12 years after manufacture | Owner | NFPA 10, ch. 7 |
This is a guide, not legal advice. What your building needs depends on its use, size, risk and equipment, and standards are revised. Check with your competent people and the current official sources.
What to keep on file.
- Monthly inspections: date and initials, on a tag, a checklist or electronically.
- Annual maintenance tag with the month, year and technician.
- 6-year maintenance and hydrostatic test labels on each unit; keep the history for the life of the extinguisher.
What catches people out.
- Your state or local fire code adopts a specific edition of NFPA 10, and some add their own rules. Your fire marshal has the final word.
- The 6-year and hydrostatic dates belong to each extinguisher. Units of different ages fall due in different years.
- OSHA (29 CFR 1910.157) also requires a monthly visual inspection and annual maintenance for workplace extinguishers.
- Extinguishers that are used, damaged or show a low gauge need maintenance right away.
Dueclear tracks every due date for every building.
Each inspection gets its interval, its rule and an owner. Dueclear reminds the owner from 60 days ahead, and your contractor uploads the new certificate from a link, no account needed.
FAQ
How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected under NFPA 10?
A visual inspection at least every 30 days and maintenance by a certified technician every year.
What is 6-year maintenance?
An internal examination of stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers, which have a 12-year hydrostatic test interval, carried out every 6 years.
How often do fire extinguishers need a hydrostatic test?
Every 5 years for water, CO2 and wet chemical types; every 12 years for dry chemical types with steel shells.
Sources: NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers · OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157, portable fire extinguishers
More guides: NFPA 25 inspection schedule