Portable extinguishers in a Highland business need a yearly service by a licensed technician, and the tag hanging on each unit is the proof that it was done. An expired tag is easy to spot. Most units can be serviced right where they're mounted. Older or discharged units may need more work first.
Fire extinguisher inspection: the monthly check you do yourself
Searching for a fire extinguisher inspection? There are two kinds. The monthly one is yours. Under NFPA 10, someone on site looks at each unit once a month: is it in its place, is the gauge in the green, are the pin and tamper seal intact, and can a person reach it without moving anything? Note the date on the tag or your log. The annual inspection is different. It has to be done by a technician from a firm licensed by the State Fire Marshal.
What happens at the annual certification visit
The technician goes unit by unit. On each one, they:
- check the gauge, hose, nozzle, pin and tamper seal
- look for dents, corrosion and a missed test date
- confirm the class fits the hazard nearby (Class K for cooking oils and fats, a C rating near energized electrical equipment)
- record the service on a new annual tag
A unit that has been used needs a fire extinguisher refill before it can be tagged. Units due for a teardown or hydro test may have to be taken away or handled on a separate visit. Plan for that.
Older units: 6-year teardown and hydro test
Age matters. Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers get an internal maintenance every 6 years and a hydrostatic test every 12. CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units are hydro tested every 5 years. If the technician finds a unit past one of those dates, it can't simply be re-tagged: it needs the teardown or test first, or a replacement unit. See hydrostatic testing in Highland for how that work goes.
Code questions in Highland, and who does the work
Highland has its own fire department, which the city staffs through a contract with CAL FIRE for fire protection and emergency response. Code questions go to the department's Fire Prevention office. The Fire Marshal's line is (909) 864-6861 ext. 248. County Fire is the wrong office for a Highland building.
The city's municipal code adopts the California Fire Code with local amendments, and Section 906 of the state code is where the portable extinguisher rules sit; ask Fire Prevention which edition is in force before you plan around a specific section.
Who may service your units? In California, extinguisher service must be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19. Our California work is performed by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 and C-10 contractor licenses and is licensed by the State Fire Marshal for portable extinguisher service.
Highland extinguisher certification questions
How often does an extinguisher need certification?
Once a year. The monthly check in between is up to you.
Our site is often unattended. Can you bill us instead of collecting payment at the visit?
Ask when you book. We'll go over payment and how the technician will reach the units before a date is set.
Do kitchen extinguishers need anything different?
Yes. A kitchen with a hood suppression system also needs a Class K portable unit, and those are hydro tested every 5 years, which is sooner than dry chemical units.
Does the annual tag cover staff training?
No. Where an employer provides extinguishers for employees to use, OSHA requires training at hire and at least once a year after that.
Most of the calls we get from Highland are about extinguishers. To book, call (909) 219-9411 or email socal@1profire.com, and have the street address and a rough count of units ready. Related work: fire extinguisher service and repair, fire extinguisher training for Highland staff, kitchen fire suppression service and our Highland fire protection page.
Questions before you book?
Ask about your units, your site or payment.
(909) 219-9411 or socal@1profire.com