Fire Extinguisher Annual Certification in Los Angeles County

The tag your inspector reads

Tags expire every year. Every portable extinguisher in a California business needs annual maintenance by a certified technician, and the tag on the cylinder is the written record that the visit happened. Under Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, the firm and the technician who sign that tag must both be licensed by the State Fire Marshal. Ask to see the license. Ask us too.

Our California work is done by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 fire protection and C-10 electrical contractor licenses and is licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service.

Who reads it depends on your address

Los Angeles County doesn't have one fire department. In unincorporated areas and the contract cities served by the Consolidated Fire Protection District, County Fire's Fire Prevention Division does annual business inspections through its North, Central and East Regional Units. The City of Los Angeles has its own fire department, LAFD. Burbank runs its own fire prevention bureau.

The tag is the same. The office isn't. If you aren't sure which agency covers your building, ask your city or the local fire marshal.

What happens on the annual visit

Monthly and annual are two different jobs. NFPA 10 asks the owner to look at each unit every month: is it in its spot, are the pin and seal in place, does the gauge read in the green, and can someone reach it? The annual visit is hands-on. A technician usually checks:

• mounting, location, signage and a clear path to the unit
• gauge, pin, tamper seal, hose and nozzle
• the shell for dents, corrosion or damage
• whether the class fits the hazard (A, B, C, D or K)
• the dates for internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing

Units that come up short get recharged or refilled, repaired or replaced. Then they get tagged. For an example close to home, read how we handled bilingual, fast-turnaround extinguisher service for a La Puente restaurant.

Some years ask for more

Stored-pressure dry chemical units need a 6-year internal teardown and a hydrostatic test every 12 years, while CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units are hydro tested every 5 years. Kitchens with a hood suppression system also need a Class K extinguisher, and we service the kitchen suppression system too.

Related services and nearby cities

• Fire protection services in Los Angeles County
• Fire extinguisher service and installation
• Fire extinguisher training for staff
• Annual extinguisher certification in Burbank
• Annual extinguisher certification in Downey
• Annual extinguisher certification in Glendale

Questions about annual certification

How often do extinguishers need certification in California?

Once a year. Your staff do a quick visual check every month in between.

Is a monthly inspection the same as annual certification?

No. The monthly check is a quick look by the owner, and the annual certification is hands-on maintenance by a State Fire Marshal licensed firm and technician, finished with a new tag.

Which fire department inspects my business?

It depends on your address. County Fire's Fire Prevention Division does annual business inspections in unincorporated areas and its contract cities, while the City of Los Angeles and cities such as Burbank have their own fire departments.

Do my employees need extinguisher training?

Often, yes. If you provide extinguishers for employees to use, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g) requires training when they're hired and at least once a year after that.

To schedule annual certification in Los Angeles County, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com