Fire Extinguisher Annual Certification in Los Angeles

Annual certification and the LAFD

Inside city limits, fire code enforcement for businesses belongs to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau, which has units for industrial and commercial buildings, public assembly spaces, and schools, churches and institutions. The city's fire code is built on the California Fire Code, and Section 906 of that code covers portable extinguishers. Under NFPA 10 and California Title 19, each extinguisher gets hands-on maintenance from a licensed technician once a year. The work goes on a tag. Got a compliance notice? Mention the deadline when you call.

The work is done at your property. The technician goes unit by unit (gauge reading, pin and tamper seal, hose and nozzle, label, mounting and the cylinder itself) and then signs and dates a new tag on each extinguisher that passes. If a unit can't pass, you'll hear why and what it would take to fix or replace it.

Fire extinguisher inspection: your monthly check

Most people searching for a fire extinguisher inspection need the annual service described above. NFPA 10 also calls for a monthly visual inspection. That one is the owner's job. Walk past each unit and confirm:

• The gauge needle sits in the green.
• The pin and seal are in place.
• Nothing blocks the unit or its sign.
• There are no dents, rust or cracked hoses.
• The tag is current.

If something looks wrong between annual visits, you don't need to wait for the tag date to have it looked at. Where employees are expected to use the extinguishers, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g) also requires training when they're hired and at least once a year after that.

When a unit needs more than the yearly service

The annual visit is one part of a longer schedule. Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers get an internal teardown every six years and a hydrostatic test every 12 years, while CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units are hydro tested every five years. Those jobs are priced on site when a unit is due. Kitchens with a suppression system also need a Class K extinguisher, which ties into kitchen fire system service.

Recharge or replace? Los Angeles callers ask us this about overdue units. Our usual answer is to replace an extinguisher when it's more than 12 years old or visibly damaged. A unit that has been discharged can often go back in service after a refill.

What Los Angeles customers ask about cost

Most of the calls we get from Los Angeles are about fire extinguishers. Recent quotes for annual certification or inspection have run $30 to $40 per extinguisher. A new 5-lb ABC unit has been quoted at $80 to $85 plus tax, and it comes certified for its first year. Cabinets aren't required, but for an extinguisher mounted outdoors at an apartment building, we've recommended one (recent quotes put it at $65) to discourage theft.

One caller had been buying new extinguishers every year because they didn't know annual certification existed. Compare those numbers before you buy again.

Not sure how many you need? Owners of fourplexes, small warehouses and multi-unit buildings have asked us this, and the technician assesses placement on site. For a gated property, tell us how the technician gets in when you book. Our fire extinguisher service page covers new units, mounting and repairs.

Who may certify extinguishers in California

Title 19 requires extinguisher service to be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal. 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 under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service. Ask any company you hire for the same.

To book Fire Extinguisher Annual Certification in Los Angeles, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com

Outside city limits? See our Los Angeles County extinguisher certification or Orange County extinguisher certification page.

Questions Los Angeles callers ask

Is the extinguisher serviced on site, or do I bring it in?

Annual certification happens at your property. Deeper work, such as a six-year teardown or hydrostatic test, is priced separately when a unit is due.

Does a brand-new extinguisher need certification?

The new units we've quoted come certified for their first year. After that, each one needs the annual service.

When should I replace an extinguisher instead of servicing it?

Usually when it's over 12 years old or visibly damaged. Otherwise, servicing the unit you have has cost less than buying new in our recent quotes.

My certification expires soon. What should I do?

Call with the date on your tag. We'll try to book you before it lapses.

Is there a charge for the site visit?

One recent quote for a single extinguisher included the on-site visit with no trip charge. Pricing depends on how many units you have and what type they are, so ask when you book.