Annual extinguisher certification · Orange County service area
What the technician checks on each unit
Every portable extinguisher on the property gets a hands-on check. The technician looks at the gauge, the pin and tamper seal, the hose and nozzle, the label and mounting, and the cylinder itself for dents or corrosion. Then the unit is weighed or pressure-checked. A new tag goes on. It records the date and who did the work. Most annual maintenance is done on site, at the unit's mounting spot.
Who can do the work
California is strict here. Title 19 requires extinguisher service to be done by a firm and a technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal. Our California work is done 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.
When a unit has to leave the wall
The annual tag isn't the whole schedule. Stored-pressure dry chemical units get an internal teardown every 6 years and a hydrostatic test every 12. CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units are hydro tested every 5 years. That work happens off site. If a cylinder is past its test date, our hydrostatic testing page for Orange County explains what comes next, and units that were discharged or lost pressure are covered on the extinguisher refill page.
Your part between annual visits
The other eleven months are yours. NFPA 10 puts a monthly visual inspection on the owner. Is the unit where it belongs and unblocked, with the gauge in the green, the pin in place, the seal intact and no visible damage? Initial the tag. A unit that fails the monthly look needs service now, before its next annual date.
If staff are expected to use extinguishers, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g) requires training when they're hired and at least once a year after that; see fire extinguisher training in Orange County.
Which fire agency inspects your building
Orange County has no single fire department. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is a Joint Powers Authority serving 23 cities and all unincorporated areas, and Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Laguna Niguel are among its members. In those places, OCFA's Community Risk Reduction department enforces the fire code and coordinates annual life safety inspections of existing commercial, industrial, educational and multi-family buildings.
Some cities run their own departments. Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange and Placentia are among them.
Extinguisher rules sit in California Fire Code Section 906. Cities adopt the state code with local amendments on their own schedule. Ask your fire marshal which edition applies.
Nearby cities and related service
Looking for a specific city? See annual certification in Irvine, Anaheim or Huntington Beach, or start at the Orange County fire protection hub. Kitchens with a suppression system also need a Class K extinguisher, and our kitchen suppression service page covers the hood side; for other extinguisher work, see fire extinguisher service in Orange County. For a larger job, read how we certified extinguishers for 60 vendors at a Norco rodeo.
To book the annual visit, call (949) 558-2201 or email socal@1profire.com
What to send us
Your address and a rough count of extinguishers.
(949) 558-2201 or socal@1profire.comRelated Links
Common questions
Do you fill CO2 extinguishers?
It depends on the unit. CO2 recharge needs dedicated fill equipment, and the cylinder must be inside its 5-year hydrostatic test date first. Send the size and model and we'll tell you whether we can fill it.
Does an extinguisher under 50 pounds qualify for filling?
Weight alone doesn't decide it. Refill or replacement depends on the agent, the rating, the teardown and hydro dates on the cylinder, and its physical condition (dents, corrosion, damaged threads).
Can we do the monthly check ourselves?
Yes. The annual maintenance still needs a licensed technician.
Our city has its own fire department. Does the annual service change?
No. The technician's work is the same, but your city's fire department handles the inspection, so confirm with its fire marshal what it expects to see.