One visit a year, one tag per extinguisher
California splits extinguisher upkeep into two jobs. Someone on your staff looks at each unit once a month. Once a year, a licensed technician does hands-on maintenance on every unit and records the work on a tag attached to that extinguisher. That yearly visit is the certification.
On a typical annual visit, the technician:
- Checks the gauge, pull pin and tamper seal
- Confirms the unit holds a full charge
- Looks over the hose, nozzle and shell for damage or corrosion
- Makes sure the unit's class fits the hazard near it
- Dates and signs a new tag
A unit that fails gets flagged for recharge, repair or replacement.
Fire extinguisher inspection: the monthly check is yours
The monthly check is the owner's job. It takes about a minute per unit. Is the extinguisher in its spot, visible and unblocked? Is the gauge needle in the green? Is the pin in place with the seal intact, and is the shell free of dents, leaks, heavy corrosion or a blocked or cracked nozzle? Write the date and your initials each time.
If a gauge reads low, a seal is broken or the unit has been used even briefly, get it serviced now and don't wait for the annual visit. If employees are expected to use the extinguishers, OSHA requires the employer to train them when they're hired and at least once a year after that (see our fire extinguisher training in Rancho Palos Verdes).
When the yearly visit turns up more work
Some years need more than a tag. Stored-pressure dry chemical units get an internal teardown every six years. Hydrostatic testing comes due every 12 years for dry chemical, and every five years for CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units. The technician reads the dates on each cylinder. Units due for a pressure test or recharge go to our hydrostatic testing and fire extinguisher refill services.
Who checks extinguishers in Rancho Palos Verdes
There's no city fire department here. The city contracts with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Battalion 14 provides fire suppression and fire prevention under that contract. The current fire code took effect January 1, 2026. It's the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments in the city's municipal code, and portable extinguishers are covered in Section 906.
Got an inspection notice? Contact the LA County Fire prevention office listed on it, or ask the fire marshal which office covers your address and which code edition applies.
Who may do the work
California is strict about this. Extinguisher service must be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19. 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.
To book, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com. Tell us how many extinguishers you have and roughly what types.
Related pages:
- Fire protection services in Rancho Palos Verdes
- Fire extinguisher service in Rancho Palos Verdes
- Commercial kitchen fire suppression service
- Fire extinguisher annual certification in Los Angeles County
- Fire extinguisher annual certification in Orange County
Extinguisher certification questions
How long is an annual tag good for?
One year. Book the next service before the date on the current tag comes around.
How do I dispose of an old extinguisher?
Don't put a charged extinguisher in household trash. Mention it when you book.
What if an inspector finds an expired tag?
Book the annual service. Once each unit is serviced and carries a new dated tag, you have the record the inspector asked for, and you can answer the notice through the office that sent it.
Does a commercial kitchen need a different extinguisher?
Yes. Kitchens with a hood suppression system also need a Class K extinguisher for cooking oils and fats.