Who certifies extinguishers in San Pedro
If you run a building in San Pedro, each portable extinguisher on the property needs annual maintenance from a firm and technician licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19, and that work is recorded on a tag attached to the unit. We do that work on site. The tag is your proof. It shows when the unit was last serviced and by whom.
San Pedro is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. Its fire department is the LAFD, not Los Angeles County Fire. So if you need to check a local requirement for your type of occupancy, the office to ask is the LAFD Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety in the City of Los Angeles.
What the yearly visit covers
The technician brings the tools and tags. Each unit gets a hands-on check:
- Pressure gauge in the operating range, with the pin and tamper seal in place
- Cylinder, hose and nozzle free of dents, cracks, blockage and corrosion
- Bracket or cabinet secure, and the unit visible and easy to reach
- The right class for the nearby hazard (A, B, C, D or K)
- Dates noted for the next 6-year teardown and hydrostatic test
San Pedro faces the Pacific, so extinguishers here sit in marine air all year. Salt air is hard on steel. Rust on a cylinder, a corroded bracket or a stuck gauge needle is something we look for at every San Pedro visit, and units in garages or outdoors get a closer look. A unit that fails is repaired, recharged or replaced. Parts or replacements are the only added charges.
Fire extinguisher inspection between annual visits
People who search for fire extinguisher inspection usually mean one of two things. The first is the monthly check. Under NFPA 10, the owner or a staff member looks at each unit every month: is it in its place, is the gauge in the green, is the pin sealed, and is there any obvious damage? No license is needed for that. The second is the annual maintenance described above, which only a licensed firm can do and tag. If a monthly check turns up a low gauge or a broken seal, call us before the yearly date comes around.
Six-year teardown and hydrostatic testing
Some years the visit runs longer. Stored-pressure dry chemical units get an internal teardown every 6 years and a hydrostatic test every 12 years, while CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units go to hydrostatic testing every 5 years. The tag and the cylinder label tell the technician which is due. Our pages on hydrostatic testing in San Pedro and extinguisher refills in San Pedro cover that work.
Cost and booking in San Pedro
Extinguisher work makes up most of our San Pedro calls. Recent quotes there have run:
- Annual inspection: $35 to $40 per extinguisher
- New 5 lb extinguisher, installed with wall bracket: $85 plus tax
- Surface-mount cabinet: $55 each
- Disposal pickup of an old unit: $30 minimum
- Site survey: no charge, and no separate trip fee
Owners of small apartment buildings have asked us how many units they need, whether a garage or underground parking area needs one, and whether cabinets are needed at each property. The technician sets that on site, from the floor layout and the 75 ft spacing rule. Gated building or locked hall doors? Tell us when you book so the halls can be left open.
California work for 1 Pro Fire 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. Call in the morning and same-day service is often possible. To book a visit, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com
For other work at the same building, see our San Pedro fire protection page and fire extinguisher service in San Pedro. Outside San Pedro, see extinguisher certification in Los Angeles County and extinguisher certification in Orange County.
Before you book: common questions
I heard extinguishers moved to a multi-year cycle. Is that true?
No. Extinguishers still need annual maintenance by a licensed technician. You may be thinking of the 6-year teardown, the 12-year hydrostatic test, or the LAFD's 5-year test cycle for wet sprinkler systems.
My extinguisher's tag is green with no visible date. Is it still good?
A tag without a current annual date shows no proof of service this year. Have it inspected. If it passes, it gets a new tag.
Is the site survey free?
Yes. There's no charge for the survey and no separate trip fee.
What do I do with an extinguisher that's leaking?
Bag it and set it outside, away from foot traffic, until it's picked up for disposal.
Do you come to San Pedro?
Yes. San Pedro is in our service area, and the technician comes to your address with the equipment.