Hydrostatic Testing in Victorville

When your extinguisher's test date comes up

A hydrostatic test fills an extinguisher cylinder with water and pressurizes it to prove the shell can still safely hold its charge. Every rechargeable unit needs one on a fixed schedule under NFPA 10, and the interval depends on the agent inside the cylinder.

• Dry chemical: every 12 years.
• CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K): every 5 years.
• Stored-pressure dry chemical: a 6-year internal maintenance (teardown) between hydro tests.

The last test date is marked on the cylinder. Check it.

Where Victorville inspections come in

The Victorville Fire Department inspects every business in the city each year, and a Fire Inspector usually gets in touch when your business license comes up for renewal. That's a common time for an inspector to check tags and dates. Don't wait for the visit.

A fresh annual tag can't cover a missed hydro test. Part of annual maintenance is checking that the cylinder's test date is still in range. If the date has passed, the unit has to be tested or replaced before it goes back on the wall, and a technician can't simply re-tag it.

Test the old unit or replace it?

Most of the calls we get from Victorville are about extinguishers, and many callers ask whether an older unit is worth keeping. Recent quotes have run $35 per extinguisher for annual certification, $45 to $50 for a full recharge (depending on the agent used) and about $75 to $80 plus tax for a new unit with a certification tag. Hydro testing is priced per unit once we know the type and size of each cylinder, and we'll give you that figure with your quote. Ask for both prices. Then pick the one that fits.

Who can do the work

In California, extinguisher service has to be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19. Our California work is performed by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 (fire protection) and C-10 (electrical) contractor licenses and is State Fire Marshal licensed under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service and for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems.

For a look at extinguisher work in town, read how we handled 23 outdoor extinguishers with weatherproof tags for a Victorville carnival.

Getting a quote

Before you call, count your units and write down the type, size and test date on each one so we can quote the whole batch at once. A photo of each label works too.

Need the rest of your extinguisher work handled? See annual extinguisher certification in Victorville, extinguisher refills and extinguisher service, or go back to our Victorville fire protection page.

Victorville hydrostatic testing questions

How often does an extinguisher need a hydrostatic test?

Dry chemical units are tested every 12 years. CO2, water and wet chemical units are due every 5 years.

My extinguisher is about four years old and the inspector flagged it as untested. Do I need a new one?

Not always. A four-year-old dry chemical unit is years away from its hydro date, so it usually just needs annual service and a current tag, while a CO2 or wet chemical unit of that age is close to its 5-year test.

Are there additional costs if the extinguisher is old?

Sometimes. Older units can reach the 6-year maintenance or the 12-year hydro test, and both cost more than a basic annual inspection. Ask which applies to each unit when you request a quote.

Do you service the Victorville area?

Yes. Victorville is part of our service area.

For hydrostatic testing in Victorville, call us at (909) 219-9411 or email us at socal@1profire.com