Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist for Industrial Shops (OSHA 1910.157(e))
A fire extinguisher inspection checklist for an industrial shop has three parts under 29 CFR 1910.157(e): a visual check every month, a maintenance check every year, and emptying and hydrostatic testing on set intervals. The employer is responsible for all of it, and the annual check must be recorded.
Key Points
- The employer is responsible for inspection, maintenance and testing of every portable extinguisher in the workplace (1910.157(e)(1)).
- Visual inspection is monthly. The maintenance check is annual, and its date must be recorded.
- Hydrostatic test intervals come from Table L-1 and run 5 or 12 years depending on extinguisher type.
- Extinguishers must stay in their designated places and be readily accessible (1910.157(c)(1) and (c)(4)).
What 1910.157(e) requires
The full text is on the eCFR page for 1910.157. Paragraph (e)(1) puts inspection, maintenance and testing of all portable extinguishers on the employer.
Paragraph (e)(2) says portable extinguishers “shall be visually inspected monthly.” Paragraph (e)(3) requires an annual maintenance check. Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination. The employer must record the annual maintenance date and keep that record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. The record must be available to OSHA on request.
The OSHA text does not call for a monthly tag or a monthly log. Those are common practice, and many shops follow NFPA 10 for them. A log is still worth keeping because it shows the monthly check happened.
Monthly fire extinguisher inspection checklist
The monthly check is visual. Paragraph (c)(4) sets the standard you are checking against: the extinguisher must be fully charged and operable, and kept in its designated place at all times except during use. Paragraph (c)(1) adds that it must be readily accessible.
For each unit, walk up and confirm:
- It is in its designated, identified location.
- Nothing blocks the path to it or the unit itself. Pallets, carts and stored material are the usual culprits.
- It is mounted so an employee can reach it without risk of injury.
- The pressure gauge shows the unit is charged.
- The pin and any tamper seal are in place.
- The hose, nozzle, shell and label show no visible damage.
- The annual maintenance date is current.
Any unit that fails goes out of service, and (e)(5) requires alternate equivalent protection until it returns.
Annual maintenance and the 6-year interval
The annual maintenance check under (e)(3) is more than a walk-by. Record the date for each unit. A shop with dozens of extinguishers should track due dates in one place so none lapse.
Paragraph (e)(4) covers stored pressure dry chemical extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test. They must be emptied and subjected to applicable maintenance procedures every 6 years. Dry chemical extinguishers with non-refillable disposable containers are exempt. When a unit is recharged or hydrostatically tested, the 6-year clock starts from that date.
Hydrostatic testing intervals
Paragraph (f)(1) requires hydrostatic testing to be done by trained persons with suitable equipment and facilities. Paragraph (f)(3) requires an internal examination of the cylinder or shell before the test. Under (f)(2), intervals come from Table L-1. Examples:
| Extinguisher type | Test interval |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | 5 years |
| Stored pressure water | 5 years |
| Dry chemical with stainless steel shell | 5 years |
| Dry chemical, stored pressure, mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shell | 12 years |
| Dry chemical, cartridge or cylinder operated, mild steel shell | 12 years |
Printable log format
A simple monthly log works best with one row per extinguisher per month. Suggested columns:
| Unit ID | Location | Month | In place and clear | Gauge charged | Pin and seal intact | Damage | Annual check date | Initials |
|---|
Add a separate sheet for the annual date, the 6-year emptying date where it applies, and the hydrostatic test due date. Keep the sheets with your other safety records.
Blocked units and fire extinguisher storage racks
Most failures a monthly walk finds are about access, not the extinguisher. A unit set on the floor, hidden behind a cart or hung where a forklift can strike it does not meet (c)(1) or (c)(4). The employer carries that responsibility under (e)(1).
A dedicated rack fixes the location. Each unit has one marked place, so a missing extinguisher is obvious and the inspector knows where to look. Blue SteelCo builds Fire Extinguisher Storage Racks as welded steel, powder-coated, in Waxahachie, Texas. Where traffic is a concern, Shop Forklift Barriers protect the rack and the path to it. More shop safety products are listed under Safety.
Paragraph (g)(1) adds one more item for the checklist. If you provide extinguishers for employee use, you must also provide an educational program on their general use and the hazards of incipient stage fire fighting.
Next step
To spec a rack for your shop, see Fire Extinguisher Storage Racks, then send your details through /contact/ or call 800-377-2109. Blue SteelCo has built steel and aluminum shop equipment in the USA since 1997. Learn more about Blue SteelCo.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does OSHA require fire extinguishers to be inspected?
29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2) requires a visual inspection monthly and (e)(3) requires an annual maintenance check. Hydrostatic testing follows the intervals in Table L-1 of the standard.
Does OSHA require a monthly inspection tag or log?
The monthly requirement in 1910.157(e)(2) does not mention a tag or log. The annual maintenance date must be recorded under (e)(3). Many shops also keep a monthly log as a way to show the checks happened.
Do stored pressure extinguishers need an internal examination?
Under 1910.157(e)(3), stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination as part of the annual maintenance check. Stored pressure dry chemical units that need a 12-year hydrostatic test must be emptied and maintained every 6 years under (e)(4).
What if an extinguisher is pulled for service?
Section 1910.157(e)(5) requires the employer to provide alternate equivalent protection while extinguishers are out of service for maintenance and recharging.
Where should extinguishers be mounted?
Section 1910.157(c)(1) requires them to be mounted, located and identified so employees can reach them readily without risk of injury. A dedicated rack in a fixed, marked location supports that.