How often should fire extinguishers be inspected in Ontario?

The schedule at a glance

• Monthly: a visual inspection, which staff or the owner can do.
• Annually: maintenance by a qualified service technician, who attaches a dated service tag.
• Every 5 years: hydrostatic testing for water, wet chemical and CO2 extinguishers.
• Every 6 years: internal maintenance for stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers.
• Every 12 years: hydrostatic testing for stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers.

The monthly check is the one most often missed, because it is done in-house rather than by a contractor.

How to do the monthly fire extinguisher inspection

The monthly inspection is a quick visual check. It does not require a technician, but it does need to be done consistently and recorded. For each extinguisher, confirm:

1. It is in its designated place.
2. It is accessible and not blocked by furniture, stock or equipment.
3. The pressure gauge is in the operable range.
4. The pin and tamper seal are intact.
5. There is no visible damage, corrosion or leakage.
6. The inspection is recorded, typically by initialling and dating the tag or a log.

If anything fails the check, take the extinguisher out of service and call your service contractor rather than trying to fix it.

Annual maintenance by a technician

Once a year, a qualified service technician performs a more thorough maintenance check and attaches a dated service tag. The tag is how an inspector, insurer or new property manager can see when service was last done.

When you book annual maintenance, it is common practice to ask the contractor for:

• A list of every extinguisher serviced, with location, type and serial number.
• Any units that are due for internal maintenance or hydrostatic testing in the coming year.
• Any units replaced or removed, and why.
• Proof of the technician's qualifications.
• A current certificate of insurance and WSIB clearance for the company.

Internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing

Beyond annual service, NFPA 10 sets longer intervals for work that checks the cylinder itself:

• Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers: internal maintenance every 6 years and a hydrostatic test every 12 years.
• Water, wet chemical and CO2 extinguishers: hydrostatic test every 5 years.

These dates are tied to each unit, not to the building, so a site with extinguishers bought in different years will have different due dates. Your service contractor should track these, but it is worth keeping your own list so you can plan and budget for them.

Records to keep

Good records protect you during a fire inspection and help when management or contractors change. Many property managers keep:

• Monthly inspection logs for each location.
• Annual maintenance reports from the service contractor.
• A register of each extinguisher with type, location, and next internal maintenance or hydrostatic test date.
• The service contractor's insurance, WSIB clearance and technician credentials.

Extinguishers are usually part of a wider fire protection program. For the building owner's role in fire alarm systems, see who is responsible for fire alarm inspections.

How to put this into practice

1. Walk the building and list every extinguisher by location and type.
2. Assign the monthly check to a named person and set a recurring reminder.
3. Book annual maintenance with a qualified contractor and ask for a full report.
4. Add internal maintenance and hydrostatic test dates to your register.
5. Keep your fire protection contractor's insurance and WSIB clearance current alongside their service reports.

Vendorpass can track your fire protection contractor's insurance, clearance and certifications so you know they are current when service is due.