Most people in the U.S. have fire extinguishers in their homes, according to Hippo, right alongside their trusty smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Gold stars all around. However, a surprising number of homeowners don’t actually perform a fire extinguisher inspection.
Nobody wakes up thinking, “Today’s a great day to deal with fire safety compliance.’
But when a fire breaks out, that little canister on the wall becomes your first line of defense, and it better be ready.
So, how do you make sure yours is up to the job?
A proper fire extinguisher inspection takes just a few minutes but can make all the difference when seconds count.
Let’s walk through the must-do steps, so you can check “fire safety procedures” off your inspection checklist with confidence.
Confirm the Extinguisher is Accessible
A fire starts in your kitchen, and you rush to grab the extinguisher, only to find it buried behind a stack of storage bins or blocked by a chair you meant to move last week.
Not exactly ideal.
A fire extinguisher is only useful if you can reach it immediately.
Take a quick tour of your property and make sure every extinguisher is visible and easy to grab.
- Hallways
- Kitchens
- Garages
Anywhere fire is a possibility, your extinguisher should be mounted and unobstructed.
Height matters, too.
Fire codes typically require extinguishers to be mounted no higher than five feet from the ground for easy access.
If yours is tucked into a cabinet or sitting on the floor collecting dust, it’s time for a relocation.
Check the Pressure Gauge
A fire extinguisher without the right pressure is useless in an emergency.
The gauge on your extinguisher is your instant status check.
Take a look:
If the needle is in the green zone, you’re good to go. If it’s in the red?
That means it’s either overcharged or undercharged, and neither is safe.
Low pressure can mean the extinguisher has leaked or lost effectiveness over time, while overcharging can cause the canister to fail when used.
Either way, it’s a clear sign that fire equipment maintenance is overdue.
Inspect for Physical Damage
Fire extinguishers are tough, but they’re not invincible.
- Corrosion
- Dents
- Cracks
- Leaks
They can compromise the entire system.
If the cylinder looks banged up, it might not function properly when you need it most.
Pay special attention to:
- The hose and nozzle
- Cracks or blockages can prevent proper discharge
- The safety pin
- If it’s bent or loose, the extinguisher may have been tampered with
- The body of the extinguisher
- Rust?
- Punctures?
- Leaks?
If anything looks questionable, err on the side of caution and get it inspected professionally.
Review the Inspection Tag
Fire extinguishers don’t come with a “good forever” guarantee.
They need regular check-ups.
Look for the last recorded fire extinguisher inspection date.
If it’s been more than a year, it’s time for a professional review.
Monthly visual checks are your responsibility, but annual inspections by certified technicians ensure your extinguisher is still functional and meets safety compliance standards.
No tag? That’s a red flag.
Either the extinguisher was never inspected, or the record was lost, which means it’s time to get it checked out immediately.
Shake Dry Chemical Extinguishers
The powder inside dry chemical extinguishers doesn’t always stay loose and ready to go.
Over time, it settles at the bottom, clumping together like forgotten flour in the back of your pantry.
That compacted powder can prevent the extinguisher from working properly.
The fix is simple, give the extinguisher a firm but controlled shake every few months to keep the contents loose and evenly distributed.
Just a few quick turns upside down should do the trick.
If you’ve had the extinguisher for a while and never done this, go check it now.
A few seconds of effort could make all the difference in an emergency.
Confirm the Correct Type of Extinguisher is in Place
Not all fire extinguishers will do the job.
The one you keep under your kitchen sink isn’t the same as what’s needed in a commercial garage or near electrical panels.
Using the wrong extinguisher can actually worsen a fire rather than put it out.
A quick refresher on extinguisher types:
- Class A
- Ordinary combustibles
- Wood
- Paper
- Fabric
- Ordinary combustibles
- Class B
- Flammable liquids
- Gasoline
- Oil
- Grease
- Flammable liquids
- Class C
- Electrical fires
- Wiring
- Outlets
- Appliances
- Electrical fires
- Class D
- Metal fires
- Magnesium
- Titanium
- Sodium
- Metal fires
- Class K
- Cooking fires
- Fats
- Oils
- Grease
- Cooking fires
Walk through your property and double-check that the right extinguisher is in the right place.
If you’re not sure, a fire safety expert can help you match each location with the correct type.
Train Your Team on Fire Safety Procedures
A fire extinguisher is useless if no one knows how to use it.
And while most people think they’d know what to do in an emergency, panic has a way of making even the simplest steps feel impossible.
If you manage a property or business, fire safety training should be a regular part of your routine.
Every employee, tenant, or resident should know:
- Where extinguishers are located
- How to pull the pin, aim, and discharge properly
- Remember: PASS
- Pull
- Aim
- Squeeze
- Sweep
- Remember: PASS
- When to use an extinguisher versus when to evacuate
Many fire protection services (including Certizona Fire & Safety) offer hands-on fire safety training.
A small investment in training now could prevent massive damage.
Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance
Your monthly inspections are great for catching visible problems, but some extinguisher issues aren’t obvious.
A professional fire extinguisher inspection ensures your equipment is fully functional and meets safety compliance regulations.
Certified fire safety specialists check for:
- Internal pressure consistency
- Hidden damage or corrosion
- Expired extinguishing agents
- Blocked discharge mechanisms
If your extinguisher has gone more than a year without a professional check-up, it’s overdue.
Certizona Fire & Safety provides full-service inspections to keep you compliant.
Fire Extinguisher Inspection: Stay Compliant, Stay Protected
Regular fire extinguisher inspections keep your property, employees, and customers safe while ensuring compliance with fire codes.
At Certizona Fire & Safety, we take the hassle out of fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance.
Our certified technicians handle everything from routine checks to full-scale servicing, ensuring your business meets NFPA 10 requirements.
Let us help you stay protected and compliant.
Contact Certizona today for expert fire safety services you can trust.
Looking for Fire Extinguisher Inspection in Glendale, AZ?
Trust Certizona Fire & Safety for expert fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance services throughout Arizona. Our experienced team ensures your fire safety equipment is up to code and ready when you need it.
Call (623) 227-2092 or request a quote online today!
