Fire Extinguisher Maintenance & Inspection Checklist for Commercial Buildings

Almost all commercial buildings are legally required to have fire extinguishers in certain locations. While having an extinguisher nearby can be extremely useful in case of fire, there’s no guarantee that it will work when you need it. By regularly maintaining and inspecting all of your fire extinguishers, you can better protect your business and reduce the chances of fire-related injuries, loss of life and property damage.

Why Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Is Essential for Businesses

Most commercial buildings have some type of fire sprinkler or suppression system. While these systems are extremely effective at putting out fires, they’re mostly designed for more extreme situations where there’s a large fire. Having your sprinkler system go off can result in severe water damage and major losses. This is where having a nearby fire extinguisher in every part of the building is useful. With an extinguisher, someone may be able to put out the fire before it sets off the sprinkler system or spreads and threatens people and property. Having fire extinguishers in all of the necessary locations and ensuring they’re properly maintained is important for code compliance and reducing risks. If you don’t keep up with the necessary maintenance, an extinguisher may not work as it should. Should this happen, you could be subjected to fines, lawsuits and other serious consequences.

Key Compliance Standards (OSHA, NFPA, Local Codes)

Navigating the regulations and compliance standards for commercial fire extinguishers can be confusing. In the US, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the government organization that sets the specific fire protection rules and codes for various industries and types of commercial properties. OSHA regularly sends investigators to commercial facilities to check for violations and can levy steep fines against a business for failing to comply with the regulations.

Most OSHA regulations regarding fire protection and safety are based on the recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Specifically, NFPA 10 sets out the guidelines for fire extinguishers. These include where they should be located, what type should be used for different fires and how often they should be maintained and professionally inspected. Local fire codes in some areas also have additional requirements that commercial properties must follow, which go beyond the OSHA standards.

NFPA fire extinguisher requirements state that there should be a readily accessible extinguisher no further than 75 feet from any location in the building. For multi-level buildings, there must be at least one extinguisher on every floor. You should have clear signage showing the location of each extinguisher, ensuring that everyone knows where the closest one is. As part of your fire protection plan, there should be at least one person in each part of the building who is designated to use the extinguishers in case of a fire. Each designated person should undergo training to ensure they know how to properly use the extinguishers and know which type to use based on the type of fire.

OSHA requires that a trained individual inspect and maintain all of the fire extinguishers in the building and that you keep detailed maintenance records. You also must have a certified professional inspect and maintain all of your fire extinguishers yearly. For certain types of buildings and extinguishers, twice-yearly professional inspections are required.

There are five fire extinguisher classifications, A, B, C, D and K, and you need to choose the right type for each location based on the potential fire hazards in that area. If there are different hazards in any part of the building, you need to have extinguishers nearby for each specific one.

For instance, Class A is for fires involving basic combustible materials, such as paper, cloth, wood and certain types of plastics. Class C, however, is for fires involving electrical equipment and wiring where there’s a risk of electrocution.

Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist

Following the OSHA fire extinguisher checklist is crucial for ensuring that you remain code-compliant. Keeping monthly fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance records also helps to avoid insurance and liability concerns should a fire ever occur.

First, make sure all extinguishers are in the designated location and securely mounted. Ensure each extinguisher isn’t blocked or obstructed by any furniture or other items so that it’s readily accessible and can clearly be seen.

Make sure that the safety pin is still in place. Check the canister for dents, corrosion and other signs of damage. Then, inspect the discharge nozzle to ensure it isn’t cracked, broken or clogged.

Examine the handle to make sure it isn’t bent or broken. Continue by checking that the pressure gauge needle is in the green zone and doesn’t indicate that the extinguisher needs to be recharged.

Make sure that the label indicating the type of extinguisher and the instructions on how to use it is clean and easily readable. Clean and wipe down the extinguisher.

Finally, make note of any extinguishers that failed the inspection, and report them to the relevant supervisor or authority immediately to replace or recharge.

Annual Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Requirements

You’re legally required to have a certified professional inspect and maintain all of your fire extinguishers annually. Once they’ve completed the work, they will then put a tag on each unit and sign and date it to show that the extinguisher is compliant. Much of the work involves the same basic checks and inspections as your monthly maintenance. This includes performing a visual inspection to check for damage, ensuring that the label and instructions are clear and checking the pressure. They’ll also make sure that the building is compliant in terms of the mounting height and location of all of the extinguishers. Another crucial aspect is evaluating the building to determine what potential fire hazards exist and ensuring that you have the right type of extinguisher nearby to deal with each hazard.

Common Fire Extinguisher Issues and How to Avoid Them

Most fire extinguisher issues happen simply as a result of neglect and not taking the proper precautions. For instance, a clogged nozzle or cracked hose will prevent an extinguisher from spraying properly, which is part of the reason why the monthly checks are so important. If the pressure is too high, the extinguisher may fail when someone tries to use it. If the pressure is too low, it won’t spray with enough force to quickly put out the fire.

Failing to train everyone on proper usage can also be a recipe for disaster. If a person doesn’t recognize the type of fire, they can use the wrong extinguisher and make things much worse. Generally speaking, regular maintenance, proper training and having a clearly defined fire protection plan are the biggest keys to avoiding potential issues.

Professional vs. DIY Inspections: What You Need to Know

As long as you have someone who has been properly trained and knows exactly what to check for, you’re usually fine performing the monthly inspections in-house. If even minor issues are suspected, it’s important to have a professional inspect that extinguisher as soon as possible. Annual inspections by a certified professional are also a legal requirement, and you can face serious consequences if you don’t comply.

Schedule Fire Extinguisher Services with City Fire & Safety

For the past 40 years, City Fire & Safety has been the leading name for fire protection services in North Carolina, South Carolina and more. We specialize in all aspects of commercial fire safety. From fire extinguishers and fire alarms to fire sprinklers and fire suppression systems, we have everything you need to keep your property and personnel safe. To schedule a fire extinguisher inspection or any other service, contact us today.