Fire Extinguisher Annual Inspection Requirements — NFPA 10 §7.3

Annual fire extinguisher inspection is the most important compliance event in the NFPA 10 calendar. It's the inspection that fire marshals check, insurers require, and courts reference. Here's exactly what NFPA 10 §7.3 requires — and what it means for building owners and contractors.

The complete annual inspection checklist (NFPA 10 §7.3)

The annual maintenance inspection builds on the monthly visual check but goes significantly further. Here's every step, in order:

1. Monthly visual check (all 7 points): Location, accessibility, gauge in green, tamper seal intact, no physical damage, label legible, mounting secure.
2. Remove from bracket: Take the extinguisher off the wall for full hands-on examination.
3. Check date of manufacture: Stamped on the cylinder or nameplate. Confirms the extinguisher is within service life. A dry chemical extinguisher older than 12 years requires immediate hydrostatic testing. Most manufacturers recommend replacement at 12–15 years even if it passes hydro.
4. Weigh the extinguisher: Compare actual weight against the nameplate-stamped weight. Any loss exceeding 10% of the agent charge means the extinguisher must be recharged or replaced. This is especially critical for CO2 extinguishers, which have no pressure gauge — weight is the only reliable indicator of charge.
5. Verify hydrostatic test date: Check the last hydro date stamped on the cylinder collar or label. If the extinguisher is overdue for hydrostatic testing (5 years for CO2/wet chemical, 12 years for dry chemical/clean agent), it must be removed from service immediately and sent to a certified testing facility.
6. Check the 6-year internal date: Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers that require a 12-year hydro must also have a documented internal examination at the 6-year mark from manufacture date. If missing, perform the 6-year exam now.
7. Inspect hose and nozzle: Check for cracks, dry rot, kinks, blockages, or debris in the nozzle opening. Remove any obstruction. The discharge hose on wheeled extinguishers must be fully unwound and inspected.
8. Check valve and discharge lever: Verify smooth operation. No sticking, corrosion on the valve stem, or damage to the carry handle. The safety pin should pull freely and reinsert without binding.
9. Verify hazard class match: Confirm the extinguisher type (ABC, CO2, Class K, etc.) matches the fire hazards present in the protected area per NFPA 10 §5.4. A CO2 extinguisher in a kitchen with deep fryers is wrong — it needs to be a Class K wet chemical extinguisher. An ABC dry chemical in a server room may damage electronics — a clean agent extinguisher is preferable.
10. Inspect mounting bracket: Verify the bracket is securely fastened to the wall, corrosion-free, and at the correct height. Top of extinguisher ≤5 ft from floor (≤40 lb units) or ≤3.5 ft (>40 lb units). Bottom ≥4 inches.
11. Clean the extinguisher: Wipe down the cylinder, remove dirt and grease, and ensure the label is clean and readable.
12. Attach new annual maintenance tag: Complete the tag with: month and year of service, company name, technician name or ID, extinguisher type, and the extinguisher serial number or location identifier. The tag must be durable, weather-resistant, and securely attached.

Documentation: What the annual tag must include

NFPA 10 §7.3.3 specifies exactly what must appear on every annual maintenance tag:

• Month and year the maintenance was performed
• Name of the person or company performing the work
• Identification of the extinguisher serviced

Most technicians also include: the extinguisher type (e.g., "5 lb ABC Dry Chemical"), next service due date, hydrostatic test due date, and the technician's certification number. These additional fields are not required by NFPA 10 but are standard industry practice — and many local AHJs and insurance carriers expect them.

Annual vs monthly: Don't confuse them

A common misconception is that the annual inspection covers the monthly requirement. It does not. Monthly visual inspections and annual maintenance are separate, cumulative requirements:

For a complete comparison, see our monthly vs annual inspection guide.

State-specific annual requirements

While NFPA 10 is a national standard, individual states and cities add their own requirements:

• California: State Fire Marshal license required for contractors. Separate tagging format requirements.
• Illinois (Chicago): Chicago Fire Department requires electronic filing within 30 days, CFR pictorial decals on every extinguisher.
• Texas: Texas State Fire Marshal licensing. Industrial facilities have additional inspection documentation requirements.
• New York (NYC): FDNY Certificate of Fitness required for technicians. High-rise buildings have stricter inspection schedules.
• Florida: State Fire Marshal permit required. Miami-Dade has county-specific high-rise requirements.

See our blog for state-by-state licensing and requirement guides for California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.

What happens at the annual inspection if an extinguisher fails

If a technician finds any of the following during the annual inspection, the extinguisher must be removed from service:

• Weight loss >10%: Recharge or replace.
• Expired hydrostatic test: Send to certified testing facility or condemn.
• Missing 6-year internal: Perform the 6-year exam now or replace.
• Physical damage: Dents, deep rust pitting, threaded component damage — condemn.
• Wrong type for hazard: Recommend replacement with correct extinguisher type.
• Obsolete extinguisher: Certain older models (e.g., soda-acid, cartridge-operated water, inverting types) are no longer permitted by NFPA 10 and must be removed.

All deficiencies must be documented, and the building owner must be notified in writing. The contractor should provide a written quote for replacement or corrective service.

How FireInspected handles annual inspections

FireInspected's annual inspection form includes all 12+ checkpoints required by NFPA 10 §7.3. The workflow automatically checks hydrostatic test dates against the extinguisher type, flags weight discrepancies, and generates a complete digital tag record. The professional PDF report serves as your customer's annual compliance documentation — shareable with fire marshals, insurers, and building management. No paper tags to lose, no filing cabinets to search.

For the full monthly and annual procedure, see our NFPA 10 inspection requirements guide.