NFPA 10 sets four intervals: a monthly visual inspection, an annual maintenance examination by a certified technician, a 6-year internal examination for stored-pressure units, and a hydrostatic test every 12 years (every 5 years for CO2, water, and wet chemical types). An extinguisher must also be recharged immediately after any use.

Trained building staff can perform the monthly visual inspections. The annual maintenance, 6-year internal examination, and hydrostatic testing must be performed by a trained and certified technician, which is what our licensed team provides.

The letters are the fire classes the unit is rated for (A, B, C, D, or K). The numbers indicate relative capacity. For example, a 2A:10B:C rating means it has the Class A capacity equivalent to 2.5 gallons of water, can cover 10 square feet of flammable liquid fire, and is safe to use on energized electrical equipment.

The 6-year service is an internal examination: the extinguisher is emptied and opened so the inside of the cylinder can be inspected, then recharged. The 12-year hydrostatic test pressure-tests the cylinder itself to confirm its structural integrity. They are separate requirements that happen on different schedules.

A rechargeable extinguisher can be serviced and kept in use indefinitely as long as it passes its examinations and hydrostatic tests. A non-rechargeable (disposable) unit must be removed from service 12 years after its manufacture date. Any extinguisher with corrosion, damage, or a failed test is condemned and replaced.

It depends on the hazards present. A typical office or retail space uses an ABC dry chemical extinguisher, while a kitchen needs a Class K unit and a server room may call for a CO2 unit. We assess your space, recommend the right types, and place them to meet code. Commercial kitchens also need a fixed UL 300 restaurant fire system alongside the portable Class K extinguisher.