Maintenance

“Maintenance” is a thorough examination and repair, as needed, of your facility’s portablefire

extinguishers and is covered in NFPA 10(98), Sec. 4-4. Maintenance is required at least once a year –

more frequently when indicated by a routine monthly inspection, as discussed earlier. Maintenance is

also required whenever extinguishersundergo hydrostatic testing.

Because maintenance is required to include a thorough examination of the mechanical parts,

extinguishing agent and expelling means of each portable fire extinguisher, it must be performed by an

approved extinguisher servicing company. A more detailed look at what annual maintenance entails

can be found in NFPA 10(98), Tables A-4-4.4.2(a) and A-4-4.4.2(b). It should be noted that new

tamper seals are required to be installed whenever maintenance is performed on rechargeable fire

extinguishers [see NFPA 10(98), Sec.4-4.2.1].

Six-Year Maintenance

Every 6 years, stored pressure fire extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test (e.g. dry

chemical extinguishers) must be emptied and proper maintenance procedures performed [see NFPA

10(98), Sec. 4-4.3]. The exception to this rule is nonrechargeable extinguishers, which are required to

be removed from service 12 years from the date of manufacture. Again, this maintenance must be

performed by an approved extinguisherservicing company.

Hydrostatic testing

At certain intervals, fire extinguishers are required to be pressure tested using water or someother

noncompressible fluid to help prevent unwanted failure or rupture of the cylinder [see NFPA 10(98),

Chapter 5]. This is called hydrostatic testing and includes both an internal and external examination of

the cylinder. Because this testing requires special training and equipment, it needs to be performed by

an approved extinguisher servicingcompany.

Hydrostatic testing intervals for fire extinguishers are outlined in NFPA 10(98), Sec. 5-2 and Table 5-

2. Test intervals for some of the most commonly found extinguishers are as follows:

• Pressurized water, carbon dioxide and wet chemical extinguishers – every 5 years

• Dry chemical extinguishers –every 12 years

As mentioned earlier, the exception to the rule for hydrostatic testing is nonrechargeable stored

pressure extinguishers (e.g. dry chemical extinguishers), which are required to be removed from

service 12 years from the date of manufacture. Maintenance/testing of portable fire extinguishers

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Information only:

Some of you may have heard…

The 2007 edition of NFPA 10 contains a new requirement for the removal of dry chemical

extinguishers manufactured prior to October, 1984 [see NFPA 10(07), Sec. 4.4.1]. Removal is to occur

at the time of the next 6-year maintenance interval or next hydro test interval, whichever comesfirst.

This requirement came about as the result of significant changes made to UL Standard 299, Dry

Chemical Fire Extinguishers, based on fire testing conducted by UL, FEMA and NFPA. This edition

of NFPA 10 is not currently referenced by either the 2000 LSC or the 2007 MSFC, so it doesn’t carry

the effect of law. This is mentioned in this guide only for informational purposes, as some insurance

carriers may be applying thisrequirement to the properties they insure.

Documentation Requirements

Almost as important as conducting required inspection, testing and maintenance is documenting the

fact that it occurred. NFPA 10 requires that these services be properly recorded. What follows is a brief

synopsis of some of the major documentation requirements you need to be aware of.

Monthly inspections

NFPA 10(98), Section 4-3.4 requires that records be kept of all extinguishers inspected, including

those needing corrective action. The date the inspection was performed and the initials of the person

performing the inspection must be recorded on a tag or label attached to each extinguisher. As an

alternate, the monthly inspections can be recorded on an inspection checklist maintained on file or in

an electronic system that provides apermanent record.

Maintenance

Annual maintenance is also required to be recorded on a tag or label attached to each extinguisher that

indicates the month and year the maintenance was performed and the name of the person or company

performing the service [see NFPA 10(98), Section 4-4.4]. In addition to the tag or label, it is

recommended that a permanent record be kept for each extinguisher that indicates at least the

following:

• The date maintenance was lastperformed and by whom

• The date the extinguisher wasrecharged and by whom

• The date 6-year maintenance waslast performed and by whom

• The date the extinguisher washydrostatically tested and by whom

Six-year maintenance is required to be recorded on a metallic label, or similar durable material, affixed

to each extinguisher that indicates the month and year the maintenance was performed, the initials or

name of the person performing the service and the name of the company they represent [see NFPA

10(98), Section 4-4.4.1]. Old maintenance labels must be removed at the time any new labels are

affixed to the extinguisher.

Maintenance/testing of portable fireextinguishers

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Recharging

When extinguishers are recharged, a tag or label must be attached to each extinguisher that indicates

the month and year recharging was performed and the name of the person or company performing the

service [see NFPA 10(98), Section 4-5.5]. In addition, each extinguisher that has undergone

maintenance that includes an internal examination or has been recharged is required to have a

“Verification of Service” collar installed around the neck of the extinguisher [see NFPA 10(98),

Section 4-4.4.2]. The exception to this rule is carbon dioxide extinguishers that have been recharged

without removal of the valve assembly.

The “Verification of Service” collar, usually made of plastic, serves as visual proof that the

extinguisher was disassembled and maintenance performed. It must be of a type that cannot be

removed without the removal of the valve assembly and must include the month and year the service

was performed.

Hydrostatic testing

NFPA 10(98), Sec. 5-6.1 requires that a permanent record be maintained for each cylinder tested. In

addition:

• High-pressure cylinders (e.g. carbon dioxide) that pass the hydrostatic test must be stamped

with the tester’s identificationnumber and the month and year of the test.

• Low-pressure cylinders (e.g. dry chemical, wet chemical, pressurized water) that pass the

hydrostatic test must have the test information recorded on a metallic label, or similar durable

material, affixed to each extinguisher that indicates the month and year the test was performed,

the test pressure used, and the initials or name of the person performing the service and the

name of the company they represent [seeNFPA 10(98), Section 5-6.4].

Sample extinguisher record

A sample extinguisher record has been developed to serve as a guide that you can use in creating your

own record. A completed record is provided to serve as an example of how the record is expected to be

filled out.