Fire Extinguisher Inspection Calculator: Monthly, Annual, 6-Year and Hydrostatic Test Dates
Enter the extinguisher type and manufacture date to get the next monthly, annual, 6 year and hydrostatic test due dates, then print a monthly inspection tag and a 12 month log sheet.
Built by Toolsque Team · last updated October 6, 2026 · checked against our testing process
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Intervals follow NFPA 10 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157. Your local fire code and fire marshal have the final say, and a certified technician should confirm the dates stamped on the cylinder.
Print an inspection tag and log
How to use the fire extinguisher inspection calculator
- Pick the type. Match the label: most office and shop units are ABC dry chemical, stored pressure. Kitchens use wet chemical (Class K).
- Enter the manufacture date. It is stamped on the cylinder or printed on the label. Month and year are enough.
- Add the dates you have. Last hydrostatic test, 6 year maintenance, annual service and monthly check are optional but make the result exact.
- Read the due table. Red is overdue, amber is due within 60 days, green is fine.
- Print the tag and log. Add your business name and extinguisher ID, then print the two sided monthly tag or the 12 row inspection log.
What a monthly fire extinguisher inspection covers
Per NFPA 10, a monthly inspection is a quick visual check, about every 30 days, that the extinguisher is there and ready. It takes under a minute per unit:
- It is in its assigned place, mounted and visible.
- Nothing blocks access to it.
- The pressure gauge needle is in the green.
- The safety pin and tamper seal are intact.
- It feels full when lifted (or weighs correctly).
- There is no visible damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle.
- The operating instructions face outward and are readable.
Record the date and initials on the tag or a log. OSHA 1910.157 requires the monthly visual inspection; NFPA 10 asks that it be recorded.
Annual vs monthly inspection: who can do each
The monthly check can be done by any trained employee or the owner. The annual maintenance is a hands on examination of the mechanical parts, the agent and the expelling means, and in most states it must be done by a certified or licensed technician who signs and dates the tag. OSHA 1910.157(e)(3) requires annual maintenance and that its record be kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less.
The 6 year maintenance rule
Stored pressure extinguishers that must be emptied for a hydrostatic test every 12 years, mainly ABC and BC dry chemical plus clean agent and halogenated units, also need an internal examination every 6 years. The technician empties the unit, inspects it inside, then refills and recharges it. The 6 years count from the manufacture date or the last hydrostatic test, whichever is later, so a unit made in 2020 needs it in 2026 and a hydrostatic test in 2032. Water, foam, CO2, wet chemical and cartridge units do not have a 6 year requirement.
Hydrostatic test intervals by extinguisher type
A hydrostatic test pressurizes the empty shell with water to prove it will not rupture. Intervals per NFPA 10:
| Extinguisher type | Hydrostatic test | 6 year maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| ABC or BC dry chemical, steel or aluminum shell | Every 12 years | Yes |
| Dry chemical, stainless steel shell | Every 5 years | No |
| Dry chemical, cartridge operated | Every 12 years | No |
| Clean agent or halogenated | Every 12 years | Yes |
| Water and water mist | Every 5 years | No |
| Foam (AFFF, FFFP) | Every 5 years | No |
| Wet chemical (Class K) | Every 5 years | No |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | Every 5 years | No |
| Disposable dry chemical | Not tested: remove from service 12 years after manufacture | No |
How to read the date on the cylinder
Most extinguishers print the manufacture year on the label or stamp it into the bottom or the neck of the cylinder, often as two or four digits. Some labels list the year with a month punched or marked. A hydrostatic test is recorded on a metal or foil label, or for CO2 and other high pressure cylinders stamped into the shoulder as a month and year with the tester's mark. If you find several dates, the newest hydrostatic date resets the 6 year and test clocks. If no date is readable, have a technician inspect it before relying on it.
What goes on a fire extinguisher inspection tag
The front of a monthly tag holds the business or building, the extinguisher ID or location and a 12 month grid for the date and initials of each check. The back records annual maintenance with the date and technician, plus the 6 year and hydrostatic dates. The printable tag above follows that layout and can carry a QR code linking to your digital log. A tag you print yourself is for monthly checks: the annual service tag is issued and signed by the service company. Service companies can leave their own next visit reminder too, using the service reminder sticker maker.
This calculator gives due dates from NFPA 10 intervals and OSHA 1910.157. Local fire codes, your insurer and the fire marshal have the final say, so confirm with your service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do my own monthly fire extinguisher inspection?
Yes. The monthly visual check can be done by the owner or any trained employee. Annual maintenance, 6 year maintenance and hydrostatic tests must be done by a qualified technician, and most states require a license.
Where do I find the manufacture date on a fire extinguisher?
Look on the label for a printed year, or on the bottom or neck of the cylinder for a stamped year. CO2 cylinders have dates stamped on the shoulder. The newest hydrostatic test date, if present, is what the next test is counted from.
Do disposable fire extinguishers need a hydrostatic test?
No. Disposable, non rechargeable extinguishers are not hydrostatically tested. Per NFPA 10 they are removed from service 12 years after the manufacture date, or sooner if they fail an inspection.
What if my fire extinguisher has no inspection tag?
Treat it as overdue. Do a monthly check now and start a new tag or log, and book annual maintenance with a service company, which will attach a signed service tag. A missing tag is a common citation during fire inspections.
Does OSHA require fire extinguisher inspection records?
OSHA 1910.157 requires monthly visual inspections and annual maintenance, and the annual record must be kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell. NFPA 10 also asks that monthly inspections be recorded on a tag, label or log.