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Fire extinguisher inspection log
A fire extinguisher inspection log is the record that each portable extinguisher was checked every month, serviced every year and hydrostatically tested on schedule. In the United States, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 requires a visual inspection monthly, an annual maintenance check with the date recorded, and a hydrostatic test at 5 or 12 year intervals depending on the type (Table L-1). This template has one row for each extinguisher. Pick its type and the Excel file looks up the test interval, works out when the annual check and the test are due, flags what is overdue, counts missed monthly checks, tracks open problems and summarises each building. The PDF is a sheet to keep at the extinguishers or on a clipboard. It is an example for planning: your written procedure, local law, NFPA 10 and your insurer can require more.
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Fields for site, building, year and checked by, a table with unit ID, location, type, annual maintenance and hydrostatic test dates and twelve monthly boxes, a key of check letters and a problems log.One row per extinguisherType picked from OSHA Table L-1Hydro test interval looked upAnnual and 6-year due datesDays to due and overdue flags12-month monthly check gridMissed checks countedIssues log with days openSummary by buildingRecord-keeping remindersWorked example
When to use it
When to use a fire extinguisher inspection log
- When every extinguisher has its own paper tag and nobody has one list of which are due for service.
- Before an insurer visit, a customer audit or an OSHA inspection, to show the monthly checks and the annual and test dates.
- When a service company visits once a year and you want to see what it should have done and what comes next.
- At a monthly safety meeting: which units were missed, which problems are still open, which tests fall in the next 12 months.
How to fill it in
- 1
List every extinguisher
One row each: a unit ID or the serial number, building, location, and the type picked from the drop-down. The types come from OSHA's Table L-1. If a unit is not on the table, pick the last entry and read its shell label.
- 2
Enter the dates
The date it went into service or the shell date, the last annual maintenance, the last hydrostatic test, and for a stored pressure dry chemical unit the last 6-year emptying and service. Leave a date blank if there has not been one yet.
- 3
Read the due dates
Annual due is 12 months after the last annual date. Hydro test due is the table interval after the last test, or after the in service date if the unit was never tested. Negative days mean overdue. Confirm the start date for an untested unit with the label and your service company.
- 4
Check each unit every month
On the Monthly checks sheet pick OK or the problem found. N/A means the unit was not in service that month. A month that is over with a blank cell counts as missed.
- 5
Log every problem
Put it on the Issues sheet with the unit, what was done, the owner and the date fixed. If a unit leaves for recharge or repair, record whether cover is in place.
- 6
Review the summary every month
The Summary shows monthly checks done, overdue annual and test work, tests due in the next 12 months and open issues for each building. Keep the annual maintenance dates for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less, and each hydro test certificate until the unit is retested or leaves service.
OSHA Table L-1
How often each type of extinguisher is hydrostatically tested
From 29 CFR 1910.157(f)(2), read on 15 October 2026. OSHA's eTool calls the first two types obsolete although they are still in the table. Soda acid and foam units with soldered brass shells are not permitted. For a type that is not listed, read the shell label and ask your service company.
| Type of extinguisher | Test interval (years) | 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4)) |
|---|---|---|
| Soda acid (stainless steel shell) | 5 | No |
| Cartridge operated water and/or antifreeze | 5 | No |
| Stored pressure water and/or antifreeze | 5 | No |
| Wetting agent | 5 | No |
| Foam (stainless steel shell) | 5 | No |
| Aqueous Film Forming foam (AFFF) | 5 | No |
| Loaded stream | 5 | No |
| Dry chemical with stainless steel | 5 | No |
| Carbon dioxide | 5 | No |
| Dry chemical, stored pressure, with mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shells | 12 | Yes, unless a non-refillable disposable unit |
| Dry chemical, cartridge or cylinder operated, with mild steel shells | 12 | No |
| Halon 1211 | 12 | No |
| Halon 1301 | 12 | No |
| Dry powder, cartridge or cylinder operated with mild steel shells | 12 | No |
Soda acid (stainless steel shell)
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Cartridge operated water and/or antifreeze
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Stored pressure water and/or antifreeze
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Wetting agent
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Foam (stainless steel shell)
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Aqueous Film Forming foam (AFFF)
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Loaded stream
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Dry chemical with stainless steel
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Carbon dioxide
- Test interval (years)
- 5
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Dry chemical, stored pressure, with mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shells
- Test interval (years)
- 12
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- Yes, unless a non-refillable disposable unit
Dry chemical, cartridge or cylinder operated, with mild steel shells
- Test interval (years)
- 12
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Halon 1211
- Test interval (years)
- 12
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Halon 1301
- Test interval (years)
- 12
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
Dry powder, cartridge or cylinder operated with mild steel shells
- Test interval (years)
- 12
- 6-year emptying and service (1910.157(e)(4))
- No
A filled-in example
Illustrative, not a benchmarkAn example: a made-up site with 24 extinguishers in two buildings, opened on a day when some work has slipped (illustrative).
- Annual maintenance: 3 units are overdue (last done 410, 395 and 450 days ago, against 12 months) and 2 fall due in the next 30 days. Of the 24, 14 have nothing to flag.
- Monthly checks: the grid covers 12 months and 11 are over. 24 units × 11 months = 264. One new unit was not in service for 6 of them, so 258 checks were due, and 2 were never entered.
- Open problems: 2, a wall sign that fell off and a gauge in the red on a unit sent for recharge with a spare in place.
- Tests coming: one stored pressure dry chemical unit in the welding bay is about 11.5 years old, so its 12-year hydro test and its next 6-year emptying and service both fall within the next year.
Monthly checks done: (258 minus 2) ÷ 258 = 99.2%. Building A is 153 of 154 (99.4%) and Building B is 103 of 104 (99.0%). Units needing attention: 3 overdue, 2 missed a check, 2 with an open problem, 2 due soon and 1 with a test coming, which is 10 of the 24.
Common mistakes
Treating the annual service as the monthly check
The annual check is done by a service company. The monthly check is a quick look by your own people that each unit is in place, charged and ready. One does not replace the other, and in a 2006 letter OSHA declined to relax the monthly check to quarterly without a rulemaking petition or a variance.
Counting the test interval from the wrong date
A hydrostatic test is due the table interval after the last test, not after the last annual check. For a unit that was never tested the sheet counts from the in service date as a working assumption, so check the shell label and ask your service company.
Forgetting the 6-year emptying
Stored pressure dry chemical units that need a 12-year test are also emptied and serviced every 6 years, and the 6 years restart at a recharge or a hydrostatic test (1910.157(e)(4)). Non-refillable disposable units are exempt.
Taking a unit away with nothing in its place
OSHA requires alternate equivalent protection while an extinguisher is out for maintenance or recharging (1910.157(e)(5)). Record the cover in the Issues log so the gap is visible.
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FAQ
Fire extinguisher inspection log: common questions
Every month for a visual inspection and every year for a maintenance check (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2) and (e)(3)). Hydrostatic tests follow Table L-1: every 5 years for types such as carbon dioxide and stored pressure water, every 12 years for stored pressure dry chemical in mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shells. Those dry chemical units are also emptied and serviced every 6 years.
The paragraph that requires the monthly visual inspection names no record. The annual maintenance date must be recorded and kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less, and a hydrostatic test needs a certification record with the test date, the tester's signature and the serial number. A dated monthly log is still the simplest way to show the check was done.
OSHA's 2006 letter describes it as a visual check that the extinguisher is in place, charged and ready for use. Most sites also look at the gauge, the pin and tamper seal, damage or corrosion, the sign and the label. The check names in this log are those common checks, not a list from the standard.
The calendar lists each duty once, such as the monthly check or the annual check, and asks for the oldest date. This log has a row for every extinguisher with its own type, test interval, dates, monthly results and open problems. Use the calendar for site-wide due dates and this log for the units.
No. It follows federal OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 only. NFPA 10, your insurer, the fire marshal, State Plan states and local codes can require more, and Canada, the UK and other countries have their own rules. The shell label and your service company's tag govern a particular unit.
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- Value stream plan (VSM action plan)The future-state map cut into loops, each with an objective and a measurable goal, and its kaizen bursts turned into owned, dated projects on a 12-month timeline.
- Kaizen project plan (Gantt chart)One improvement project as a Gantt chart: tasks by phase with owners, predecessors and working days, a 16-week grid, milestones and a status from planned against actual % done.
- Histogram templateReadings, bins set by the square root rule, a tally and counts, the spec limits drawn and the share out of spec, with the common shapes explained.
- Scatter diagram templateUp to 50 pairs with a group code, r and R², the least squares line, the quadrant count and r for each group.
- Gauge calibration logA gauge register with next due dates and status, a calibration record with as-found and as-left readings, and the steps when a gauge fails.
- Escalation matrix templateWho is called for each type of issue and after how long, with severity rules, contacts and an escalation log.
- Visual management audit checklist29 checks of whether anyone can tell normal from abnormal at a glance, scored by group, with a trend and actions.
- Quality alert formA quality alert to post at the line, a sign-off sheet for every shift, and a log of open, expired and closed alerts.
- TQM self-assessment templateThe eight TQM principles in 24 statements you can check on the floor, scored 0 to 4 by several people, with the spread, the top 3 gaps and an action plan.
- Employee recognition program templateDesign a recognition program on one page, then run it: points per action, prizes, budget, a points ledger, a monthly leaderboard and a fairness check by team and shift.
- Lean transformation roadmapA plant-wide lean program on one sheet: six phases with exit criteria, six workstreams by quarter over 24 months, the model line, metrics with baseline and target, cadence and risks.
- Obeya room plannerPlan the walls, owners, cadence, agenda and rules of an obeya, then run the weekly review of KPIs, problems, actions and milestones.
- Paper forms inventory (paperless manufacturing worksheet)Every paper form, checklist and log in one list: hours a month, who acts on it, how long the paper waits, and which forms to move first.
- Continuous improvement software evaluation scorecardCompare CI software vendors: a must-have gate, eight weighted criteria scored 1 to 5, points out of 100 and a rank, with a demo script and reference questions.
- Lean principles assessment templateThe five lean principles as 25 things you can see on one value stream, answered yes, partly or no on a walk, with a score per principle, the next step and a trend over walks.
- Employee engagement survey templateA short anonymous pulse survey for shop floor staff: 14 statements in six drivers, two open questions, results by driver and team, and the actions.
- Hansei reflection sheet (lessons learned)A written look back at one finished project, event or launch: goals against results in numbers, causes rather than blame, lessons to keep or change, and where else they apply.
- Daily kaizen routine boardA team's 10 to 15 minute daily routine at the board: one problem from each person, small fixes with one owner, counted every week.
- Quality circle meeting recordA circle's charter, a one-page record for each meeting and a problem register that follows every problem from selected to closed or escalated.
- Operational excellence assessment templateThe ten principles of operational excellence as 30 behaviors and practices you can see, scored 1 to 5 by several people, with the spread, the three lowest principles and an action plan.
- Scrum meeting agenda templateTimed agendas for the five scrum meetings, a sprint planning sheet, a retrospective sheet, and an Excel sprint backlog with a burndown.
- Toyota Production System (TPS) house templateThe TPS house for one plant or value stream: roof, two pillars and foundation, with what you do today, the evidence, a status and the next step for each element.
- EPEI and batch size calculatorHow often each part can come round on a shared machine (EPEI) and how big each batch must be, from demand, cycle times and changeovers, now and after SMED.
- People, process, technology (PPT) assessmentCheck one change before go-live: 18 people, process and technology statements scored 1 to 4 by the people who will use it, the lowest element and the actions.
- Process capacity sheet templateEach machine in a part's routing with manual, auto and tool change time, its capacity per shift, and the step that limits the cell against demand.
- Jidoka worksheet (stop at abnormality)For one line or cell, every abnormality that should stop the work: how it is detected, how the work stops, who is called, the immediate fix and the root cause step, plus a log of real stops.
- Team charter templateA one-page charter for a standing team: purpose, scope, roles, the KPIs it owns, which decisions it makes itself, norms and cadence.
- Chaku-chaku line plannerPlan a load-load cell: time each machine, load and walk, check that every machine is ready when the operator comes back, compare the cell cycle with takt and size the crew.
- Standard operating procedure (SOP) templateA full SOP in the hierarchical step format, from purpose and scope to the steps, records, revision history and approvals, with review checks and an SOP register.
- Process improvement method selectorEight questions about one problem, an example rule that suggests a method and a matrix of nine methods: when each fits, the usual team and time, and the template to start with.
- X-bar and R control chart template25 subgroups with means and ranges, control limits from A2, D3 and D4, signal flags, both charts and a reaction log.
- Gage R&R study sheet10 parts, 2 or 3 appraisers, 2 or 3 trials: EV, AV, GRR, PV, %GRR and ndc by the average and range method.
- Root cause analysis templateOne report from problem statement to proof: containment, evidence, analysis, verified causes, actions and the effectiveness check.
- Quality control pillar 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from the QA matrix to the QM matrix on one model area, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- Environment and energy pillar 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from waste and energy maps to area standards on one model area, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- Focused improvement 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from the loss Pareto to standardized fixes on one model line, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- Logistics and customer service pillar 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from the current-state map to pull on one model value stream, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- People development pillar 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from the skills matrix to trained cover on critical tasks in one model area, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- Cost deployment pillar 90-day model area planThirteen weeks from the loss map to costed, ranked projects in one model area, a KPI board, the day-90 gate and expansion waves.
- Moving from Excel to one system checklistA 34-point checklist and a file inventory for moving trackers from spreadsheets to one system: keep, move, connect or retire, clean, pilot, run both, retire.
- Prioritization matrix templateScore up to 20 improvement ideas on weighted criteria, rank them, test the ranking with equal weights and place each one on an effort and benefit grid.
- Cost per unit worksheet (manufacturing cost per good unit)One product's cost per good unit by materials, labor, machine and overhead, the gap to target, and which cost lever is worth most a year.
- Digital manufacturing readiness assessmentScore 24 statements on process, technology and people from 0 to 4, check the balance between them and rank the gaps by what matters in your plant.
- Manufacturing KPI dashboard templateWeekly plant numbers in, 14 KPIs out: OEE and its parts, first pass yield, scrap, on-time delivery, recordable rate, cost and absence, each against a target.
- Error-proofing verification log (daily master-sample check)Each poka-yoke device proved every day or week with a known-bad sample, with missed checks counted and the hours and parts at risk worked out when one fails.
- Defect catalogue template with boundary samplesEvery defect with a definition, a class and the reason for it, measured accept and reject limits by zone, boundary samples, a defect log with DPU and Pareto, and an inspector agreement check.
- I-MR chart template (individuals and moving range)Up to 100 single readings with moving ranges, limits from a baseline, five run-rule flags, both charts, a second phase and a reaction log.
- Kaizen event preparation checklistEverything that has to be ready before a kaizen event and done after it: 44 items with owners and due dates from 6 weeks before day 1 to 30 days after, five go or no-go gates and a day-by-day agenda.
- Attribute control chart template (p, np, c and u charts)p, np, c and u charts in one workbook: a chart selector, a sample size check, limits for each subgroup, signal flags and four worked examples.
- Tier 2 meeting agenda and escalation sheetA 15-minute tier 2 agenda in ten timed blocks, fixed roles and rules, escalation triggers with time limits, and a log that ages every escalation and sends the answer back down.
- Mock recall template: traceability exercise worksheetTrace a finished lot back to every input lot and forward to every first customer, reconcile the quantities against a tolerance and time it against your target.
- ISO 9001 internal audit checklist (production area)46 audit questions for the production floor in 11 processes, each with its ISO 9001:2015 clause, what evidence to look for and the sample to take, plus five defined grades, a findings log, a finding report and a summary by clause.
- Plan for every part (PFEP) templateOne row per part: supplier, pack, container, usage, lead time and locations, with ABC classes, market and line kanban counts and a lineside space check.
- Food plant GMP inspection checklist (21 CFR 117 subpart B)55 checks in the order of 21 CFR 117 subpart B, each citing its paragraph and saying what to look at, with a grade, finding, owner and due date; results by section and grade, a walk route and a bakery example.
- Master sanitation schedule with pre-op verificationA master list of cleaning tasks by area and equipment with frequency, chemical, lockout, who and next due date, a weekly on-time count, and the pre-operational verification log with a release step.
- Changeover matrix templateA from-to matrix of changeover minutes with the clean each transition needs (allergen, colour, format), and a weekly planner that totals the order and suggests a shorter one.
- Measurement uncertainty budget templateA GUM uncertainty budget: Type A and B rows, divisors by distribution, sensitivity coefficients, uc, νeff, k from the t-table, U, TUR and a guard band check.
- Video time study filming checklistA pre-shoot checklist and shot log for filming a time study on video: camera, light, people, settings, power and review.
- Reorder point and safety stock sheet (many parts)Safety stock, reorder point, order quantity and an order list for up to 500 parts, worked out from each part's own demand and lead time history.
- Energy use and EnPI trackerMonthly electricity, gas and fuel in one unit, a 12-month regression baseline, expected against actual energy for each month, an EnPI ratio, the running saving and the tests that say whether the model can be trusted.
- FIFO lane sizing sheetThe maximum for a FIFO lane from the stop it must cover, in whole containers, with length, refill and wait checks for up to eight lanes.
- Pugh matrix templateCompare up to 8 concepts with a datum as better, same or worse on up to 12 criteria, flag must-haves, and carry the strongest into a second round.
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A shift handover sheet, a red tag log, a changeover checklist for one machine: if your team uses it on the floor, ask.