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Fire extinguisher monthly inspection log.
A printable monthly inspection log for portable fire extinguishers in US workplaces, one line per extinguisher, covering the NFPA 10 visual checks and the OSHA 1910.157 duties. Free, no signup.
Quick answer. OSHA 1910.157 makes the employer responsible for inspecting every portable extinguisher in the workplace: a visual inspection every month and a maintenance check every year, with the annual maintenance date recorded. The monthly check itself follows NFPA 10: the extinguisher is in its place, visible and reachable, charged, sealed and undamaged.
Reviewed October 16, 2026 against the regulation text on osha.gov. Not legal advice: your AHJ, insurer or the manufacturer can require more.
The form
Blank form below. Print it, or choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.
Portable fire extinguishers: monthly inspection log
| Extinguisher ID | Location | Type and size | In place | Visible and unblocked | Gauge or weight OK | Pin and seal intact | No damage or leaks | Annual tag in date | Initials and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly visual inspection under 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2); checks per NFPA 10. Annual maintenance date recorded under 1910.157(e)(3). Template from hovermarks.com.
What the regulation says
“The employer shall be responsible for the inspection, maintenance and testing of all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace.”
“Portable extinguishers or hose used in lieu thereof under paragraph (d)(3) of this section shall be visually inspected monthly.”
“The employer shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check. Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination. The employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. The record shall be available to the Assistant Secretary upon request.”
The monthly check, one line per extinguisher
The monthly inspection is a quick visual check that anyone trained can do, usually in under a minute per unit. NFPA 10 is the standard most fire marshals and insurers inspect against, and its monthly checks come down to the columns on the log below.
- In its designated place
- Visible, or its location clearly marked, and not blocked
- Pressure gauge reading in the operable range, or full when hefted or weighed
- Safety pin in place and tamper seal unbroken
- No visible damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle
- Annual maintenance tag present and in date
Tag or log
Most extinguishers carry a tag with a grid for monthly initials, and that tag is a valid record of the monthly check. A central log adds what a tag cannot: one sheet that shows every unit on a floor for a given month, so a missed unit is visible at a glance, and a record that survives when a tag is torn off or a unit is replaced.
Annual maintenance and the 6-year rule
The annual maintenance check is normally done by a licensed service company, which updates the tag. OSHA requires the employer to record that date and keep it for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Stored pressure dry chemical extinguishers that need a 12-year hydrostatic test must also be emptied and maintained every 6 years under 1910.157(e)(4). The free extinguisher calculator works out those dates from the label.
Frequently asked
- How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
- Visually every month and maintained every year. OSHA 1910.157(e)(2) and (e)(3) require both in workplaces, and NFPA 10 sets the same monthly and annual cycle along with the longer internal examination and hydrostatic test intervals.
- Who can do the monthly extinguisher inspection?
- Anyone the employer trains to do it. The monthly check is visual and does not need a licensed technician. The annual maintenance is normally done by a licensed fire extinguisher service company.
- How long do I need to keep extinguisher records?
- OSHA requires the annual maintenance date to be kept for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Your local fire code, AHJ or insurer may ask for longer, so check before discarding monthly logs.
- Is the tag on the extinguisher enough?
- A tag initialed each month is a valid record of the monthly check. A central log is still useful for showing a whole floor or building in one place and for catching units that were missed.
Skip the paper
Hovermarks puts a QR code on each extinguisher. The monthly check is a scan and six taps on a phone, a failed check raises a defect against that unit, and a unit nobody scanned this month shows up as overdue before the fire marshal finds it.
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