Fire Extinguisher Inspection and Certification
South Florida Licensed Service
Licensed annual fire extinguisher inspection and certification for commercial properties across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe County. NFPA 10 compliant. Same-day tag and written service report.
What Does the Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection Actually Require?
Every fire extinguisher in a commercial building in Florida must be inspected annually by a licensed fire equipment dealer. The inspection confirms that the extinguisher is in its designated location, is fully charged, has not been tampered with, and that every component is operational. At the end of the inspection, the extinguisher is tagged with the current date and a written service report is produced. Florida Fire Solutions is a licensed fire extinguisher service company performing annual inspections for commercial properties across all four South Florida counties.
Annual inspection is required under NFPA 10, the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, and enforced by the Florida State Fire Marshal through county fire authorities. Fire marshals check extinguisher tags during routine commercial building inspections, and an expired or missing tag is one of the most commonly cited fire code violations across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe County. The tag on the extinguisher must show a date within the past 12 months from a licensed contractor.
Beyond the annual inspection, NFPA 10 also requires a monthly visual check that building staff can perform themselves, a 6-year internal maintenance every six years, and a hydrostatic pressure test at intervals depending on the extinguisher type. The annual inspection is the most critical of these because it is the one performed by a licensed professional who can identify issues that a monthly visual check would miss, such as internal corrosion, agent settling, and valve seal deterioration that develops gradually.
South Florida's commercial property base spans restaurants, offices, hotels, retail stores, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and industrial operations, all of which are required to have properly maintained fire extinguishers. We serve property managers, building owners, and business operators who need a reliable fire extinguisher service company that shows up on schedule, tags every unit correctly, and delivers the written documentation their fire marshal expects. See our full range of fire extinguisher services and related special hazards fire suppression services.
Fire marshals check extinguisher tags on every routine commercial building inspection. An expired tag, a missing tag, or a tag from an unlicensed inspector results in a citation with a correction deadline. Florida Fire Solutions holds license #FPC25-000017 and performs annual fire extinguisher inspections for commercial properties across all four South Florida counties.
Request a Service Appointment →License #FPC25-000017. Every inspection is documented with a written service report and the extinguisher is tagged per Florida Administrative Code 69A-21 and NFPA 10.
What Does Our Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection Include?
The annual fire extinguisher inspection covers every item required by NFPA 10 Section 7.3, which is the standard fire marshals reference when checking compliance.
- Location confirmed: extinguisher is in its designated mounting location and is visible and accessible without obstruction; blocked or relocated extinguishers documented
- Physical condition inspected: shell, handle, hose, nozzle, and safety pin assessed for damage, corrosion, or tampering; any physical damage documented
- Pressure gauge reading confirmed: gauge needle confirmed in the operable range; out-of-range gauge reading documented as requiring recharge or service
- Weight check on CO2 and non-gauged extinguishers: CO2 units weighed to confirm full charge; units without pressure gauges weighed against specified fill weight
- Pull pin and tamper seal confirmed: safety pin in place and tamper-evident seal intact; broken or missing seal documented
- Operating instructions legible: label and operating instructions facing outward and legible; faded or damaged labels documented
- Discharge nozzle and hose inspected: nozzle unobstructed; hose free of cracks and correctly seated; on wheeled units, hose reel condition confirmed
- Mounting hardware assessed: wall bracket, cabinet, or vehicle mount confirmed secure; extinguisher at correct mounting height per NFPA 10
- Annual inspection tag and service report: current date tag punched and attached; written service report produced covering all units inspected; copy left on-site
If any extinguisher is found to require service, recharge, or replacement during the annual inspection, we document the finding and coordinate the corrective action. Common findings include low pressure from gauge drift, missing pull pins, and extinguishers that have been partially discharged without being reported for recharge.
What Are the NFPA 10 Inspection Intervals for Fire Extinguishers?
NFPA 10 requires inspection, maintenance, and testing at different intervals depending on the extinguisher type and service history. Understanding all three intervals helps building owners stay compliant between fire marshal visits.
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Intervals Under NFPA 10
South Florida commercial buildings. All intervals are minimums. Some occupancy types or insurer requirements may require more frequent service.
| Requirement | Who Performs It | Interval | Key Items Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly visual check | Building staff (owner/occupant responsibility) | Monthly | Location, accessibility, pressure gauge, physical damage, tamper seal |
| Annual inspection and certification | Licensed fire equipment dealer | Annual (every 12 months) | Full NFPA 10 Section 7.3 inspection scope; tag affixed; written report produced |
| 6-year internal maintenance | Licensed fire equipment dealer | Every 6 years from manufacture date | Internal inspection; agent removal; reassembly; new seal; recharge if needed |
| Hydrostatic pressure test | Licensed fire equipment dealer with hydrostatic test equipment | Every 5 or 12 years depending on extinguisher type | Shell pressure tested to 1.5x rated working pressure; failed units condemned |
| Recharge after any discharge | Licensed fire equipment dealer | Immediately after any use or partial discharge | Full recharge to specified agent weight; new seal; inspection and tag |
Florida Fire Solutions performs annual inspection, 6-year maintenance, hydrostatic testing, and recharge across all four South Florida counties. Monthly visual checks are the building owner's responsibility under NFPA 10.
Fire Extinguisher Inspection and Certification Across South Florida
Florida Fire Solutions is a licensed fire extinguisher service company covering commercial properties across all four South Florida counties. We inspect, recharge, and certify extinguishers for restaurants, offices, hotels, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and every other commercial occupancy type throughout the region.
Miami-Dade County's commercial property inventory spans hundreds of thousands of buildings, from the restaurant and retail density of Miami Beach and Brickell through the warehouse and industrial corridors of Hialeah and Medley. Every commercial occupancy requires annually inspected and tagged fire extinguishers. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue authority and municipal fire departments check extinguisher tags during routine building inspections throughout the county. We serve Miami-Dade commercial properties with annual fire extinguisher inspection and certification.
View Miami-Dade coverageBroward County's commercial buildings throughout Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and the surrounding communities all require annually certified fire extinguishers. The Broward County Fire authority and municipal fire departments enforce NFPA 10 inspection requirements during routine commercial building inspections. We serve Broward County commercial properties with licensed annual extinguisher inspection, tagging, and written documentation.
View Broward coveragePalm Beach County's commercial property base from Boca Raton through West Palm Beach and Jupiter includes restaurants, offices, retail centers, and industrial facilities all requiring annual extinguisher certification. The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue authority enforces fire extinguisher inspection compliance. We serve Palm Beach County commercial properties with annual NFPA 10 inspection and same-day documentation.
View Palm Beach coverageMonroe County's commercial properties throughout the Florida Keys including hotels, restaurants, marinas, and retail operations require the same annual fire extinguisher inspection as mainland properties. Marine and coastal environments in the Keys accelerate corrosion on extinguisher shells and valve components, making consistent annual inspection especially important for identifying deterioration before it becomes a failure. We serve Monroe County commercial properties as a licensed fire extinguisher service company.
View Monroe County coverageWhy Florida Fire Solutions for Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection
Annual fire extinguisher inspection requires a licensed contractor who physically inspects every unit, tags it correctly, and produces the written documentation your fire marshal expects to see. A sticker swap is not a compliant inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fire Extinguisher Inspection
Under NFPA 10, fire extinguishers in commercial buildings require a monthly visual check by building staff and an annual inspection by a licensed fire equipment dealer. The annual inspection must result in a dated tag affixed to the extinguisher and a written service report. Beyond the annual inspection, NFPA 10 requires internal maintenance every 6 years and hydrostatic testing at intervals of 5 or 12 years depending on the extinguisher type.
Yes. Fire extinguisher tags are one of the first things fire marshals check during routine commercial building inspections. An expired tag, a missing tag, or a tag from an unlicensed inspector results in a citation. The citation carries a correction deadline and, if missed, can escalate to increased fines. This is one of the most consistently enforced NFPA 10 requirements across all four South Florida counties.
Yes. NFPA 10 allows the monthly visual check to be performed by the building occupant or a designated employee. The monthly check covers location, accessibility, physical condition, gauge reading, and tamper seal. It does not require a licensed contractor and does not require a tag change. Only the annual inspection, 6-year maintenance, hydrostatic test, and post-discharge recharge require a licensed fire equipment dealer.
If an extinguisher is found to be out of service during the annual inspection, we document the specific deficiency and advise on the corrective action. Common failures include low pressure requiring recharge, physical damage requiring replacement, and exceeded service intervals requiring 6-year maintenance or hydrostatic testing. We coordinate the corrective service and verify the unit is returned to service before closing the inspection record.
NFPA 10 sets maximum travel distance requirements that determine how many extinguishers are needed based on the building's floor area and hazard classification. For most ordinary commercial occupancies, the maximum travel distance to an extinguisher is 75 feet. Higher-hazard occupancies have shorter travel distance requirements. We assess extinguisher placement and quantity during the inspection and flag any gaps where additional units may be needed.
Schedule Your Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection
Call us or send a message. We inspect every unit, affix current tags, and deliver a written NFPA 10 service report before we leave your property. Licensed contractor. All four South Florida counties.
Reviewed by the Florida Fire Solutions Team. Licensed fire protection contractor, License #FPC25-000017. Serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe County. All content reflects current NFPA 10 requirements and Florida fire code standards enforced by the Florida State Fire Marshal.
Last updated: May 2025