The OSHA requirements for inspection, maintenance, and testing of fire extinguishers include:
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All portable fire extinguishers in the workplace must be inspected, maintained, and tested.
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The extinguishers should be visually inspected a least once each month. This inspection should include ensuring that there is clear access to the extinguisher so that an employee can easily reach it in the event of a fire and that the extinguisher is still in place, hasn''''''''t been damaged, and appears to be in working order (if the extinguisher has a gauge, it shows as full and that the safety pin is still in place-indicating that the fire extinguisher has not been used). Fire extinguishers that are damaged or missing should be replaced immediately.
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Perform an annual maintenance check on portable extinguishers. An internal examination of stored pressure extinguishers is not required. The date of the maintenance check should be recorded and the record of the check should be retained for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Also, you are required to empty and maintain dry chemical extinguishers (that require a 12-year hydrostatic test) every six years. (Dry chemical extinguishers that have nonrefillable, disposable containers are exempt from this requirement.) Note that when recharging or hydrostatic testing is performed, the six-year requirement begins from that date.
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Provide a replacement extinguisher when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging. The replacement should be of the same (or equivalent) type (for example, an ABC extinguisher can be used as a replacement for a Class C fire extinguisher but one that is rated for Class A fires only cannot).
