Fire Extinguisher Inspection & Servicing
Portable extinguishers are the simplest fire protection to keep compliant — and among the most commonly deficient items on fire inspection reports. Canadian fire codes require monthly visual checks, annual maintenance by a qualified agency, and periodic internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing based on extinguisher type.
The service schedule
Monthly, someone on site should confirm each unit is in place, charged, sealed and unobstructed — a 30-second check per unit, logged. Annually, a licensed servicing company examines each extinguisher, replaces tags, and performs required maintenance. Dry chemical units need internal examination every 6 years and hydrostatic shell testing every 12; CO2 and water types have their own intervals.
Placement and selection
Compliance is not just tags. The code sets maximum travel distances to an extinguisher, mounting heights, and class requirements matched to the hazard — a commercial kitchen needs K-class near the cooking line; an electrical room, appropriate ratings. Our review confirms coverage as well as condition.
Why inspectors flag it
Expired tags are visible at a glance, which makes extinguishers the easiest order for an inspector to write — and an expired tag signals to the inspector that other maintenance is probably lapsed too. Keeping them current is cheap credibility.
How the process works
- Count your units and note types if visible on the labels — or we survey on the first visit.
- We match a licensed extinguisher servicing company in your city.
- All units are serviced on site or swapped; placement gaps are flagged.
- You receive updated tags and a service record for your fire safety file.
- Annual recall is automatic so tags never lapse.
Who regulates this in each province
| Province / Territory | Governing code | Key authority |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) | the Office of the Fire Marshal and your local fire service |
| Quebec | Quebec Safety Code (Chapter VIII, Building) | Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) |
| British Columbia | BC Fire Code | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Alberta | National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Fire Code | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Saskatchewan | National Fire Code as adopted in Saskatchewan | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Fire Safety Regulations | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| New Brunswick | National Fire Code as adopted by the Office of the Fire Marshal | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Fire Protection Services Act and adopted National Fire Code | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Prince Edward Island | Fire Prevention Act and adopted National Fire Code | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Yukon | National Fire Code as enforced by the Yukon Fire Marshal | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Northwest Territories | National Fire Code under the Fire Prevention Act | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
| Nunavut | National Fire Code under the Fire Safety Act | the provincial fire marshal’s office and your local fire service |
Frequently asked questions
Can I just buy new extinguishers instead of servicing?
For small units it is sometimes cheaper — but new units still need correct placement, mounting and monthly checks, and disposal of old pressurized units has its own rules. Servicing is usually simpler at scale.
What is hydrostatic testing?
Pressure-testing the cylinder shell (typically every 12 years for dry chemical) to prove it can safely hold pressure. Units that fail are condemned.
How many extinguishers does my building need?
It depends on floor area, hazard class and travel distance rules. A placement review answers it precisely — most small commercial units need more than they have.
Do I really need the monthly checks if I have annual service?
Yes — the code requires both, and the monthly log is what proves the unit was in place between annual visits.
Fire Extinguisher Inspection & Servicing by city
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Learn more →Get a fast, free compliance quote
Tell us what you need for fire extinguisher inspection & servicing — we reply within one business day with the applicable requirements and a clear price.