Most people look closely at the tag on their fire extinguisher only when an inspector does. That tag is a legal record in California: it shows when a licensed technician last serviced the unit and who did it. This guide answers the questions business owners ask most about reading it, keeping the monthly record, and fixing a tag that is missing or out of date.
For the full list of what must be printed on a California tag, the license (E) and registration (EE) numbers, and the most common tag myths, see our Annual Inspection & Tagging page.
Is my tag current? A 30-second check
- Find the most recent punched month and year. That is the date the annual maintenance was done, not an expiration date. California requires maintenance every year, so the next one is due within 12 months of that punch.
- Look at the latest year on the tag. One tag can carry up to five years of service blocks, so an older year may still be printed on a tag that was punched recently.
- Check the "new extinguisher" block. If that block is punched instead of the service block, a licensed company sold the unit new on that date, and its first annual maintenance is due a year later. A unit more than two years past its manufacture date can't be tagged as new.
- Check the handwriting. The service date, the technician's registration (EE) number and their signature are written on the day of service. Stamped initials don't count.
- Look at the neck of the cylinder. A plastic ring under the valve means the unit was recharged or opened for internal maintenance. Carbon dioxide and cartridge-operated units don't get one.
If the latest punch is more than 12 months old, or there is no tag at all, the extinguisher is due for service.
The monthly record: what you write and where
The annual tag is the technician's job. The monthly check is yours. California requires the building owner, occupant or someone they designate to inspect each extinguisher at least once a month, and the local fire authority can require it more often.
Each month, record the date and the initials of the person who checked, in one of three places:
- on a tag or label attached to the extinguisher,
- on an inspection checklist you keep on file, or
- in an electronic system, such as barcodes, that keeps a permanent record.
Our tags have a grid on the back for exactly this: whoever checks the extinguisher writes the date and their initials in the month's box. Keep these records until the next required maintenance, including for any unit that needed a fix. Don't stick anything on the front of the service tag, such as an inventory sticker or a note. The rules don't allow it.
For employers: Cal/OSHA separately requires a monthly visual inspection and an annual maintenance check, and the annual maintenance date must be kept on record for one year after the last entry or for the life of the shell, whichever is less. Title 19 is what adds the written monthly date and initials.
What an inspector looks at on the tag
An expired or missing extinguisher is one of the most common problems fire authorities find. The Orange County Fire Authority, for example, lists "missing or expired fire extinguishers" among the violations that can hold up a fire clearance sign-off. When the tag is checked, the rules point to five things:
- A current annual tag on every extinguisher, punched within the last 12 months.
- A tag that hasn't been removed, altered or defaced. Only service can replace it.
- Nothing covering the front of the tag.
- A monthly record on the tag, a checklist or an electronic log.
- No condemned unit left in service.
If you've already received a notice, our fire code violation correction service can help you clear it.
Common tag problems and what to do
The tag is torn, missing or fell off. Don't make a new one or move a tag from another unit. A service tag may only be attached by the person who performed or supervised the service. The fix is a service visit. When a tag goes missing, we schedule a service call for that unit and certify it right away; we don't wait for your next annual visit.
The tag is out of date. Leave it on. No one may remove a tag except when the unit is serviced; the technician replaces it when the work is done.
We bought an extinguisher at a store and it has no tag. We service and tag extinguishers bought elsewhere. Include it in your next annual service. When a licensed company sells a new unit, it can punch the "new extinguisher" block on the sale date, but only for units less than two years past manufacture. For new units, see our extinguisher sales and installation.
An extinguisher has to leave for recharge or a hydrostatic test. In a workplace, Cal/OSHA requires equivalent protection to be in place while units are out for maintenance and recharging. When we take an extinguisher to our shop for a recharge or a hydrostatic test, we leave equivalent protection in place until we bring it back. See recharge and refill and hydrostatic testing.
A red tag that says "Condemned." That unit has been taken out of service and can't legally go back. It must be destroyed by the owner or at the owner's direction, and replaced.
Tag colors changed from last year. That's normal. California has no year-by-year color code. The only color rule is that service tags may not be red.
Frequently asked questions
Is the date punched on the tag the expiration date? No. It is the date of the last annual maintenance. The next one is due within 12 months.
Can we punch our own tag after the monthly check? No. The punch records the licensed annual service, and only the person who did that service may attach the tag. Your monthly check is recorded with a date and initials instead.
Can the monthly record go on the tag itself? Yes. California allows the monthly date and initials on a tag or label attached to the extinguisher, on a checklist on file, or in an electronic system. Our tags have a monthly grid on the back for it.
How long do we keep monthly records? Until the next required maintenance. Employers also keep the annual maintenance date for a year after the last entry under Cal/OSHA.
Book your annual inspection and tagging
SOS Fire Services holds State Fire Marshal license E2390. Our technicians service and tag your extinguishers on site. Book an annual inspection and tagging visit.
Sources
- California Code of Regulations, Title 19, §574.1: Frequency of Inspection
- Title 19, §574.5: Inspection Record Keeping
- Title 19, §575.1: Maintenance and Required Service Intervals
- Title 19, §596 (annual maintenance tags, collars and labels)
- Title 19, §596.6 (who may attach a tag)
- Title 19, §596.7 (removing or altering tags)
- Title 19, §577.1 (condemned extinguishers)
- Cal/OSHA, Title 8, §6151: Portable Fire Extinguishers
- Orange County Fire Authority: Prevention Field Services
