Fire extinguishers are your first line of defence in a workplace fire, but only if they work when you need them. A monthly visual inspection takes less than ten minutes per unit and catches problems before they become safety hazards or compliance failures.
This guide walks through the complete monthly inspection process, covering everything from accessibility and signage through to pressure checks, physical condition and record-keeping. It applies to all portable extinguisher types (water, foam, dry chemical, CO2 and wet chemical).
Before you start
Gather your inspection tag or digital inspection checklist, a pen and a torch for dimly lit areas such as plant rooms, stairwells and loading docks.
If your site has a fire extinguisher register or asset tracking system, pull up the list to confirm the total count and locations before you begin. Missing units are one of the most common findings.
Step-by-step inspection
1. Check accessibility and signage
Walk to the designated location. The extinguisher should be clearly visible, unobstructed and mounted at the correct height (handle no higher than 1.2 m from the floor in Australia). Confirm the location sign is present and legible from a reasonable distance.
- Not blocked by furniture, stock, vehicles or equipment
- Travel distance from any point in the area is within limits
- Location sign present and legible: white symbol, border and lettering on a red field, and clearly visible on approach
Fire and Rescue NSW publishes the numbers behind those checks. The extinguisher handle sits no higher than 1200 mm above the floor and no lower than 100 mm, the sign goes at least 2000 mm above floor level, and the extinguisher or its sign should be visible from up to 20 m on approach. AS 2444 is the standard for selecting and locating extinguishers; the white-on-red colours come from AS 2700.
Sources, all checked 22 August 2026: Fire and Rescue NSW: portable fire extinguisher information for business · ACT Emergency Services Agency: fire safety guideline FSG-05
2. Inspect the tamper seal and safety pin
The plastic tamper seal should be intact. If it is broken or missing, the extinguisher may have been used, partially discharged or tampered with. Check the safety pin is properly seated and not bent.
3. Read the pressure gauge
Look at the pressure gauge (not present on CO2 types). The needle should be in the green zone. If it sits in the red zone on either side, the unit is under- or over-pressurised and must be taken out of service for recharging.
4. Examine the body, hose and nozzle
Run your hands and eyes over the cylinder. You are looking for:
- Dents, bulges or deformation
- Corrosion, rust or paint damage (especially at the base)
- Leakage around the valve or hose connection
- Cracked, split or blocked hose and nozzle
For wheeled units, also check the wheels and carriage frame.
5. Verify the service tag and expiry
Every extinguisher should carry a service tag showing the last service date and the technician's details. In Australia the routine service schedule for portable extinguishers sits in AS 1851-2012 Section 10. That standard is not itself the law: each state and territory decides whether and how to adopt it, so confirm what applies at your address before you rely on any single figure. Check:
- Last service date is within the interval that applies on your site
- Cylinder test date, where the extinguisher type calls for one. This is not one interval across all types, so check yours against what your service provider records
- Manufacture date (units over a certain age may need to be retired)
6. Record the inspection
Sign and date the inspection tag attached to the extinguisher. If your team uses a digital checklist, complete it on your phone or tablet. Capture a photo of any defects and raise a work order for units that need servicing.
Common defects to watch for
| Defect | Action |
|---|---|
| Pressure gauge in red zone | Remove from service, arrange recharge |
| Broken tamper seal or missing pin | Inspect internally, recharge if discharged |
| Corrosion on body or base | Send for professional assessment |
| Blocked or cracked hose | Replace hose assembly |
| Overdue service tag | Schedule immediate servicing |
| Unit missing from location | Investigate and replace immediately |
After the inspection
Summarise your findings in a report. If any units failed the inspection, ensure replacement extinguishers are in place before the end of the shift. Fire protection is not something you can defer.
Store inspection records for at least seven years. That is the period NSW requires building owners to keep AS 1851-2012 records for, and it covers the shorter periods set elsewhere; your insurer may ask for longer again. Digital records via an inspection and compliance platform make retrieval straightforward during audits.
Monthly vs annual inspections
Monthly visual checks are performed by a competent person on your team. The servicing cycle underneath them belongs to a fire protection technician. The two are complementary, not interchangeable, and the second one varies more than most guides admit: AS 1851-2012 sets the schedule, but it only binds you where your state or territory has adopted it. NSW, for instance, made AS 1851-2012 mandatory for class 1b and class 2 to 9 buildings from 13 February 2026. Queensland runs its equivalent through the Queensland Development Code MP 6.1, and South Australia through Ministerial Building Standard 002.
| Check type | Frequency | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Monthly. This is site practice under your general work health and safety duties, not a figure AS 1851 sets for you | Trained site personnel |
| Routine service (AS 1851-2012 Section 10) | Six-monthly. Victoria's CFA describes the same cycle as one service and one inspection within every 12-month period | Fire protection technician, competent under your state's rules |
| Five-yearly service (AS 1851-2012 Section 10) | Every 5 years. What this service involves, and whether the cylinder itself is pressure tested, depends on the extinguisher type | Fire protection technician |
| Statement to the authority | Annual in Queensland (occupier's statement to the Queensland Fire Department) and South Australia (Form 3, at the start of each calendar year). NSW runs an annual fire safety statement regime | Building owner or occupier |
One figure is repeated so often it is worth flagging: there is no single pressure-test interval that covers every extinguisher. A stored-pressure water, foam or powder unit and a CO2 unit are different pieces of equipment, and a CO2 cylinder is a gas cylinder carrying its own inspection and test regime. Published intervals for CO2 in particular disagree with each other. Ask the technician who services your site what applies to each type you hold rather than working from one number.
Sources, all checked 22 August 2026: NSW Building Commission: responsibilities of building owners under AS 1851-2012 · CFA Victoria: fire equipment services · Business Queensland: fire safety installations in buildings · SA Metropolitan Fire Service: maintenance of fire safety systems · ACT Emergency Services Agency: fire safety guideline FSG-05
Download the annual inspection record template to keep a paper trail between digital system updates.
Going digital with MapTrack
Paper tags get lost, damaged or forgotten. With MapTrack, you can attach a QR code label to each extinguisher and scan it with your phone to launch the inspection form. The system automatically captures the timestamp, GPS location and inspector name.
Overdue inspections trigger automated alerts so nothing slips through the cracks, and all records are stored centrally for audits and insurer requests.
