NFPA 10 sets four intervals for portable fire extinguishers, and Louisiana adopts it through the State Fire Marshal. Missing any one of them can turn a routine fire marshal visit into a citation.
Monthly: a quick visual check that the building owner or staff can do. Confirm the extinguisher is in its spot, not blocked, the pressure gauge is in the green, the pin and tamper seal are intact, and there's no visible damage. Initial and date the tag.
Annually: a full maintenance inspection by a licensed contractor. The technician checks the mechanical parts, extinguishing agent, and expelling means, then attaches a new annual service tag. This is the tag the fire marshal looks for.
Every 6 years: stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers are emptied, internally examined, and recharged. Every 12 years (5 years for CO2 and water types): a hydrostatic pressure test of the cylinder, or replacement.
Extinguishers must also be recharged after any use, even a short discharge. A partially used unit will lose pressure and fail when you need it.
In Lake Charles, Sulphur, and across Calcasieu Parish, InspectBlaze schedules the annual inspections and tracks the 6- and 12-year dates for every unit on your property, so nothing goes out of date between visits.
Need help? See our fire extinguisher inspection & recharge in Lake Charles.