How often should fire extinguishers be inspected for general maintenance?

Fire extinguishers should be inspected on a monthly basis for general maintenance to ensure that they are in proper working condition and ready for use in the event of a fire. This monthly inspection includes checking for physical damage, confirming that the pressure gauge is in the operable range, ensuring that the extinguisher is easily accessible, and verifying that inspection tags are current. This regular check-up is crucial as it allows for the identification of any issues before they become critical.

While there are other inspection and maintenance schedules such as annual inspections conducted by trained professionals or more extensive hydrostatic testing every five years, these are supplementary to the monthly checks that are the responsibility of building management or safety personnel. Thus, adherence to the monthly inspection requirement is essential for maintaining fire safety standards and ensuring preparedness in case of an emergency.