Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguisher sales, service, installation, recharge, annual and 6-year maintenance, hydrostatic testing, and training for businesses across Southern California. NFPA 10 compliant service.
Ready the Moment You Need It
Does your business or building need new fire extinguishers? Do you need your existing fire extinguishers serviced, installed, repaired or refilled? Hedrick Fire Protection sells, services, installs, repairs, and refills all brands of fire extinguishers. HFP is an authorized distributor and reseller for major brands such as Amerex, Ansul, Badger, Buckeye, Victory and more!
A fire extinguisher is one of the most important aspects of fire safety. Our licensed service technicians are actively servicing clients all over Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties).
Why Regular Extinguisher Service Matters
A portable extinguisher is often the first and fastest response to a small fire, and it has to work on the first try. Pressure can bleed off, dry chemical can pack down and clog, seals can fail, and a cylinder can corrode from the inside where you cannot see it. The standard that governs all of this is NFPA 10, the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, which sets a layered schedule of checks so a problem is caught long before the moment you reach for the handle.
Know Your Fire Classes
Not every extinguisher fights every fire. Extinguishers are rated by the class of fire they are designed for, and using the wrong type can make a fire worse. The five classes are:
- Class A: Ordinary combustibles. Wood, paper, cloth, trash, and most plastics.
- Class B: Flammable liquids and gases. Gasoline, oil, grease, paint, and solvents.
- Class C: Energized electrical equipment. Wiring, panels, motors, and appliances under power.
- Class D: Combustible metals. Magnesium, titanium, sodium, and similar metals.
- Class K: Cooking oils and fats. Commercial kitchen fryers and griddles.
Our Fire Extinguisher Services
Our licensed technicians handle the full lifecycle of your extinguishers.
Annual Extinguisher Service
NFPA 10 requires a thorough maintenance examination once a year by a certified technician. We inspect the mechanical parts, the extinguishing agent, the hose, and the gauge, confirm the unit is fully charged and correctly placed, install a fresh tamper seal, and attach a dated service tag so your records are inspection ready.
Six-Year Service
Every six years, stored-pressure extinguishers must be emptied and opened for an internal examination. We inspect the inside of the cylinder for corrosion or damage that a gauge reading cannot reveal, then recharge the unit, install a new collar, and return it to service.
Monthly Inspections
A quick monthly visual check confirms each extinguisher is in its place and accessible, the gauge reads in the green, the pull pin and tamper seal are intact, the label is legible, and there is no visible damage or corrosion. Trained staff can perform these between professional visits, and we can set up the program or handle the inspections for you.
Extinguisher Training
An extinguisher only helps if your people know how to use it under pressure. We provide hands-on training that covers how to choose the right extinguisher for the fire, the PASS technique (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep), and when it is safer to evacuate and call the fire department.
Extinguisher Demonstrations
We offer live demonstrations so your team can see and practice discharging an extinguisher in a controlled setting. Practicing once makes a real difference in how confidently and effectively staff respond to an actual fire.
Installations
We select the right extinguishers for your hazards and mount them at the proper height with clear signage and correct spacing, so every point on the floor is within the travel distance required by NFPA 10. Proper placement is just as important as having the right unit.
Hydrostatic Testing
Hydrostatic testing pressure-tests the cylinder to verify it can safely hold pressure. Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers are tested every 12 years, while CO2, water, and wet chemical (Class K) units are tested every 5 years. Non-rechargeable extinguishers cannot be tested and must be removed from service 12 years after their manufacture date.
Contact our staff to learn more about our fire extinguisher services in San Diego and other service areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a question about fire extinguishers? Our team is one call away.
How often do fire extinguishers need to be serviced?
NFPA 10 sets four intervals: a monthly visual inspection, an annual maintenance examination by a certified technician, a 6-year internal examination for stored-pressure units, and a hydrostatic test every 12 years (every 5 years for CO2, water, and wet chemical types). An extinguisher must also be recharged immediately after any use.
Who can perform fire extinguisher inspections?
Trained building staff can perform the monthly visual inspections. The annual maintenance, 6-year internal examination, and hydrostatic testing must be performed by a trained and certified technician, which is what our licensed team provides.
What do the letters and numbers on an extinguisher mean?
The letters are the fire classes the unit is rated for (A, B, C, D, or K). The numbers indicate relative capacity. For example, a 2A:10B:C rating means it has the Class A capacity equivalent to 2.5 gallons of water, can cover 10 square feet of flammable liquid fire, and is safe to use on energized electrical equipment.
What is the difference between the 6-year service and hydrostatic testing?
The 6-year service is an internal examination: the extinguisher is emptied and opened so the inside of the cylinder can be inspected, then recharged. The 12-year hydrostatic test pressure-tests the cylinder itself to confirm its structural integrity. They are separate requirements that happen on different schedules.
How long does a fire extinguisher last?
A rechargeable extinguisher can be serviced and kept in use indefinitely as long as it passes its examinations and hydrostatic tests. A non-rechargeable (disposable) unit must be removed from service 12 years after its manufacture date. Any extinguisher with corrosion, damage, or a failed test is condemned and replaced.
Which extinguisher do I need for my space?
It depends on the hazards present. A typical office or retail space uses an ABC dry chemical extinguisher, while a kitchen needs a Class K unit and a server room may call for a CO2 unit. We assess your space, recommend the right types, and place them to meet code. Commercial kitchens also need a fixed UL 300 restaurant fire system alongside the portable Class K extinguisher.