How to Read a Fire Extinguisher Tag

To check if the fire equipment is due to be serviced in your workplace, the best place to start is by checking the date tag. 

The date tag is located on the extinguisher.

Australian Standard 1851 – 2012 states the following: 

1.16.4 Tags & Labels 

1.16.4.1 General 

“Service Records in the form of tags or labels shall contain the following information:

a) A Title – AS 1851 Service Record 

b) Recording of the following: 

i. The service performed on the fire hydrant valve, lay flat hose, hose reel, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, which shall be etched, embossed, stamped or indelibly marked on the tag or label in the space corresponding to the year and month in which the service was performed, with a figure representing the activity as follows: 

. = three-monthly (identifiable by a dot on a label or a hole in a tag) 

1 = six-monthly 

2 = yearly 

3 = three-yearly, where applicable 

4 = five-yearly 

5 = recharge after use, where applicable” 

Looking at the date tag below you can clearly see that the extinguisher year is marked 2015 and the extinguisher has been last serviced in August 2015. The next routine service will need to be performed six months later, making the service due in February 2016. 

Sometimes it may be a little unclear to identify the marking but by turning the tag over it may make it clearer to see the figure (., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) which identifies the level of service performed. On the example below you can see that the Level 1 service was completed in February 2015 and the Level 2 service was completed in August 2015. At Buddy’s Fire, we change the colour of the anti-tamper every six months so that a quick visual check can be made to ensure that all equipment has been serviced within the same six-month period. 

You can also refer to your service maintenance records that are supplied by your service provider to identify when the fire equipment will next require servicing within your workplace. If you are unsure or have any questions, call your service provider.