New York City Fire Extinguisher Requirements
In New York City, all commercial buildings(apartments, businesses, warehouses) are required to have fire extinguishers which must be properly maintained and have up-to-date city specific tags. Along with a new fire extinguisher will come a tag that can help prove fire code compliance to local fire marshalls.
Buying fire extinguishers from the local home improvement store does not certify your fire extinguisher for commercial use. A fire extinguisher must be obtained from a licensed fire protection company to ensure it’s ready for commercial use.
Fire Marshall Inspection
Every year, a fire marshall will stop by to inspect the fire extinguishers in the building.
If a fire extinguisher does not have a valid tag, it will be removed from the building and the building owner will then be responsible for replacing the fire extinguisher. Usually a fire marshall gives a month's time to remediate any violations in fire code. If violations are still there after multiple visits, this can lead to fines.
The best way to handle this is to contact your local licensed fire protection company to ensure fire code compliance prior to the fire marshall’s visit.
Fire Extinguisher Tags
New York City has specific tags that are unique to the city and comply with local fire code. Fire extinguisher tags show that the device has been inspected and is in working order.
Although fire extinguishers can last up to 12 years, yearly inspections ensure that the fire extinguisher will most likely work in the case of an emergency. Along with the inspection, the tag will be updated to show proof of inspection.
According to the New York City Fire Department, all fire extinguishers must be tagged with the date of their last inspection. The tags must be placed on the fire extinguisher in a way that is visible and easily accessible. If you are a business owner or manager in New York City, it is your responsibility to make sure that your fire extinguishers are properly inspected and tagged.
If you have any questions about the requirements, you can contact us to ensure you’re compliant with New York Fire Code.