How often must extinguishers be serviced?

At least once a year, as a result of the monthly checks and with a guarantee under NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.18). The employer must also check them every month under an annual programme (point 7.2).

How do I know when the last service was?

From the label on the front of the extinguisher, which must show the provider's details and RFC and the punched month and year of service (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, point 7.1), and on dry-chemical extinguishers with a gauge from the collar showing the year and month of service and the verification unit's hologram (point 7.2).

What about obsolete extinguishers?

Obsolete extinguishers, such as soda-acid, chemical foam or vaporising-liquid types, must not be serviced, and the provider must tell the owner they have to be discarded and replaced (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, points 5.6.1 and 5.6.2).

MX · Expiry & renewal tracking

No extinguisher should go more than a year without servicing

In every Mexican workplace, the employer checks fire extinguishers monthly and has them serviced at least once a year by a provider complying with NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (NOM-002-STPS-2010, points 7.2 and 7.18). Service is evidenced by the label and collar punched with month and year (NOM-154, point 7).

NOM-002-STPS-2010 sets the requirements for fire prevention and protection in workplaces; it applies throughout Mexico and in all workplaces (points 1 and 2). The employer must meet the prevention and protection conditions of Chapter 7 (point 5.4) and have fire detection means and fire-fighting equipment in areas classed as ordinary fire risk, plus fixed systems and alarms in high-risk areas (point 5.10).

For extinguishers, the employer must draw up an annual programme of monthly checks and make sure, among other things, that they are in the location shown on the floor plan, visible, easy to reach and free of obstacles (point 7.2). It must have them serviced as a result of those monthly checks, at least once a year, with the service guaranteed under NOM-154-SCFI-2005; while an extinguisher is being serviced it must be replaced in the same spot by another of at least the same type and capacity (point 7.18). Recharging is required after each use and, where applicable, as a result of servicing, also guaranteed under NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (point 7.19).

NOM-154-SCFI-2005 applies to individuals and companies that provide extinguisher maintenance and recharge services (point 2, as amended in 2010). Maintenance means a complete internal and external inspection of the extinguisher, with functional tests and, where needed, repairs, replacement of parts and full replacement of the extinguishing agent (point 4.5). The provider must hold a favourable report from an accredited and approved verification unit (point 10.2), guarantee the equipment for at least one year as long as the seal or tamper tag is intact (point 5.6.7), fit a label with its details, tax ID (RFC), the fire classes and the punched month and year of service (point 7.1) and, on dry-chemical extinguishers with a gauge, a collar showing the year and month of service and the verification unit's hologram (point 7.2). Stored-pressure cylinders for water, carbon dioxide and dry chemical undergo a hydrostatic test at least every five years (point 5.6).

The employer must show the labour authority, on request, the documents NOM-002-STPS-2010 requires it to prepare and keep (point 5.12); that standard is enforced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (STPS) (point 14.1), and NOM-154-SCFI-2005 by the Ministry of Economy, the STPS and the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (point 11).

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At a glance

Who it applies to	All workplaces in Mexico (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 2)
In-house checks	Annual programme of monthly extinguisher checks by the employer (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.2)
Maintenance	At least once a year, guaranteed under NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.18)
Recharge	After each use and, where applicable, as a result of maintenance (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.19)
Who provides the service	Providers holding a favourable report from an accredited and approved verification unit (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, point 10.2)
How it is evidenced	Label with the provider's details and RFC and the punched month and year of service; collar with year and month and the verification unit's hologram on dry-chemical extinguishers with a gauge (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, points 7.1 and 7.2)
Hydrostatic test	At least every five years for stored-pressure cylinders for water, carbon dioxide and dry chemical (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, point 5.6)
During servicing	The extinguisher removed is replaced in the same spot by one of the same type and capacity (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.18)

The number and placement of extinguishers depend on the risk level: at least one per 300 square metres for ordinary risk and one per 200 for high risk, within the travel distances of Table 1 and no higher than 1.50 metres (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.17).

Who is responsible?

The employer: it draws up the annual programme of monthly checks (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.2), arranges maintenance at least once a year and recharging (points 7.18 and 7.19), and shows the documents to the labour authority on request (point 5.12). Workers must follow the prevention measures and must not block, damage or misuse fire-fighting equipment (points 6.2 and 6.8). The service provider records each job on a numbered service order with the date, client, type and capacity of the extinguishers and keeps the documentation for at least two years (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, points 7.3.1 and 7.3.2).

If the deadline passes

NOM-002-STPS-2010 requires maintenance at least once a year (point 7.18); an extinguisher whose label or collar was punched more than a year ago no longer meets that deadline. The provider's guarantee covers the equipment for at least one year as long as the seal or tamper tag is intact (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, point 5.6.7). Enforcement rests with the STPS (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 14.1), to which the employer must show the standard's documents on request (point 5.12); in conformity assessment, compliance with points 5.4 and 7 is checked by physical and documentary verification (point 13).

High fire-risk workplaces

Workplaces classed as high fire risk must also hold one of these documents: the STPS verification record and minutes under the Self-Management Programme for Occupational Safety and Health, a compliance report from an accredited and approved verification unit, or the inspection record of the local civil protection authority (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 5.11).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each workplace (or each extinguisher, if you want individual tracking) as a record and enter as the expiry date the month and year punched on the label or collar plus one year.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the day, leaving time to book the service provider and arrange replacement extinguishers.
The service provider can upload the numbered service order or the list of extinguishers serviced through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as safety and hygiene or maintenance; if a workplace passes its date without service, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must extinguishers be serviced?: At least once a year, as a result of the monthly checks and with a guarantee under NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.18). The employer must also check them every month under an annual programme (point 7.2).
Who can provide maintenance and recharge services?: Individuals or companies that provide the service under NOM-154-SCFI-2005 (point 2) and hold a favourable report from an accredited and approved verification unit (point 10.2). They must use certified parts and extinguishing agents and must not modify parts (points 5.6.5 and 5.6.6).
How do I know when the last service was?: From the label on the front of the extinguisher, which must show the provider's details and RFC and the punched month and year of service (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, point 7.1), and on dry-chemical extinguishers with a gauge from the collar showing the year and month of service and the verification unit's hologram (point 7.2).
What do I do with the extinguisher while it is being serviced?: It must be replaced in the same spot by another of at least the same type and capacity (NOM-002-STPS-2010, point 7.18).
What about obsolete extinguishers?: Obsolete extinguishers, such as soda-acid, chemical foam or vaporising-liquid types, must not be serviced, and the provider must tell the owner they have to be discarded and replaced (NOM-154-SCFI-2005, points 5.6.1 and 5.6.2).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 7, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for annual fire extinguisher maintenance (Mexico)

A ready template for annual fire extinguisher maintenance (Mexico) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each annual fire extinguisher maintenance (Mexico) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each annual fire extinguisher maintenance (Mexico) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.