AR · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let an extinguisher in your building or premises pass its recharge date
In Buenos Aires City the recharge or maintenance of a fire extinguisher is valid for one year and may only be done by a firm registered with the Government Control Agency (Building Code, Article 5.1.7.2). Every building needs a portable extinguisher on each floor, at least one per 200 m² (Article 3.9.9.3.3).
The Building Code of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, in its Title 5 on conservation and maintenance, provides that all extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment must be manufactured, repaired, recharged and installed by natural or legal persons listed in the Register of Manufacturers, Repairers and Rechargers of Extinguishers and Fire-Fighting Equipment, which operates under the Government Control Agency (AGC) (Article 5.1.7.2, as worded by Law 6438, Article 111).
The recharge or maintenance of an extinguisher is valid for one year. Together with the maintenance or recharge procedure, a single complete inspection or check of the extinguisher's condition must be carried out, as set out in the Technical Regulations. All extinguishers must be manufactured, repaired, recharged and installed under the guidelines of those Technical Regulations, and the Government Control Agency issues registered firms a registration certificate valid for one year (Article 5.1.7.2).
The same Code requires every building to have a portable extinguisher on each floor, in accessible and practical places, distributed at no fewer than one per two hundred square metres or fraction of the floor's total area, with the features required by the Technical Regulations (Article 3.9.9.3.3, as worded by Law 6438, Article 106). Law 6438 abrogated Ordinance 40.473, which previously governed the register (Article 117); the one-year validity rule had already been introduced into that ordinance by Law 6116 (Article 14).
At a glance
| Validity of recharge or maintenance | 1 year (Buenos Aires City Building Code, Art. 5.1.7.2, as worded by Law 6438 Art. 111) |
|---|---|
| Who may recharge | Only natural or legal persons listed in the Government Control Agency's Register of Manufacturers, Repairers and Rechargers of Extinguishers (Art. 5.1.7.2) |
| Check | With the recharge, a single complete inspection or check of the extinguisher's condition, per the Technical Regulations (Art. 5.1.7.2) |
| Minimum number | A portable extinguisher on every floor, at least one per 200 m² or fraction (Art. 3.9.9.3.3, as worded by Law 6438 Art. 106) |
| Recharging firm's certificate | Valid one year, personal and non-transferable, issued by the AGC (Art. 5.1.7.2) |
| Implementing rules | Resolution 405/AGC/2019: registration declaration (REECI) with a technical director and liability insurance; confirms the validity of extinguisher cards issued since Law 6116 (Arts. 1 and 2) |
A rule of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires; it does not apply outside the City. Law 6438 was published in the City's Official Gazette on 17 Aug 2021 and applies from 60 working days after publication (Official Gazette record). The Technical Regulations detailing the check and the card system are not reproduced here.
Who is responsible?
The Building Code places the manufacture, repair, recharge and installation of extinguishers in the hands of firms listed in the Government Control Agency's register, which must follow the Technical Regulations (Art. 5.1.7.2). Those firms register through a declaration signed by the responsible citizen and a technical director, swearing that they know the applicable rules, that the data is accurate and that they hold valid liability insurance (Resolution 405/AGC/2019, Annex I). The owner of the building or premises must keep extinguishers on each floor as the Code requires (Art. 3.9.9.3.3) and should ask the supplier for proof of current registration.
If the deadline passes
Once the one-year validity of the recharge or maintenance has passed, the extinguisher no longer meets the condition set by the Building Code (Art. 5.1.7.2) and the building no longer has the compliant extinguishers required by Article 3.9.9.3.3. The Government Control Agency is the authority in charge of the register (Art. 5.1.7.2). The penalty regime applicable to owners is not reproduced on this page.
One expiry date per extinguisher
Each recharge creates its own expiry date one year later (Building Code, Art. 5.1.7.2), and a single building usually has units recharged on different dates. Record each extinguisher separately, with its location, so the supplier can collect and recharge the right ones without leaving a floor without a compliant extinguisher.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each extinguisher, with its location in the building or premises, and record the recharge expiry date, one year after the last recharge.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day.
- The recharging firm or the caretaker can upload a photo of the extinguisher card or the recharge receipt through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the maintenance lead or the building administrator; if a recharge expires, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often is an extinguisher recharged in Buenos Aires City?
- The recharge or maintenance of an extinguisher is valid for one year (Buenos Aires City Building Code, Art. 5.1.7.2, as worded by Law 6438).
- Who may carry out the recharge?
- Only natural or legal persons listed in the Register of Manufacturers, Repairers and Rechargers of Extinguishers and Fire-Fighting Equipment under the Government Control Agency; their registration certificate is valid for one year (Art. 5.1.7.2).
- Is a separate check needed besides the recharge?
- Together with the maintenance or recharge procedure, a single complete inspection or check of the extinguisher's condition is carried out, as set out in the Technical Regulations (Art. 5.1.7.2).
- How many extinguishers must a building have?
- A portable extinguisher on each floor, in accessible and practical places, distributed at no fewer than one per two hundred square metres or fraction of the floor area (Buenos Aires City Building Code, Art. 3.9.9.3.3).
Sources
- Ley 6438 (CABA), texto completo con el Código de Edificación modificado: artículos 106, 111 y 117; Código de Edificación arts. 3.9.9.3.3 y 5.1.7.2 (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad, separata)
- Ley 6438 (CABA), ficha, publicación 17/8/2021 y normas relacionadas (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires)
- Ley 6116 (CABA), artículos 11 a 14, modificación de la Ordenanza 40.473 (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires)
- Ordenanza 40.473, ficha y normas relacionadas, abrogada por la Ley 6438 art. 117 (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires)
- Resolución 405/AGC/2019, artículos 1 a 5 y Anexo I, declaración responsable de registro REECI (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires)
- Resolución 405/AGC/2019, Anexo I (Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, separata)
Last checked: Oct 10, 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 fire extinguisher recharge and service (Buenos Aires City, Argentina)
A ready template for fire extinguisher recharge and service (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) 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 fire extinguisher recharge and service (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each fire extinguisher recharge and service (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.