What Alaska requires
- No one may inspect, recharge, maintain or hydrostatically test portable fire extinguishers without a permit from the State Fire Marshal; the permit is personal, nontransferable and valid for three years13 AAC 50.030 (d), (d) (4) · Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 to 13 AAC 55, Fire Prevention (effective 10/28/2022)
- Permits come in two classes: a Fire Extinguisher Technician I (after the State Fire Marshal's written examination) may inspect, recharge, distribute and maintain portable extinguishers; only a Fire Extinguisher Technician II (after the ICC/NAFED FK Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician test) may also hydrostatically test them13 AAC 50.030 (d) (1), (2), (5) · Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 (effective 10/28/2022)
- The permit holder places (or has placed) the holder's permit number on the inspection tag of each portable fire extinguisher, to identify the work done under the permit13 AAC 50.030 (d) (6)
- Alaska's amendment to IFC Section 901.6, which supersedes other code or standard requirements, has fire extinguishers inspected, tested and serviced annually, after any use or activation, any time damage is found, after repair or alteration, when the fire code official requires it, and after a seasonal shutdown; the annual extinguisher testing may be done by anyone holding a valid 13 AAC 50.030 (d) permit13 AAC 50.025 (16) (IFC 2021 Section 901.6 as amended) · Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 (effective 10/28/2022)
- Reports of inspections and tests are kept on the premises, and within 30 days after the inspection or test the person who conducted it forwards a copy of the report to the fire code official13 AAC 50.025 (16) (IFC 2021 Section 901.6 as amended) · Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 (effective 10/28/2022)
- Monthly inspections are documented by the inspecting person's signature on the extinguisher's inspection tag, or by electronic monitoring and inspection methods as NFPA 10-2021 allows; the employer trains its own staff to do the monthly inspection and non-invasive maintenance. Monthly extinguisher inspections count as owner maintenance, which the owner or the owner's representative may do without a permit13 AAC 50.030 (d) (7) · 13 AAC 50.035 (a) (1), (m) (10) (H)
- If someone without a required permit is maintaining an extinguisher, the State Fire Marshal may order the work stopped in writing; a permit can be suspended (30 days to one year) or revoked (one to two years) for misrepresented qualifications, negligence, incompetence or repeated violations, with a written appeal within seven days13 AAC 50.030 (d) (8) to (12); 13 AAC 50.070
- The State Fire Marshal may defer building fire safety inspection and enforcement to a municipality that has its own inspection program and has agreed in writing to enforce the state fire statutes and regulations; there the local authority enforces13 AAC 50.075 (c)
Technician I and Technician II permits
Nobody inspects, recharges, maintains or hydrotests portable extinguishers in Alaska without a State Fire Marshal permit. It belongs to the person, cannot be transferred and lasts three years.
A Technician I passes the State Fire Marshal's written exam and may inspect, recharge, distribute and maintain units. Hydrostatic testing takes a Technician II, who has passed the ICC/NAFED FK portable extinguisher technician test.
Permit number on every tag
Each extinguisher's inspection tag carries the permit number of the person who did the work. Monthly checks count as owner maintenance, so the owner or the owner's representative does them without a permit: they are signed on the same tag, or kept electronically as NFPA 10-2021 allows, and the employer trains the people who do them.
When service is due, and the 30-day copy
Alaska's version of fire code Section 901.6 overrides other schedules: extinguishers are serviced every year, after any use, whenever damage is found, after repair or alteration, after a seasonal shutdown, and whenever the fire code official asks.
Reports stay on the premises. Within 30 days the person who did the inspection sends a copy to the fire code official. Where the State Fire Marshal has handed inspection and enforcement to a city, that local authority is the one enforcing.
From the walkthrough to a finished Alaska report
Note each unit's location, type and size, serial number, result and last hydrostatic test date, plus why the service was done. ReportDraft puts your permit number and class in the header, lists every extinguisher, writes up the problems as findings and reminds you of the 30-day copy.
Common mistakes
- A Technician I hydrotesting a cylinder.
- Tags without the permit holder's number.
- Keeping the report on site but never sending the fire code official a copy within 30 days.
- Waiting for the annual visit after an extinguisher was used or damaged.
- Letting a permit lapse past its three years while still servicing.
Sources
- 13 AAC 50.030 (d), (d) (4), checked October 19, 2026
- Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 to 13 AAC 55, Fire Prevention (effective 10/28/2022), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.030 (d) (1), (2), (5), checked October 19, 2026
- Division of Fire and Life Safety: 13 AAC 50 (effective 10/28/2022), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.030 (d) (6), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.025 (16) (IFC 2021 Section 901.6 as amended), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.030 (d) (7), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.035 (a) (1), (m) (10) (H), checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.030 (d) (8) to (12); 13 AAC 50.070, checked October 19, 2026
- 13 AAC 50.075 (c), checked October 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Next review due January 19, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.