What Tennessee requires
- Inspection and service are performed by a registered firm, which holds a certificate of registration for a specific business location (posted at that office) and a shop equipped to service what it sells and installs; each service tag and red tag shows the firm's name, address and certificate numberTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.10; 0780-02-14-.03 (2) to (4) · Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office: Fire Extinguishers licensing (firm and branch, specialist, technician)
- An extinguisher specialist holds a Division license, works only as an employee or agent of a registered firm, never lets anyone else use the license and stays within the firm's certificate; the specialist's name, license number and signature go on every service tag and red tagTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.05 (3); 0780-02-14-.11 (1) (a) 3 · Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office: Fire Extinguishers licensing
- Whenever a firm installs, services or inspects an extinguisher, it attaches a service tag (or imprints an internal service marking) showing "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL" in capitals of at least 10-point bold type, the firm's name, address and certificate number, the specialist's name, license number and signature, the date, the type of work performed, the date of the last hydrostatic test, and the owner's name and addressTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (1)
- Service tags and red tags give the owner's name and addressTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (1) (a) 7; 0780-02-14-.12 (6) (f)
- A portable extinguisher with a condition NFPA 10 lists for red tagging gets a red tag (same size as a service tag, with the firm, specialist, date, impairment and owner); the firm promptly sends written notice with recommendations to the owner or furnishes copies to the Division and the local officials having jurisdiction; the unit is removed from service and replaced with an approved substitute, and no service tag goes on until it is re-inspected and compliesTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.12
- Service tags are about 5 1/4 inches high by 2 5/8 inches wide, never red, attached where they can be inspected without hampering operation; only the firm's authorized employees, the Division or local officials having jurisdiction may remove a service tag or red tagTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (2), (3); 0780-02-14-.12 (5), (7)
- Unless other law provides otherwise, the rule's standard for installing and servicing portable extinguishers is NFPA 10-2007, adopting only its mandatory provisionsTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.02
- A certificate or license does not let the holder enter a building without the owner's consent or hydrotest without following US Department of Transportation rules, and it does not relieve a firm of any local law requiring notice to local authorities when an extinguisher becomes inoperableTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.09 (4), (5)
Registered firms and licensed specialists
Inspection and service are done by a firm with a certificate of registration for its business location, posted at that office. The person signing the tags is an extinguisher specialist with a Division license who works for a registered firm and stays within the firm's certificate.
What the Tennessee service tag shows
Every installation, service or inspection ends with a service tag reading DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL in bold capitals. It gives the firm's name, address and certificate number, the specialist's name, license number and signature, the date, the type of work, the date of the last hydrostatic test, and the owner's name and address.
Tags are about 5 1/4 by 2 5/8 inches and never red, placed where they are easy to check without getting in the way.
Red tags
A unit with a condition NFPA 10 lists gets a red tag naming the impairment. The firm promptly sends written notice with recommendations to the owner or copies to the Division and local officials, removes the unit from service and leaves an approved substitute. A service tag goes back on only after re-inspection. Local laws on reporting inoperable units still apply.
From the walkthrough to a finished Tennessee report
Note each unit's location, type, serial number, result and last hydrostatic test date, plus the owner and anything red tagged. ReportDraft fills the table, puts your certificate and license numbers and the owner in the header, and writes the red tag findings with recommendations for the owner's notice.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the date of the last hydrostatic test off the tag.
- Naming the tenant instead of the owner.
- Using a red service tag.
- Leaving a red-tagged unit in service without an approved substitute.
- Tags signed by someone without a specialist license.
Sources
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.10; 0780-02-14-.03 (2) to (4), checked October 15, 2026
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office: Fire Extinguishers licensing (firm and branch, specialist, technician), checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.05 (3); 0780-02-14-.11 (1) (a) 3, checked October 15, 2026
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office: Fire Extinguishers licensing, checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (1), checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (1) (a) 7; 0780-02-14-.12 (6) (f), checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.12, checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.11 (2), (3); 0780-02-14-.12 (5), (7), checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.02, checked October 15, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.09 (4), (5), checked October 15, 2026
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. Next review due January 15, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.