Fire equipment inspection for Iowa businesses since 1979
Hawkeye Fire & Safety inspects, tests, and tags the fire protection equipment in your building: fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems, and emergency and exit lighting. We tell you what is due, what passed, and what needs attention before the fire department or your insurance carrier asks.
If you do not know when your last inspection was, start here. We can work it out from your equipment.
Not sure when your inspection is due?
Inspection dates differ by equipment type, and a building usually has more than one schedule running at once. There are three ways to find out.
Every extinguisher and suppression system that has been professionally serviced carries a tag with the month and year of the last service. Extinguishers are due 12 months from that date. Suppression systems are due 6 months from it.
The report lists each piece of equipment, its test dates, and anything that was flagged.
If the tag is missing, unreadable, or out of date, call us. A technician can identify what you have and what is due.
Two kinds of fire safety inspection
The term covers two different visits. Most businesses need both, and the second one is how you prepare for the first.
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Fire department inspection |
Fire equipment inspection |
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Who performs it |
Your local fire marshal or fire department |
A certified fire protection company such as Hawkeye Fire & Safety |
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What it covers |
The building as a whole: exits, signage, occupancy, hazards, and proof that equipment has been serviced |
The equipment itself: testing, maintenance, repairs, and tagging |
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When it happens |
Before opening, after construction or a change of use, and often annually |
On the schedule set by fire code for each equipment type |
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What you receive |
A pass, or a list of violations to correct |
A dated service tag and an inspection report |
Fire inspectors check service tags first. A current tag from a certified technician is the record that shows your equipment has been maintained.
Fire equipment inspection: what we inspect
Annual maintenance on every portable extinguisher in the building, with a new service tag on each unit.
What we check
Pressure, weight, hose and nozzle, pin and tamper seal, mounting height and access, correct type for the hazard, and internal exam and hydrostatic test dates.
Semiannual maintenance on systems installed on heavy equipment.
What we check
Detection line condition, hose and nozzle routing, agent condition, and whether the system still matches the machine after repairs or modifications.
Semiannual service on wet chemical hood systems, including fusible link replacement.
What we check
Nozzle coverage against the current appliance layout, nozzle caps, gas shutoff valve, manual pull station, and cylinder test dates.
Scheduled service on systems protecting server rooms, electronics, and records.
What we check
Agent quantity and pressure, detection and control equipment, and changes to the room that affect whether it holds agent.
Semiannual maintenance on systems protecting flammable liquid hazards.
What we check
Changes to the protected hazard, agent condition, detector and nozzle placement, and whether shutdowns and alarms operate when the system is tripped.
Testing of exit signs and emergency lights, with battery replacement where needed.
What we check
Operation on battery power, lamp condition, and battery age.
Fire inspectors check service tags first. A current tag from a certified technician is the record that shows your equipment has been maintained.
How often fire equipment needs to be inspected
Iowa adopts the International Fire Code, which sets inspection schedules by equipment type. Each type has a quick monthly check your staff can do and a scheduled service that requires a certified technician.
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Equipment |
Monthly check by your staff |
Service by a certified technician |
Standard |
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Fire extinguishers |
Visual check: in place, accessible, gauge in range, pin and seal intact |
Every 12 months |
NFPA 10 |
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Restaurant kitchen suppression |
Gauge, pull station, nozzle caps in place |
Every 6 months |
NFPA 17A |
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Vehicle suppression systems |
Operator check: actuator pin and seal, hoses, nozzle caps, panel |
Every 6 months, more often for high-dust or high-hour equipment |
Manufacturer requirements |
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Industrial dry chemcial systems |
Pull station clear, seals and tag intact, gauge in range, nozzle caps in place |
Every 6 months |
NFPA 17 |
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Clean agent systems |
Visual check: panel normal, cylinders and nozzles unobstructed |
Every 6 months |
NFPA 2001 |
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Emergency and exit lighting |
30-second test on battery power |
90-minute test every 12 months |
NFPA 101 |
Your insurance carrier or local fire department may require a shorter interval. If they do, the shorter interval applies.
For cylinder test intervals by type, see hydrostatic testing services.
How our fire inspection services work
1. Request an inspection. Call our Cedar Rapids or Iowa City office or submit a Contact form. Tell us what kind of business you run and what equipment you know you have. If you are not sure, say so.
2. We inspect and test on site. A technician goes through each extinguisher, suppression system, and emergency light, and tests it against the standard that applies to it.
3. You get a clear report. Equipment that passes gets a new dated service tag. Anything that does not pass is listed with the reason and what it takes to correct it.
4. We keep the schedule. We record your equipment and test dates so the next inspection, internal exam, or hydrostatic test does not depend on anyone remembering it.
Looking for a new fire inspection company?
Switching providers starts with an inspection. You do not need to wait for your current service cycle to end, and you do not need records from your previous company.
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What we need from you |
What the first visit covers |
What you have afterward |
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Your business type and address. A past inspection report helps if you have one, but it is not required. |
A full inventory of your fire protection equipment: type, location, age, and last test dates, read from the tags and cylinders. |
A complete equipment list, current service tags, a report of anything overdue or missing, and a schedule for what comes next. |
Requirements differ by industry. A restaurant, a machine shop, a clinic, and a grain operation each need different equipment on different schedules. We tell you exactly what applies to your building and what does not. See how this works across industries on our commercial fire protection page.
Fire inspection resources
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Resource |
Read this if |
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When Should You Schedule a Fire Inspection? A Timeline for Business Owners in Iowa |
You are opening, renovating, or changing the use of a building and need to know when the fire department gets involved. Includes inspection contacts for Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Marion, Hiawatha, North Liberty, Coralville, and Tiffin. |
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The Ultimate Fire Inspection Checklist for New Businesses vs. New Building Owners |
You want a list of what to have in place before the inspector arrives. |
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What Fire Inspectors Actually Look for (And How to Avoid Common Violations) |
You have an inspection coming up and want to know the most common reasons businesses are cited. |
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How Hawkeye Fire & Safety Helps You Pass Fire Inspections the First Time |
You want to see how equipment service fits into passing a fire department inspection. |
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You need extinguisher requirements for a specific setting, such as a restaurant, manufacturing floor, healthcare facility, or school. |
Fire safety inspection FAQ
It depends on the equipment. Fire extinguishers need professional maintenance every 12 months. Kitchen, industrial, vehicle, and clean agent suppression systems need service every 6 months. Emergency and exit lighting needs a monthly test and a 90-minute test once a year. Many Iowa fire departments also inspect commercial buildings annually.
Check the service tag on your extinguishers or suppression system. It shows the month and year of the last service. If the tag is missing or more than a year old, the inspection is likely overdue. Call us and we will confirm what is due.
The fire department inspects the building for code compliance, including exits, signage, and hazards. A fire equipment inspection is performed by a certified fire protection company, which tests, maintains, and tags the equipment. The fire department looks for those tags as proof of service.
Staff can and should do the monthly visual checks. The annual extinguisher maintenance and semiannual suppression system service must be performed by a trained, certified technician.
We list what failed, why, and what it takes to correct it. Common corrections include recharging or replacing an extinguisher, replacing a battery, or adjusting nozzle coverage after a kitchen layout change. Equipment is tagged once it meets the standard.
It depends on how much equipment you have. A small office with a few extinguishers is a short visit. A facility with suppression systems and many extinguishers takes longer. We give you an estimate when you schedule.
Yes. Many customers come to us with equipment installed or last serviced by another provider. The first visit establishes what you have and where each item stands.
We serve Iowa businesses from offices in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, including Marion, Hiawatha, Coralville, North Liberty, and the surrounding area.
Schedule your fire safety inspection
Tell us what kind of business you run and what you know about your equipment. We will tell you what is due and when we can be there.
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Office |
Phone |
Address |
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Cedar Rapids |
(319) 363-9923 |
716 Oakland Rd NE |
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Iowa City |
(319) 338-3096 |
4185 Alyssa Ct. SW, #7 |