What a tag is for
A fire extinguisher inspection tag is usually used as a simple service trail. It helps show that someone checked the extinguisher, noted work done, and left a dated record near the unit or in the maintenance file. For a broader product view, see service tags and the glossary. The tag is not the same thing as the extinguisher gauge, and it is not the source of the maintenance rule by itself.
The record OSHA does describe
OSHA’s workplace rule for portable extinguishers calls for annual maintenance. The employer records the annual maintenance date and keeps that record for one year after the last entry, or for the life of the shell, whichever is less. OSHA also says workplace portable extinguishers are kept fully charged and operable, and in their designated places, except while they are in use. See our guide to OSHA extinguisher inspection and the source at NFPA 10.
Questions we will not answer with a guess
We will not tell you that every extinguisher must have a service tag, because that point was not verified from a single national rule on this pass. We will not guess how long a tag lasts, whether a local inspector wants a specific format, or whether a paper card is the only acceptable proof. If you need a site policy, match it to the rule that applies to your workplace and keep the written maintenance record with the extinguisher file.
Read the gauge note without a number
If you are trying to understand how to read a fire extinguisher tag, treat the tag as a record of service dates and notes, not as the gauge itself. The gauge or other indicator shows the unit’s condition; the tag shows the maintenance trail. In Fire Inspection Log, the planned v1 focus is a list of extinguishers and emergency lights, a monthly reminder, and log entries with a date and a note. For product details, see service tags and the OSHA guide.
This is a reminder log, not an inspection and not code compliance. Not a substitute for a licensed fire protection inspection. Rules differ by workplace and by the fire code your local authority uses. Fire Inspection Log is not part of OSHA, NFPA, or any fire marshal office.