What should you do if the pressure gauge needle points to the red zone?

• A. Use a backup extinguisher instead.
• B. Use if the fire is small.
• C. Shake to move the needle.
• D. Do not use it; have it serviced or recharged before use.

Answer: (D)

A pressure gauge in the red zone means the extinguisher is not ready to be used. If the pressure is too low, the unit may not discharge properly; if it’s too high, the cylinder could be unsafe. Either way, you should not rely on it in a fire. The correct action is to have the extinguisher serviced or recharged by a qualified technician before use. After service, verify the gauge sits in the normal (green) range. Shaking to move the needle or using a backup without addressing the issue doesn’t fix the problem, so don’t attempt to use the red-zone extinguisher.