Extinguishers
Extinguisher pressure gauge outside the green — what it means
A gauge needle is sitting outside the green band.
Same-day priority
Short answer
Below the green band the unit may not discharge properly and must be taken out of service. Above the green band suggests overpressurisation, often temperature-related, and the unit should also be checked before it is relied upon.
Low pressure — the common causes
Stored-pressure extinguishers lose charge through valve seat leaks, damaged O-rings, a partially depressed lever during handling, or a slow loss over many years. Once below the green band there is no reliable way to know the unit will discharge fully, so it comes out of service.
High pressure — usually the environment
A needle above the green band is often caused by the unit sitting somewhere hot: a boiler room, a south-facing glazed lobby, next to a commercial oven or in a vehicle. Relocating the extinguisher is part of the fix, not just recharging it. Persistent overpressure with no heat source suggests a charging error and needs the unit withdrawn.
Do not improvise
Striking the gauge, shaking the unit or attempting to add pressure from a compressor is dangerous. These are pressure vessels. A unit outside tolerance is handled by a competent person with the right equipment, or replaced.
Cover in the meantime
The gap left by a withdrawn extinguisher matters. Where a unit is removed, we replace it on the same visit or supply a serviced unit so the coverage identified in your fire risk assessment is maintained rather than quietly reduced.
Questions we get asked about this
Can a cold building push the needle low?
Temperature does move the needle, and a very cold store or external position can nudge it. A needle clearly below the band in normal conditions is a fault, not weather.
CO2 extinguishers do not have a gauge — how do I check them?
By weight. CO2 units are weighed against the figure stamped on the body; a loss beyond the permitted tolerance means the unit is recharged or replaced.
How quickly can you attend?
Where cover is compromised we prioritise the visit. Call us and we will tell you honestly when we can be there.
One unit out of service leaves a gap in your cover — call and we will get a serviced replacement to you.
Other common fire safety problems
Fire alarms
Fire alarm keeps beeping — what the sound is telling you
Fire alarms
Repeated false alarms — finding the cause instead of living with it
Fire alarms
Amber fault light on the fire alarm panel — how to read it
Compliance & enforcement
Asked for a fire alarm certificate and you haven't got one
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