A fire extinguisher that looks fine on the wall can still be useless. Look at three things. The pressure needle should sit in the green. The safety seal should be intact — if someone has squeezed the handle, the powder has started to pack and the cylinder needs a refill even if it was new last year. The service tag should show a date within the last twelve months. Shops in Palam and societies in Dwarka often discover all three problems the week a fire officer is due. Refilling before that week is cheaper than buying a full new set in a hurry. Match the type to the room: ABC powder covers most shops and electrical boards, CO2 is kinder to a server or a panel room, and a water extinguisher is not for a live electrical fire. After refilling, the tag, the weight, and the gauge should all agree.
