What are the consequences of failing to maintain fire extinguishers?

Failing to maintain fire extinguishers leads to an increased risk of fire hazards because unserviced extinguishers may not function properly when needed. Proper maintenance ensures that extinguishers are charged, operational, and effective in suppressing fires. If an extinguisher is not regularly inspected, tested, and maintained, there can be critical issues such as outdated charges, physical damage, or malfunctioning components. In case of an emergency, an unreliable or inoperable extinguisher can exacerbate a fire situation, causing it to spread more quickly and potentially leading to greater damage and danger to life and property. Therefore, regular maintenance is essential to ensure that fire extinguishers are reliable tools for fire safety.