How to Prepare for a Fire Safety Inspection

How to Prepare for a Fire Safety Inspection When it comes to fires, even the smallest one can have a massive impact on any business. In fact, many areas throughout the United States have taken the step of implementing various fire safety inspection programs in order to prevent potential fire-related disasters in order to ensure that businesses and the buildings that house them are fully compliant with fire code. This includes inspecting the buildings themselves on a regular basis, issuing warnings and/or fines in the event of any violations, and more. However, it’s equally as important for business owners to be able to know how to properly prepare for a fire safety inspection in order to reduce the chances that they will end up dealing with any of these issues. The building fire alarm inspections information provided can apply to different commercial establishments such as homes, offices, and warehouses.

Here are the most important steps to make note of in order to ensure that your business is as properly prepared as possible for a fire safety inspection. *First and foremost, always make sure that you are able to maintain a clear path of egress. In other words, ensure that there is always a clear way to exit the building. This means that all doors must be able to operate freely and without obstruction in the direction of egress in order to prevent individuals from being trapped inside the building itself. *All power cords and electrical wiring must also be checked as well in order to comply with NFPA 70: National Electrical Code. This means that all switches, outlets, and electrical boxes are required to be covered, and furthermore, any and all extension cords must also be in good condition and may only be used with temporary equipment, meaning they are not permitted to be used as a type of substitute for more permanent forms of wiring. If any surge protectors are being used, these are required to be directly connected to an outlet. In terms of both the electrical panel box and main building disconnect, these must be easily and clearly identified and accessible either in the event that fast access is needed to them in order to shut off electricity or if the fire department must access them.

*Another important step involves good basic housekeeping. In other words, trash, debris, combustibles, and flammables must not be permitted to gather. Rather, they should instead be removed on a regular basis. If you have any liquids that are either combustible or flammable, these should be stored in cabinets or containers that are approved for storing them. *Any building that contains a fire sprinkler system must ensure that this specific system is maintained according to the requirements mandated

by NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. Generally, this means that various portions of the system are inspected at intervals of quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and five-ears; however, the responsibility for scheduling and completing these inspections falls solely upon the business owner. Additionally, it is also important to ensure that no items are stored within 18� of any sprinkler head, as well as making sure that the sprinkler heads themselves are free of any corrosion and paint and making sure that nothing is attached to them. *Depending on the specific type of fire alarm system and device, NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code dictates that all fire alarm systems must be inspected, tested, and maintained on either a semi-annual, annual, and quarterly basis. This is something that can only be performed by a professional technician. Once the inspection has been completed, the system will be tagged, and the building owner will then receive a full report. Otherwise, it is important to ensure that the fire alarm panel itself is fully accessible, labeled, and that all necessary documentation is both available and fully maintained. *Finally, knowing what to look for on a fire extinguisher is equally as important. According to NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, there are specific requirements in terms of placement, selection, testing, maintenance, and inspection of fire extinguishers.

Furthermore, these must be inspected on an annual basis by a trained and certified professional. Otherwise, ensure that the extinguisher is always mounted at least five feet above the floor.

Reach out to Dyezz Surveillance and Alarm for a free consultation today! See more about how we can help with fire alarm installation, monitoring, and inspections!