07 Jan The Ins and Outs of Commercial Fire Safety Inspections

A commercial building fire is a tragic event, no matter the cause. While some fires are set on purpose, most fires are the result of human error or electrical malfunction. When a business fire starts, not only is the business itself put at risk but so are the livelihoods of the individuals it employs. A disastrous commercial fire will have negative consequences that ripple throughout the community. 

If you own a business and want to avoid common causes of commercial fires, you must keep up on fire safety and fire system inspections. If you’re wondering what a commercial fire safety inspection is, what it involves, and how to prepare for it, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s explore fire safety and how you can start protecting your business today. 

What Is a Commercial Fire Safety Inspection?

A certified fire safety inspector carries out a commercial fire safety inspection. The point of an inspection is to help prevent devastating fires by ensuring that your building is up to code and abides by OSHA’s set of fire safety regulations. By engaging in proper fire prevention behavior, you will:

• Create a safe working environment for your employees
• Avoid huge fees for noncompliance
• Stay in business and prevent unnecessary losses
• Minimize stress during random fire marshal inspections
• Maintain your position as a trustworthy business for your employees and community as a whole. 
• Garner better insurance rates

The fire safety inspector will examine equipment like sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, fire doors, and fire alarms to ensure they function properly. They may also check electrical systems and kitchen equipment for flaws. When an inspector comes to your property, they write a report that ultimately decides whether or not you pass the inspection. Based on this report, what are inspectors looking for that you need to be aware of? 

• Properly functioning fire protection and alarm systems
• Possession of certified fire extinguishers
• Effective emergency lights and exits
• Clear and visible building address and fire hydrants

What Are the Requirements? 

When a fire safety inspection takes place, there are certain requirements that your commercial space must meet. These fire safety inspection procedures and requirements vary from state-to-state. They’re based on fire codes that all businesses are supposed to meet, like the type of equipment they need to install based on their property size and usage, as well as how that equipment must be installed. 

Most businesses require a yearly visit from the fire marshal, but some commercial spaces where the public gathers require more safety inspections, such as theaters, hospitals, hotels, and other assembly locations. Large buildings like high-rises must follow stringent fire code rules due to high occupancy. Fire inspection requirements are centered around a building’s systems and how they function, including:

• When doors can and can’t be locked
• The type of safety system required
• How often maintenance is needed
• Where and how certain materials are stored
• The use of electrical systems
• Other state fire code details 

If you’re looking for other beneficial preventative measures you can take to measure your business’s safety and efficiency, consider a commercial energy audit. 

Can You Fail a Fire Inspection? 

You certainly can fail a fire inspection. When the inspector comes to your property, they look for deficiencies. They make a list documenting each and every fault they find, and once the inspection is complete, they give you that list, so you know what needs attention. Just because you received one or two deficiencies doesn’t mean you’ve failed the inspection, but you are expected to fix whatever issues come up.

To fail, your commercial property must violate certain requirements. If you’ve failed, you will have to set up a time for the inspector to return and make sure you’ve remedied each violation.

Failure is not necessarily the end of the world, but it can tarnish a business’s reputation and make employees feel that their employer undervalues their lives and safety. 

Common Reasons for Inspection Failure 

Some of the most common reasons that commercial businesses fail fire inspections are:

• Too few emergency signals 
• Too few fire suppression systems 
• Clunky, heavy doors that are hard to open
• A lack of functioning outlets
• Improperly covered outlets, breakers, and circuit boards
• Poorly marked/unidentifiable building

Working to combat these issues will help you pass a commercial fire inspection. If your electrical system or outlets could use some TLC, use our guide to commercial electrical work to identify what needs attention and how to hire the right electrician for the job. 

Avoid Failure

Despite the dangers of failing a fire safety inspection, there are a myriad of steps that can be taken to ensure you pass, such as:

• Fix any outstanding systems maintenance issues
• Collect proof of system service inspections and copies of previous inspection reports
• Clear hallways and stairwells
• Ensure proper storage of flammable, combustible, and other hazardous materials
• Secure quick and easy access to the building and a water source for the fire department
• Test exit signs
• Label and maintain electrical systems
• Post all required signage

By following these steps and making sure you’ve addressed the other common reasons for failure, you’ll put your commercial space on the fast track to passing the next inspection. 

The Importance of Regular Fire Inspections 

Maintaining a regular fire inspection schedule will benefit you, your business, its employees, and the community. Although some elements of keeping a building up to code and in line with fire safety standards are established federally, many nuances vary from state-to-state and even city-to-city. Make sure you’re aware of your local fire safety standards. 

If you need any maintenance services to pass your next inspection, contact our team of experts at Lighting Maintenance Inc. Visit our website to explore the wide array of services we offer that can help you pass your next fire safety inspection, like commercial energy audits, as well as electrical, utility, interior lighting, and exterior lighting services.