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The Importance of Fire Safety Inspections
These fire safety officials perform inspections on buildings to identify problems so that they can be corrected before a fire emergency occurs, with the goal of ensuring public safety in the community. Building owners are required to maintain compliance with applicable fire safety codes or risk being found in violation and facing financial fines. These fines typically become higher in cases of repeated violations or as time passes without the violation being remedied.
The Most Common Fire Code Violations
Building owners and their safety managers should make sure they are following all required fire safety codes and regulations and be aware of the most common fire code violations in order to avoid them. The most common fire code violations include:
- Missing or faulty smoke detectors
- Missing fire alarm inspections
- Blocked exits
- Blocked fire alarm manual pull stations
- Blocked fire extinguishers
- Missing or expired fire extinguishers
- Improper use of extension cords
These are some of the most common fire code violations resulting from commercial building fire inspections. These are also some of the easiest violations to avoid.
Missing or Faulty Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are often out of sight, out of mind, installed on a ceiling, and only thought of when they start chirping when the batteries run low. Some building managers even take the batteries out, thinking they’ll come back and replace them later and then forget. Missing or expired batteries in the violation that is easy to remedy. This is a violation for good reason, smoke alarms are the best way to detect a fire before it has gathered force.
Establish a schedule to replace the batteries in all smoke detectors annually, whether they start chirping or not, and make sure to have plenty of brand-new batteries available. All smoke detectors should also be replaced every ten years.
Missing Fire Alarm Inspections and Improper Maintenance
Commercial building fire alarm inspections should be performed annually by a licensed fire safety technician, according to the National Fire Protection Association, NPFA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Skipping fire alarm inspections is a serious violation that puts your building and occupants at risk in case of a fire.
Partner with an experienced commercial fire alarm system provider to make sure that annual inspections and testing of equipment are performed to code and to protect everyone in your building.
Blocked Exits and Obstructed Passageways
Blocked exits, blocked fire doors, and obstructed passageways are a common and very dangerous mistake. A blocked fire door is a life-threatening risk in case of fire breaks out. Never bend the rule on blocking fire exits even if you think you’re just setting down merchandise for a few short minutes and will come back to grab it later. This can turn into a bad and extremely dangerous habit.
Fire doors should be closed at all times, self-closing, so they do not open accidentally, and easy to open quickly without the use of additional tools.
Blocked Fire Alarm Manual Pull Stations
This is another common violation of fire inspectors often find, as it can be easy for people to place furniture and displays in the way of a fire alarm pull station.
Blocked, Missing or Expired Fire Extinguishers
Blocked fire extinguishers is another common code violation and one that is easily avoidable. Fire extinguishers should be tested and inspected on a regular basis according to NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. Fire extinguishers that are past due for testing or recharges are the most common fire extinguisher violation.
Improper Use of Extension Cords
Never use extension cords as a permanent solution in place of what should be permanent wiring.
High-Rise Security Systems, HRSS, is a leading commercial fire alarm system provider in the Chicago area, offering building inspections, testing, maintenance, repairs, and more. We ensure complete code compliance with all applicable building code standards and are licensed to service all types of fire extinguishers. Contact us to make sure that your building is code compliant without risk of violations, and schedule your commercial fire alarm inspection today.