Inspections
What a Fire Marshal Looks For: A Walkthrough Checklist
Inspectors are consistent. They look at the same things in roughly the same order, and most of it you can check yourself in twenty minutes.
Do this walkthrough a couple of weeks before a scheduled inspection and you will find most of what would have been written up, while there is still time to deal with it quietly.
Exits and egress
- Every exit door opens from the inside without a key, tool, or special knowledge
- Exit routes clear end to end, including the path outside the door
- Exit signs illuminated with arrows pointing the correct way
- Emergency lighting covers corridors, stairs, landings, and the discharge
- Nothing stored in stairwells or under stairs
- Corridor width not reduced by storage or furniture
Fire protection equipment
- Extinguisher tags current, and units in their assigned locations
- Extinguishers visible, reachable, and correctly mounted
- Correct class for the hazard — Class K at the cook line
- Kitchen suppression certification current and nozzles matching the appliances
- Sprinkler heads unobstructed and unpainted
- Fire department connections clear and accessible
Housekeeping and electrical
- Storage kept well clear of sprinkler heads
- Electrical panels with clear working space in front
- No extension cords or power strips used as permanent wiring
- Flammable liquids in approved storage
- Oily rags in approved containers
- Combustible storage away from heat sources and mechanical equipment
Documentation
Have the records ready in one place before the inspector arrives. Being unable to produce paperwork for equipment that was genuinely serviced is a frustrating way to collect a finding.
- Extinguisher service records and monthly check log
- Emergency lighting test records
- Kitchen suppression inspection reports
- Alarm and sprinkler inspection records where applicable
- Hood cleaning records for commercial kitchens
Common questions
How much notice do we get?
It varies. Some jurisdictions schedule in advance, some arrive unannounced, and complaint-driven visits are usually unannounced. The checklist above is worth running quarterly regardless.