What to Watch for During Your Fire Protection Inspection

An annual fire protection inspection is crucial in keeping your fire suppression and fire sprinkler systems in working order. These fire safety inspections are required in many commercial buildings. But owners should not treat these inspections as a passive activity done just to fulfill a requirement. Instead, it’s a great idea to be proactive and engaged during the safety inspection.

Engaging proactively during the fire system’s inspection can provide great ideas into how to optimize your system. And you can get knowledge on how to maintain the fire suppression systems better. These fire protection inspections often catch problems early. And early detection means you can repair or replace any fire equipment that needs it. This process ensures your fire system will work if and when you need it; this is crucial in protecting life and property.

There are several things to keep an eye on throughout an inspection that can help you enhance your building safety. These tips can also ensure you perform well and pass the inspection, provided all equipment is operational.

Go through a mock fire inspection.

The best way to prepare for an inspection is to know what the inspector will be checking. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published checklists for different aspects of a fire inspection. It’s a great idea to review these before the formal fire protection inspection. This process allows you to address any deficiencies before the inspection begins.

Going through all of these checklists allows out to optimize compliance with many aspects of fire safety requirements. These requirements are in place to:

• Ensure workplace safety: Passing a fire inspection gives employees and building owners peace of mind that they are safe.
• Enhance building security: Many building codes are in place to minimize damage during emergencies. Keeping up-to-date with codes can minimize losses during a fire. It can mean the difference between a small fire and the total loss of the building.
• Minimize business interruptions: After a fire, business operations are interrupted. But the scale of the interruption matches the scale of the fire. Staying up to code can minimize the damage and help your business resume operations quickly.
• Decrease insurance rates: Many insurance companies have incentives for enhancing a fire protection or fire suppression system. Adding additional sprinkler systems or smoke alarms can decrease your insurance rates. And lower overhead means higher profits.

Going through a preliminary checklist and addressing all issues can ensure your building passes the fire inspection. And passing is great for business.

Review documentation.

Before a fire protection inspection, it’s a great idea to review copies of past inspection reports. You can also review any system servicing or inspection reports. If you have any systems maintenance that is due, it’s a great idea to make an appointment and get it done before your fire inspection. You may also want to keep these documents easily accessible if the inspector wants to review them. It is also important to check prior reports to see if there are any deficiencies that have not been addressed or corrected.

Check fire extinguishers.

Fire extinguishers are one of the most important safety requirements in commercial buildings. While these should be checked monthly, it’s still a good idea to double-check them before an inspection. If any are due for maintenance, inspection, or service, now is the time.

If you have special hazards or dangerous chemicals on the job site, you may require different classes of fire extinguishers. Review the requirements for these carefully. Keeping these extinguishers in good conditions is crucial. And when all extinguishers are operational at all times, your building will fare better during an unscheduled inspection.

Annual fire protection inspections may seem inconvenient, but remember that it’s your duty to keep the building safe. As an employer or owner, you must ensure employee and customer safety. And optimizing your fire suppression and fire sprinkler systems is crucial in preventing the loss of life.

It’s also good business practice to keep your fire systems working great. They can minimize losses in the event of a disaster and ensure your business can resume quickly.

If you want to learn more about what to wat for during a fire protection inspection, contact Legacy Fire. Our experts can help you understand what fire security features in your building can be enhanced. We can work with you to increase the safety of your business!