Blog

5 Common Fire Safety Violations

June 30, 2023|fsstechnologies

For business owners, maintaining a commercial fire safety system is crucial for day-to-day protection. Ensuring your system and its components are in order is especially important when your business’ fire inspection occurs each year. Even if you do everything you can to prepare for your next fire inspection, you may only realize you missed something when the fire marshal notices the issue. Receiving citations and paying fines for fire code violations can be frustrating, so it’s essential to do everything you can to prepare for an inspection and avoid penalties. Here are 5 of the most common fire safety violations to avoid.

1. Damaged, expired, or missing fire extinguishers

For most business owners, fire extinguishers are easy to set and forget. They sit in their designated spots and can be forgotten between inspections, so checking your extinguishers for damage and potential violations before an inspection is crucial.

First, make sure that your fire extinguishers are where they are supposed to be. If a fire extinguisher is missing, you should find or replace it before the inspection. Requirements for placement can vary between states, so review your respective state’s fire codes between inspections. Wherever the extinguisher is located, ensure it is easily accessible and not blocked by other objects. You should replace your fire extinguisher if any of these signs are present:

  • The pressure gauge is decreasing
  • There are cracks or clogs in the hose
  • The handle is broken
  • The pin is broken
  • The shell is damaged

null

null

2. Blocked exits

Blocked exits are a widespread violation for businesses. It can be momentarily convenient to leave deliveries in a hallway or store goods in front of a doorway, but every exit in your business should remain unobstructed. Any blocked hallway, stairwell, or entrance should be cleared before an inspection.

In addition to obstructions around an exit, the exit itself should allow any occupants to leave the building quickly. If there are issues with a fire marshal’s ability to open an exit point, that will result in a violation that needs to be resolved promptly. Check your business’s exits and ensure all doors can be easily opened.

3. Faulty smoke or carbon monoxide detectors

Depending on the size of your business, you could have three to 30 smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your building. Once one starts beeping, it can be tempting to ignore it or even remove the battery temporarily. Faulty detectors can result in citations for your next inspection if left unaddressed. In an actual emergency, the consequences can be significant or even fatal.

Address issues with your detectors as soon as they arise. If one begins to chirp, replace the battery right away. Set a reminder to replace the batteries in your detectors every year to remain compliant and avoid fees. Replace devices if the expiration date has passed.

null

4.Obstructed emergency responder access

They look like eyesores on your building’s exterior, but fire department connections (FDCs) and fire hydrants are crucial for emergency responders. Covering or blocking any FDCs with landscaping or debris is a major mistake and a significant fire code violation. When these access points are blocked, firefighters will have greater difficulty controlling fires while avoiding injury.

Regularly check to ensure that FDCs on the exterior of your building are unobstructed and accessible. Keep fire lanes around your building clear as well. If there are any obstructions, clear them and check often to keep them clear.

5. Misused extension cords

Extension cords are an easy fix to get power where needed, but they are intended for temporary use in rooms without electricity. Continued use of an extension cord is a severe code violation prevalent among fire inspections. A significant violation involves extension cords and power strips plugged into a daisy-chain formation.

Ensure that your business only uses extension cords as a temporary solution. To avoid a citation during your next inspection, work with an electrician to add wiring and outlets to rooms without power. Confirm that the wiring is done correctly and that all electrical components have the correct plates and covers.

Keeping your business compliant with fire codes can be difficult on top of your day-to-day responsibilities, and receiving citations for violations is not something you want to have to manage and address. Our team of experts at FSS Technologies can help you prepare for inspections and maintain your systems year-round.

Explore Our Other Blogs

how-often-fire-inspection-hero-min

How Often Should You Inspect Your Fire Alarm System?

Everyone dreads the day when fire alarm systems are being tested because they are often loud and annoying. However, the importance of making sure your fire alarms are working properly outweighs the small distraction of lights and noise. Putting off a fire alarm inspection can be both risky and negligent for business owners as it…

Continue reading
wired-vs-wireless-hero_1

Hard-Wired vs Wireless Security Systems

The chicken or the egg. Not asking which came first in this case, just which one you like better. In the world of security systems, which came first between wired and wireless was answered long ago. But the question of which is better remains. Let’s start with a quick overview of how each of these…

Continue reading
Herocontracts-min

3 Ways Security Contracts Help You

Are Contracts Required with All Security Companies?  No. Not all security companies require a contract, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a no-contract company is a better option.  There are pros and cons to contracts. The key is to know what you are paying for in a contract and details about the reputation of the company. …

Continue reading
Hero-kidde-min

Kidde: Innovations in Fire Safety

Your fire alarm system can protect your family, home, and belongings from fires, gas leaks, and other hazards. FSS Technologies is committed to providing its customers with top-of-the-line fire safety and emergency prevention technology, which is why we are a proud provider of products from Kidde, North America’s most installed fire safety brand. Learn about…

Continue reading
Hero-carbon-monoxide-detector

Everything You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide Detectors

What is a Carbon Monoxide Detector? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid that is poisonous to humans. Detectors are designed to identify carbon monoxide leaks and warn those in your home or business. This advanced warning can save lives as it allows you to get outside as fast as…

Continue reading
Hero_manual-pull-station

What is a Manual Pull Station?

A manual pull station is a wall-mounted fire safety device that triggers an alarm in the event of an emergency. Pull stations are commonly found in many public buildings across the United States and Canada. Most people have seen them, and some have possibly even pulled one before, whether for a real emergency or a…

Continue reading
Livly-Hero

Livly: A Modern Residential Community Experience

The Livly property and tenant management system is one of the most cutting-edge and all-inclusive apartment app experiences available today. The system offers low-cost technology and fully integrated experiences that pair well with a variety of existing property management systems. As a proud partner with Livly, FSS Technologies offers this trusted technology solution for both…

Continue reading
Hero-PlackageStolen

What to Do If a Package Is Stolen

According to a recent study, nearly one in four people  report being a victim of package theft and nearly half know someone who has had a package stolen.     Of course, the uptick in package theft is not that surprising, considering consumers purchased $2.86 trillion in online retail goods in& 2018. Many of these items land squarely…

Continue reading
Hero-smoke

What are the Different Types of Smoke Detectors?

Smoke detectors are vital to fire safety for homes and businesses. Because they protect lives from fires or gas leaks, it’s essential to choose the best detector for your environment. There are various options to choose from, meaning you need to understand the benefits each one offers before making a selection. Learn more about the…

Continue reading
2019-12_FSSTechnologies_blogs_simplisafe-review_hero-min

The Only SimpliSafe Review You Need to Read

What is SimpliSafe? SimpliSafe is one of several do-it-yourself home security systems on the market. The challenge with any DIY home security system, in our opinion, comes down to the customer experience. SimpliSafe’s customer support offers minimal assistance to ensure you adequately install and troubleshoot your system. While they do provide an 800-telephone number, the…

Continue reading
24h emergency
Secure My Space
chat with us