Use Inspection Checklist to Reduce Risk of Preventable Fires

Although you may not be able to prevent many resident-caused fires, other types of apartment community fires are easily preventable. Owners or their maintenance staff should conduct monthly fire inspections of areas and items that are potential fire hazards. If your maintenance staff conducts such inspections, they will be able to detect and remedy any fire hazards before it’s too late.

We’ll give you a checklist of potential fire hazards, which you can photocopy and distribute to your maintenance staff to help them conduct monthly fire inspections at your site.

Give Maintenance Staff Fire Prevention Checklist

To help your maintenance staff conduct thorough and effective fire inspections, give them a checklist of items and areas around your site that should be inspected regularly. Instruct your staff to immediately inform a supervisor or management if they detect a fire hazard while conducting the inspection, so that the problem can be quickly and properly corrected.

Our fire inspection checklist is divided into four categories:

Smoking hazards. Smoking is one of the top causes of apartment fires. If you allow smoking at your site, have your maintenance staff make sure mechanisms that protect against smoking-related fires are in working order. For example, they should make sure ashtrays or other receptacles designed to safely dispose of cigarettes are visible in areas in your community where smoking is permitted. They should also make sure “No Smoking” signs are posted in areas where smoking is not permitted, such as in storage rooms where chemicals are kept.

Electrical outlets and equipment. Have your maintenance staff inspect your electrical outlets and related equipment. For example, they should make sure plugs, switches, and cords meet local building codes and that cords are not frayed or shorting out. They should also make sure there is no accumulation of dirt, dust, or grease at electrical outlets or on equipment such as air-conditioning compressors.

Flammables. Proper ventilation is required in areas where flammable or combustible products are used, and all flammable liquids need to be safely stored in OSHA-approved containers. Maintenance staff should also make sure combustible waste, such as used cleaning products and rags, are disposed of properly.

Safety equipment. Have your maintenance staff make sure your community’s safety equipment is functioning properly and is ready for use in case of a fire. For example, they should make sure your hallways, stairwells, and exits are properly lit; all exit signs are illuminated as required by law; and stairwells are free from obstacles and garbage.