Many people know that they need fire safety inspections, but they don’t know how often they should occur. Businesses and homeowners alike need to know fire safety system inspection frequency standards because every 24 seconds, a fire department somewhere in the U.S. responds to an active fire.
Fires can spread quickly and take over nearby homes and businesses. This means that being too relaxed about your fire safety inspection can cause more damage than you realize. In fact, a large portion of the most expensive fires to date is a result of a complete accident, natural disaster, or intentional attack.
In Pasadena, Texas in 1989, the Polyolefin Plant fire caused $1.5 billion worth of damage. In this case, there were many factors at play, but two of those aspects included the failure to maintain its fire protection system and the lack of explosive gas detection and alarm system. Both of these could have been fixed with regular fire safety inspections.
So, how often should your fire safety system be inspected?
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How Often Should You Get Your Fire Safety System Inspected?
Take a look at what the Texas Administrative Code says about fire safety inspections. Plus, there are additional tips on how to best protect your business or home from a fire.
Annual Inspections Are Necessary
At the very least, you should have a fire safety inspection and testing once a year, preferably at the same time. An annual inspection is comprehensive and counts as a full once-over inspection, taking a look at every component of your fire safety system. This type of inspection needs to be approved by a local fire department or State Fire Marshal's Office. An inspector will be looking out for any hazards and/or violations, and notify you of any failures to comply.
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Visual Inspections
This type of inspection is different from an annual one. Visual inspections may need to be done more or less often than an annual inspection. Visual inspections include taking a look at the control panel, fuses, LEDs, and so on, to determine if there are any violations. If you see anything that appears off, you should analyze the situation and see if it can be fixed right away or call a professional for help.
Understand Your Insurance Coverage
Did you know that certain stipulations on your insurance policy can determine how often and when you should have a fire safety inspection? It’s true, and many insurance companies can deny coverage in the event of a fire if you did not take the required safety measures you agreed to when you signed up for coverage. Insurance companies will continue to deny covering any damages or losses because you knowingly left your business exposed to fire by not taking the necessary steps for safety. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 40% of businesses hit by a disaster are never able to recover. This is why it’s important to review your insurance plan and know the requirements for fire safety inspections and checks.
Hazardous Materials & Other Helpful Tips
During an official inspection, you need to be transparent about hazardous materials on site. This typically includes anything that is flammable, explosive, or otherwise a danger to the facility and others. These items will need to be checked individually to ensure they’re being stored and used properly. Just like the Pasadena fire that took the lives of 23 employees, it may have been prevented if hazardous materials were inspected beforehand.
Access For Fire Safety Personnel Is Essential
Part of year-round fire safety standards includes keeping fire routes and parking completely clear at all times. That means no parking, unloading, and idling in fire lanes – even if it’s only for a minute.
Again, you might think, “I can just move my car if there’s an emergency.” This sounds true in theory, but in the event of a serious fire emergency, you may not have time. You could even be trapped in the burning building yourself. And when it comes to damage to your personal property, emergency responders are protected in several ways by the Texas Tort Claims Act. This means that if your car is damaged during an emergency while parked in a fire lane, you cannot sue for repairs. In this case, it’s deemed negligent to park in a fire lane and human lives take precedence over any vehicles illegally parked.
Employees Need Yearly Training
There are a number of employees and employers who see emergency fire training as a waste of time. The fire drills, time to evacuate, and other interruptions can seem as though they’re unnecessary. You should still conduct training on an annual basis. Furthermore, teach all new staff members fire safety as part of their onboarding process. This is especially true if your job is in a place where hazardous materials are handled. Situations are more likely to occur like in a power plant, restaurant, club, or bar.
Additionally, office buildings can also pose a risk to a large number of people. It’s critical that each person knows their role during an emergency, where to go, and what to look for just in case. The goal of these trainings is to ensure that everybody gets out of the building and away from the site in a timely manner. This way, emergency personnel can do their job and focus on controlling the situation.
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