General Fire Requirements

Self-Inspection Checklist

Guidelines

This checklist covers regulations from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), general industry standards 29 CFR 1910.36, 1910.38, and 1910.159. The regulations cited apply only to private employers and their employees, unless adopted by a State agency and applied to other groups such as public employees. Recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards have also been included.

1. Are exit facilities inspected daily to make sure that all stairways, doors, and other exits are in proper working condition? [NFPA 1]
2. Are all exit paths free and unobstructed? [29 CFR 1910.36(b)(4)]Note: Exit doors must not be locked, barred, or blocked in such a way as to prevent exit from the building.
3. Are wedges or devices holding exit doors open prohibited? [NFPA 101]
4. Are all fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors, and windows free of obstructions that would interfere with the evacuation of the building or the operation of the fire department? [29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1)]
5. Are all fire doors tight fitting and in good operational condition? [NFPA 80]
6. Are all classroom doors self closing? [NFPA 101]
7. Are openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings that would contribute to the spread of fire from one room to another repaired? [NFPA 101]
8. Is the vertical clearance between sprinklers and material below (such as head deflectors) at least 18 inches? [29 CFR 1910.159(c)(10)]
9. Are accumulations of flammable or combustible waste materials and residues removed so that they will not contribute to a fire? [29 CFR 1910.38(b)(3)]Note: Examples of violations include open boxes of papers stored under the stairs and stored empty cardboard boxes.
10. Is adequate clearance maintained between stored materials and light fixtures to prevent possible ignition? [NFPA 231]
11. Is the clearance between stored materials and unit heaters, radiant space heaters, furnace ducts, and flues not less than three feet in all directions or in accordance with the clearances shown on the approval agency label? [NFPA 231]
12. Are furnishings or decorations of an explosive or highly flammable character prohibited? [NFPA 101]
13. Are decorative materials such as curtains, draperies, streamers, and fabrics flame resistant? [NFPA 101]
14. Do teaching materials and children’s artwork cover 20% or less of the wall area? [NFPA 1]