REASONS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FAIL SAFETY INSPECTIONS
The last thing you need is for your business to fail a safety inspection. This is a costly and difficult process if you haven’t passed inspections. It will also compromise the public’s opinion of your business. After all, no one wants to put their personal safety at risk. Let’s look at the top reasons why commercial buildings fail inspections and how to avoid these pitfalls:
Emergency lights and exit signs: You need to make sure that every emergency light and exit sign has a functioning bulb and works the way it’s supposed to. Without these, people may not know how to leave the building in an emergency.
Exit doors: It’s crucial for every exit door to be easy to open from the inside. They also should be readily accessible so that people who need to exit the building in a hurry can do so. Failing to do this could be a dangerous decision.
Obstructions: You want to make sure that paths leading to exits are clear of any objects. If they’re not, your building permit could be on the line. This goes for stairways and walkways as well.
Electrical outlets: Every electrical outlet needs to have adequate covering. The leading cause of fires is electrical malfunction. An outlet cover is a simple way to prevent this hazard.
Clean up area surrounding building: Having a mess of weeds, trash and debris won’t just hurt your business—it could cause you to fail your inspection as well. Keep the outside tidy and prevent messes from adding fuel to a potential fire.
Fire alarms: Has your fire alarm system been tested? How long ago was it last tested? It’s best to use a licensed service to ensure that the system is working the way it should.
Extension cords: These are only supposed to be used for temporary purposes. Keeping them around for the long term is a fire hazard.
Sprinkler system: Just like the fire alarms, these need to be tested by a pro. They could make the difference in the event of a fire.
Fire extinguishers: You need to have fire extinguishers in the building, and they need to be clearly available and up to date.
Hazardous materials: If you deal in hazardous materials, make sure you’re disposing of them properly.