In many areas if you are planning on opening a new business, one of the most important steps you must go through before opening your doors is having a fire safety inspection. The actual inspection will vary from place to place, but there are some steps you can take to make sure that your building will pass inspection before you pay the inspection fee.
First, find out the laws for your area about fire extinguishers. You may be required to have one, or possibly more than one. This may not be necessary in every location for every type of business. This information can generally be found on the website for your state fire marshal’s department.
Another thing that many fire inspections check for is working exit signs. This is important because in case of a fire or other emergency your customers and employees may need to have lighted exit signs to help them find their way out of the building.
The fire inspector will likely help you set a maximum capacity for your building. This is a set number of people that can safely be in the building at one time. In an emergency situation it can be hard for customers to move about in a building if it is overcrowded.
Another aspect that may come under the umbrella of a fire inspection is the ADA inspection. ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act, and this act requires that businesses make necessary repairs or changes to the structure to make them accessible to the disabled. Check out what is necessary for your business to meet the required guidelines.
If you find out what you need to do, and do it before you are inspected you will save time, hassle and money in the long run. The fire inspector is there to make your business a safer place, not to cause you trouble, so take the time to thank them for what they do.
