Prepare a school or business for a fire inspection: exits, alarms, extinguishers, storage and records.
Fire inspectors look for a small set of recurring issues: blocked exits, propped fire doors, overdue service tags, overloaded outlets and missing records.
Your local fire code and fire marshal decide what applies. Schools may have extra rules on drills, decorations and occupancy.
16 items. Keep it on a tablet, or print a copy for the clipboard.
A school walkthrough finds classroom doors propped open with wedges, art displays covering a large part of a corridor wall and an extinguisher tag more than a year old. The wedges are removed, displays are reduced, and the extinguisher service is booked.
Local fire marshals enforce the fire code their jurisdiction adopted, often based on the International Fire Code or NFPA 1. A prep walk with the same items they check reduces violations and shows the building is managed day to day, not just before inspections.
| Building | Westfield Community Church and preschool, Fort Wayne IN |
|---|---|
| Prep walk | Wed, Aug 19, by facilities lead Joel |
| Exits | Side door blocked by stacked chairs; cleared |
| Emergency lights | All 12 tested, fellowship hall unit replaced |
| Extinguishers | 8 units, annual tags dated Mar 2026 |
| Electrical | Daisy-chained strips in nursery; removed |
| Records | Monthly preschool fire drill log up to date |
The preschool’s drill log is checked because schools and day care uses have their own drill frequency requirements. The chairs blocking a side door are typical after an event and get cleared before the inspector arrives.
It depends on your jurisdiction and occupancy type.
Only with approved hold-open devices that release on alarm.
Yes, frequency is set by state or local rules.
Typically drills, alarm, sprinkler and extinguisher service.
Fire marshals typically check that exits and paths are clear, exit signs and emergency lights work, extinguishers are mounted and tagged, alarm and sprinkler systems have current inspection records and storage is kept below sprinkler heads. They also look for extension cords used as permanent wiring and blocked electrical panels. The list varies by the fire code your jurisdiction has adopted.
You usually get a written notice listing violations and a deadline to correct them, followed by a reinspection. Serious hazards, like locked exits, may need to be fixed immediately, and repeated or ignored violations can bring fines. Keep records showing each correction and the date.
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Assign the work in EZTime to an employee, a team or a whole location, ask for photo proof, and get a late alert instead of chasing people. Book a demo if you want a walkthrough.