Fire Safety Self-Inspection
The threat of fire is perhaps the single greatest danger your house of worship faces today. This form has been designed to help you and your congregation take the necessary steps to prevent fire in your facility. There are over 2 million reported fires each year, including more than 100,000 arson fires. Thousands of these fires occur at houses of worship. Worst of all is all of the 30,000 people injured and 6,000 people killed each year by fire......many were in fires that were preventable.
Arson is the leading cause of fires in house of worship type facilities. Faulty wiring is the second most common cause, along with lightning, heaters, careless smoking materials, candles and holiday decorations. Prevention is the best protection you can provide your house of worship.
1. First, walk around the outside of the facility, looking for common sense hazards.
Rid the property of loose bricks and large rocks that could be used to break windows.
2. How old is the building? When was the last time an electrician checked the electrical system?
3. Note the size of the building or buildings. How many floors, square footage, number of connecting buildings or wings, number of entrances and emergency exits, number of employees and visitors
each day.
KNOW YOUR FACILITY
1. Look at exposures. Are there buildings directly next to your building? If so, on what sides? (North, South, East, and West)?
2. Where does your water supply come from?
Where is the closest fire hydrant?
3. Who provides the fire service and emergency services to your facility?
4. What is the built-in fire protection? Is the building sprinklered?
A. Is there a fire alarm system and are the alarms monitored by a company
or an on-site alarm only?
B. Are there smoke detectors?
5. What kind of heating system does the building use and the last time it was serviced?
6. Are exterior exits blocked or obstructed?
With this information in hand, lets proceed to a further look at your facility......
Fire Safety Self-Inspection
EXTERIOR INSPECTION: Yes No Needs Work
Are grounds clear of accumulation of flammable materials ___ ___ __________
(piles of wood, trash, leaves)?
Have neighboring occupancies minimized exterior fire hazards? ___ ___ ___________
Are fire hydrants clear and in plain view? ___ ___ ___________
Do all exits, emergency exits and fire escapes have unobstructed
passage to safe areas? ___ ___ ___________
TOP TO BOTTOM - ALL FLOORS
Do you have lightning protection? ___ ___ ___________
Are fire escapes clear and in good condition? ___ ___ ___________
Are self-closing fire doors unobstructed? ___ ___ ___________
Are fire exits and exit signs properly illuminated? ___ ___ ___________
Are corridors and stairways unobstructed? ___ ___ ___________
Is there storage under the stairwells? Is it allowed by code? ___ ___ ___________
Is the emergency lighting systems operating? ___ ___ ___________
Are exits clear and are doors working properly?
(Self-closing doors close completely) ___ ___ ___________
HOUSEKEEPING
Is housekeeping properly maintained? ___ ___ ___________
Are cleaning supplies stored safely and properly? ___ ___ ___________
Are closets clean and orderly? ___ ___ ___________
Is rubbish removed regularly during and after events? ___ ___ ___________
Fire Safety Self-Inspection
Yes No Needs Work
Are coffee makers and hot plates working properly? ___ ___ ___________
How old are they? Are cords in good condition? ___ ___ ___________
Are space heaters permitted by fire codes? ___ ___ ___________
Inspect all electrical cords for cracks, aging or fraying... ___ ___ ___________
Do all air conditioner units plug directly into the wall
without extension cords. ___ ___ ___________
Extension cords are for temporary use only and should
not be used to replace an outlet. ___ ___ ___________
Do all wall plates, junction boxes and sockets have face plates? ___ ___ ___________
Use candles only when absolutely necessary. ___ ___ ___________
Check musical instruments frequently to make sure they are turned off. ___ ___ ___________
Be extremely careful with smoking areas, provide safety type ashtrays
and monitor for smoldering embers. ___ ___ __________
EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS
Do you have smoke detectors? ___ ___ ___________
Are they working properly? ___ ___ ___________
Have they been cleaned regularly? ___ ___ ___________
Do you have properly inspected and currently tagged
fire extinguishers every 75 feet or one for every 2,500 square feet? ___ ___ ___________
Are they the proper size and type (10 lb. ABC)? and mounted at
shoulder to waist height? ___ ___ ___________
Fire Safety Self-Inspection
Yes No Needs Work
Is your staff trained to use fire extinguishers? ___ ___ ___________
Do they know their locations? ___ ___ ___________
Does your building have a sprinkler system? ___ ___ ___________
Is the system inspected and tagged annually? ___ ___ ___________
Are all the sprinkler heads and valves unobstructed? ___ ___ ___________
*All fire safety and protection systems must be inspected and tagged yearly. ___ ___ ___________
This includes fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and kitchen hood systems. ___ ___ ___________
*If you occupy an older building have the electrical system
inspected periodically by a professional. ___ ___ ___________
KITCHENS
Are ranges, hoods and exhaust ducts which accumulate grease, ___ ___ ___________
cleaned regularly?
If you have a hood and extinguishing system is it inspected
and tagged? ___ ___ ___________
TRAINING
Do staff members know how to transmit a fire alarm? ___ ___ ___________
Do staff members have assigned duties to help evacuate a building? ___ ___ ___________
Do all staff members know fire prevention is their responsibility? ___ ___ ___________
Note the date of the last fire drill__________________! ___ ___ ___________
Are primary and secondary fire exit routes posted in all rooms? ___ ___ ___________
Remember you can consult with your local fire department. They are there to help, especially when planning for prevention!
The purpose of this survey is to provide security recommendations. This is only advisory and is not intended to identify all security weaknesses or
to warrant the adequacy of all present and future security measures whether or not recommended.