Ten Common Deficiencies Found During Fire Inspections

Portable fire extinguishers must be inspected and tagged by qualified personnel every 12 months, replaced when missing or stolen, recharged when units have been used, and accessible at all times.
Emergency light systems are to be maintained so that they work. These units should be momentarily tested for correct operations every month and load tested for at least 30 minutes every year.
Missing or burnt out light bulbs within "EXIT" signs or lights must be replaced so that they are internally illuminated during hours of business. Apartments must have their "EXIT" signs or lights illuminated at all times.
The Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Systems must be inspected every 12 months by qualified personnel, complete with a report forwarded to the Emergency Services Department.
Holes in walls or ceilings where partitions are required as fire separations must be repaired. Examples of these partitions are: walls or ceilings within public corridors, stairwells, service, boiler, electrical, elevator, storage and laundry rooms.
Damaged doors and their hardware must be repaired, replaced and maintained when they are part of a required fire separation. Examples of these doors include: doors within public corridors and stairwells, apartment suite doors, doors between offices and their warehouses and/or shops, service, storage, electrical and laundry room doors. These doors are to close automatically from the full open position and latch in the closed position. These doors can only be held open with magnetic hold open devices attached to the building's fire alarm system. These doors cannot be wedged in the open position.
Required "EXIT" hallways, stairwells and doors must be kept free of obstructions. These areas are to remain free of combustible storage such as furniture, cardboard boxes, paper, and lumber.
Fire Alarm Panels, Fire Sprinklers and Standpipe Connections as well as Fire Sprinkler Valves must be accessible at all times.
An address must be provided for the building, bay or business in conformance with The City of Red Deer Address Bylaw.
Combustible storage needs to be kept out of the boiler, electrical, furnace, elevator or laundry rooms. Propane cylinders larger than one pound cannot be stored inside a building.

This list only identifies common problems found during a large percentage of our fire inspections. If a business or property owner complies with the items listed above, they will be taking a large step towards having an inspection with no deficiencies.