fire violation correction

What to Do If Your Business Has a Fire Violation

Regular fire inspections are important for various reasons. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a fire department was summoned to deal with a fire every 24 seconds on average in the US in 2019. The effects of fire can be devastating because of the threat to life and the significant financial loss. Therefore, the most important reason for fire inspections is to safeguard against fire threats that can put your employees, clients, other people, and your business in danger.

If you adhere to the requirements of your local building department, you shouldn't have a problem passing a fire inspection. But sometimes, fire inspections can bring to light issues that need to be fixed. In that case, you'll receive a notice of violation from the fire marshal, and you'll be required to implement a fire violation correction. In this guide, we will look at the things your business needs to do for fire violation correction.

Fire Violation Correction Depends on the Type of Violation

In most instances, fire violations are simple to correct. For instance, fire violation correction may involve making sure that exit signs are properly lighted and that there's enough emergency lighting. However, some technical violations require more resources to fix, such as when you need to get new fire doors or add more fire exits. Normally, these fire code violations are not considered life-threatening, so you'll have more time to make corrections. Once you comply, there may be no need for follow-up instructions, but it's important to ensure the violation is fixed by the time the next inspection is scheduled. That's because your business will have to pay heavy fines if found guilty of repeated violations.

When your business has a life-threatening violation it means that immediate action is required to reduce the risk to life. These types of violations are so serious that you're likely to receive a follow-up inspection with the next three days. Examples of violations that are considered life-threatening include fire alarms that are not functioning, exposed electrical wiring, and the use of some heating appliances without proper ventilation.

Some fire violations are so severe that you'll be required to evacuate your business premises because the occupants will be in imminent danger. Examples of severe violations include gas leaks, high concentrations of carbon monoxide, structural weakness, and explosion hazards. If your fire marshal cites you for a severe violation, they will contact emergency authorities who will come to your location to address the violation. The good news is, once the issue has been fixed, your business will receive an inspection report to allow you to resume normal operations after the emergency has passed.

What Happens If You Need to Make a Fire Violation Correction?

If the fire marshall finds any violations during the inspection, they will note the violation in their inspection report. They will then sit down with you to review the inspection report and outline the fire violation correction steps you need to take. You'll also receive a written notice of violation that outlines the corrections you need to make in full detail. In addition, the notice will also explain the relevant code or ordinance and its sections that you have violated. After you finish your meeting with the fire marshall, you'll then have to sign the report and file your copy for future reference.

Dealing with a fire code violation isn't something businesses want to deal with, but it's important to keep in mind that the fire marshall is there to help keep your business compliant. That's why it's important to work with your fire marshal to ensure that your building is safe and that you can avoid future violation corrections to keep your business operations smooth.

What Are the Consequences of a Fire Code Violation?

You may be wondering if a fire code violation may have any negative consequences for your business. Usually, the authorities want to discourage fire code violations, so almost all code violations result in fines. If you're a first-time offender, the fine may not be very costly. But if you have repeated violations, your fines will be more expensive with each violation. Besides having to pay a fine, you'll also have to stick to your compliance schedule which outlines the amount of time you have for fire violation correction.

Typically, you have up to 90 days to remedy the situation, although this depends on the severity of the violation. During the inspection, the fire marshal will rank your violation to determine the best timeline for fire violation correction. Overall, the most serious consequence of a fire code violation is having to pay a fine. Since the fines can be quite hefty for repeated violations, it should be in your best interest to be compliant at all times.

Benefits of Fire Violation Correction

Receiving notice of a fire code violation might seem like it's bad for your business, but it's actually helpful. That's because it ensures that your fire protection systems are properly maintained and that you can rely on them in case of an emergency. Whether it's your fire sprinkler systems, fire alarms, or fire suppression systems, the fire marshal will point out any areas that need rectifying. Therefore, violation correction is important because it helps prevent the loss of human life while reducing the risk of financial loss. In addition, it ensures that you remain compliant while presenting you with opportunities to update and upgrade certain aspects of your building.

What Are the Most Common Building Fire Code Violations?

If you're a business owner, it's your responsibility to do your research when it comes to fire safety regulations. It also helps to know the most common fire code violations that businesses face, so you know where to concentrate your efforts in the future to keep your business safe and up to code. For instance, the most common fire code violations found in businesses include issues with electrical cords, blocked exits, lack of exit signs, faulty lighting, fire extension issues, incorrect sprinkler system, broken smoke detectors, non-functional alarm systems, and improper storage.

As mentioned, some fire code violations require simple fixes. On the other hand, fire violation correction may be a more involved process. For instance, if you have an issue with electrical cords, all you have to do is add more electrical outlets to your commercial property. Similarly, if your exit was improperly lighted, it probably won't take a lot of time to correct the issue.

But if you need to update your fire sprinklers to match the design and hazard classification for your building, this might take time and will cost more. In any case, knowing the common fire violation corrections that businesses have to deal with will help you avoid similar mistakes in the future. Otherwise, you may continue dealing with these violations and incur more costs. The good news is, once you invest the time and effort in understanding fire safety requirements, violations, and corrections, you'll find that keeping your business compliant is easy.

Now that you know about fire safety regulations, you'll find this information helpful in case you ever have to deal with a fire violation correction. Are you interested in learning more about fire code violations and what to do when faced with a fire violation correction? Contact us and we will be happy to help. We are here to ensure that your business stays compliant by helping you establish the right daily routines and checks, plus more.