5 Easy Steps to Keep Your Equipment Compliant

When it comes to fire safety, equipment compliance is one of the most critical elements you must stay on top of. Whether you’re managing a large facility, handling a small business, or overseeing a building’s operations, ensuring that your fire safety equipment is always ready to perform is non-negotiable. But here’s the good news—keeping your equipment compliant doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple steps, you can ensure your equipment is always up to code, operational, and ready to protect everyone inside your building.
At Central Fire, we know that fire equipment compliance doesn’t have to be stressful. Our goal is to make fire safety manageable for everyone. This blog will walk you through five easy steps you can take to keep your fire safety equipment compliant and ready when you need it most. If you ever find yourself unsure about how to keep things compliant or just need a hand, Central Fire is here for you with our inspection, maintenance, and compliance services.

Step 1: Perform Regular Inspections

It might sound like a no-brainer, but inspecting your fire equipment regularly is the most important step you can take to ensure compliance. Fire safety equipment, like fire extinguishers, alarms, sprinkler systems, and exit signs, needs to be checked periodically to confirm they’re in good working order. Over time, fire safety equipment can degrade, whether through wear and tear or simple expiration dates that sneak up on you.

Why inspections matter:

They ensure your fire equipment works when you need it most.
Identifying issues early helps prevent potentially dangerous failures.
Fire code violations often result from the failure to conduct routine inspections.

How to do it:

Set up a regular schedule: Create a monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual schedule for inspecting your equipment. This schedule will depend on the type of equipment and local fire code regulations.
Inspect the condition of fire extinguishers: Check that the pressure gauge is in the green zone, the nozzle is unobstructed, and the extinguisher is free of any visible damage. Make sure the tag is not expired.
Test fire alarms and sprinklers: Ensure that alarms are sounding properly, that the batteries are not depleted, and that sprinklers are not obstructed by dust or debris.
Check emergency exits and signs: Emergency exit doors should not be locked or obstructed. Make sure emergency exit signs are clearly visible and illuminated.

If inspections feel like too much to manage or you want the peace of mind that everything is checked properly, Central Fire offers detailed fire equipment inspections. We’ll help ensure everything is up to code, and you can rest easy knowing your equipment is ready to protect.

Pro Tip: Document your inspections. Keep track of the date, any issues found, and corrective actions taken. This documentation will be essential for compliance audits or emergencies.

Step 2: Keep Documentation Up to Date

Once your equipment is inspected and serviced, it’s important to keep the documentation up to date. Fire code compliance isn’t just about the equipment itself—it’s about maintaining proper records to prove that you’ve done the necessary checks and maintenance. If there’s ever a fire safety audit, inspection, or worse—a fire incident, you’ll need to show that you’ve been following fire safety codes and maintaining your equipment.

Why documentation matters:

Provides proof of compliance during audits or inspections.
Helps you keep track of equipment service schedules and warranties.
Reduces legal risks by providing a clear record of safety efforts.

How to do it:

Maintain detailed records: Every inspection, maintenance, and repair needs to be documented, including the date, the person responsible, the issues found, and the actions taken.
Use digital tools for easy management: Rather than relying on paper documents, use digital software or apps to track your fire safety equipment. There are plenty of compliance management systems available that can help you stay organized and alert you when something is due for service or replacement.
Review your records regularly: In addition to keeping records of inspections and maintenance, it’s important to review them periodically to ensure that no items are overdue for service or replacement.

At Central Fire, we can help you keep all your fire safety documentation in check. We offer compliance services that ensure everything is organized, updated, and easily accessible. Whether it’s a simple inspection or a full service log, we’re here to help with all of it.

Pro Tip: It’s a good practice to store your fire safety documentation digitally. This way, you can easily share it with fire authorities or audit teams and ensure it’s never lost.

Step 3: Make Sure Your Equipment is Properly Maintained

While inspections are important, maintenance is just as crucial to ensuring fire safety equipment stays in good working order. Fire extinguishers need to be refilled, fire alarms need their batteries replaced, and sprinkler systems need to be tested regularly. Even if your equipment looks fine during an inspection, it could still need maintenance to ensure that it functions correctly.

Why maintenance matters:

Prevents issues before they become critical, keeping equipment operational.
Ensures that all equipment is functioning properly at all times.
Extends the life of your fire equipment and reduces long-term costs.

How to do it:

Follow manufacturer guidelines: Each piece of fire safety equipment comes with its own set of maintenance instructions. Make sure you’re following these instructions in the letter.
Replace fire extinguishers if needed: Even if your extinguisher looks fine, it may still need to be replaced if it’s expired or damaged. Fire extinguishers typically need to be recharged every 5-6 years or replaced if they show signs of wear.
Test alarms and sprinklers: Periodically test fire alarms, replace batteries, and check sprinkler heads for any clogs or damage.
Check hoses and nozzles: Inspect hoses to make sure they’re not cracked, and check that all nozzles are properly functioning.

If you feel overwhelmed with maintenance, Central Fire is here to support you. We offer fire equipment maintenance services, ensuring your equipment stays up to code and ready for use. Whether it’s recharging an extinguisher or inspecting a sprinkler system, we’ve got you covered.

Pro Tip: Proactively replace outdated equipment rather than waiting for something to break. Regular maintenance and timely replacements save you from more expensive emergency repairs.

Step 4: Train Your Team

Even the most up-to-date fire safety equipment won’t do any good if your team doesn’t know how to use it. Proper training ensures that everyone on your team knows what to do in the event of an emergency and how to operate fire equipment effectively. Fire drills, extinguisher training, and safety protocols should be part of your regular operations to ensure your team is always prepared.

Why training matters:

It ensures that everyone knows how to use the fire safety equipment correctly.
Well-trained employees are more likely to remain calm in an emergency and respond efficiently.
Training is often required by fire safety codes and can help you avoid legal penalties.

How to do it:

Conduct fire drills: Hold regular fire drills so that everyone knows evacuation routes and procedures. Practice different scenarios so employees can react appropriately to different emergencies.
Provide hands-on fire extinguisher training: Teaching your team how to use fire extinguishers properly can make all the difference in an emergency. Schedule periodic training sessions to make sure they’re up to date.
Create a fire safety handbook: A well-written fire safety manual for employees is an excellent resource that outlines what to do in case of a fire, how to use fire equipment and emergency procedures.

At Central Fire, we offer comprehensive fire safety training for businesses of all sizes. From fire extinguisher training to full emergency response drills, we’ll help you ensure that your team is prepared for any fire safety situation.

Pro Tip: Refresh your team’s fire safety knowledge at least once a year. Things like fire extinguisher use and emergency evacuation procedures can easily be forgotten if not practiced regularly.

Step 5: Stay Current with Fire Code Updates

Fire codes and regulations are updated regularly to reflect new safety standards and practices. It’s important to stay current with these changes to ensure your fire safety equipment remains compliant. Sometimes, a new fire code might mean you need to upgrade your equipment, perform additional tests, or change procedures to remain in compliance.

Why staying current matters:

Fire codes change, and failing to keep up could result in non-compliance.
New updates may provide better protection or enhance safety standards.
Staying current ensures your equipment is always up-to-date and legally compliant.

How to do it:

Monitor fire code changes: Many fire departments or local authorities post updates on fire codes. You can also subscribe to newsletters or work with compliance experts to keep yourself informed.
Work with experts: A fire safety professional, like those at Central Fire, can help you stay on top of the latest code changes and ensure your equipment is in line with new regulations.
Review your equipment regularly: As fire codes change, it may be necessary to replace or upgrade certain pieces of equipment. For example, if a new code requires a different type of fire extinguisher, you’ll need to make that change promptly.

Pro Tip: Set up a reminder every 6-12 months to review fire code updates, so you’re always on top of any changes.

Conclusion

Keeping your fire safety equipment compliant is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of everyone who enters your building. By performing regular inspections, maintaining detailed documentation, ensuring proper maintenance, training your team, and staying current with fire code updates