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School fire safety checklist template

School fire safety checklist template

Use this checklist to promote school fire safety and learning. Ensure the premises are free from hazards while teaching students the importance of fire prevention.

Use this template with Lumiform

The Lumiform application helps frontline teams uphold internal standards effortlessly.
  • Customize this template or build your own
  • Fill out templates via mobile app
  • Assign and track corrective actions
  • Get reports and analyse your data
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or Download template as PDF
School fire safety checklist template

Use this checklist to promote school fire safety and learning. Ensure the premises are free from hazards while teaching students the importance of fire prevention.

Use this template with Lumiform

The Lumiform application helps frontline teams uphold internal standards effortlessly.
  • Customize this template or build your own
  • Fill out templates via mobile app
  • Assign and track corrective actions
  • Get reports and analyse your data
Prices start from ░░░ per month
Book a demo
Learn more
or Download template as PDF

This school fire safety checklist is a systematic tool for verifying that your educational facility meets critical fire safety standards. With sections covering exit ways, fire alarms, and emergency planning, this template allows you to spot hazards before they become dangerous. The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found for every five school fires, two are intentional, and this happens more in middle and high schools than elementary schools.

The template specifically addresses areas where intentional fires might start so you cn implement targeted prevention measures. Conduct thorough inspections, document compliance issues, and assign corrective actions—all essential steps to protect students and staff from fire emergencies.

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Preview of the template
Audit
Exit ways (corridors, stairs)
There are at least two means of egress from each floor and corridor.
Corridor pockets and dead end corridors are less than 1.5 times the pocket or corridor width respectively.
Glazed areas in and adjacent to doors and within 48 inches of floors are protected by railings, grilles or safety glazing.
Glazed areas in and adjacent to doors and within 18 inches of floors are marked to prevent injury to occupants.
Stairways in buildings having wood structural members or roof deck, are enclosed with noncombustible construction and self-closing doors to effectively obstruct the spread of smoke and fumes from floor to floor, or each classroom has direct access to an exterior exit door.
Exits
Exit doors, except those serving one or two classrooms, swing in the direction of travel.
Exit doors, except those serving one or two classrooms are equipped with panic hardware.
Spaces of pupil occupancy over 500 square feet have two means of egress into separate zones.
All emergency rescue windows are identified by signs as specified on the window and /or on any window shades, blinds, or curtains.
Emergency rescue windows are free of obstructing bars, screens, grilles or classroom equipment, or if so equipped, windows must be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that needed for normal operation.
Enclosed courtyards exceeding 700 square feet in area have at least two remote exits into separate smoke zones.
Hardware on doors from courtyards is of a type that will always permit exiting from the space without the use of a key.
Boiler/Furnace Rooms
Gas and oil fuel-burning equipment having over 400,000 BTU per hour capacity are provided with electronic flame safeguard controls that upon flame failure normally respond in 2 to 4 seconds to cut off fuel supply.
Certificates are posted that indicate that each boiler has been inspected in compliance with the law.
Storage and Special Rooms
Two-hour fire-rated enclosure with 1½ hour self-closing fire doors are provided for the following spaces: 1) Boiler, heater, or furnace rooms, incinerator rooms, 2) Refrigeration rooms and transformer vaults, 3) Store rooms for fuel, flammable liquids, and gas-powered equipment.
Required fire doors are maintained in a normally closed position unless held open by approved automatic devices.
Unused ducts and shafts are sealed off at each floor level with fire resistive materials.
Assembly Use Areas
Exit doors from places of assembly are remote and have panic hardware (existing push-pull type hardware with no latching hardware is acceptable).
School buildings with wood structural members or roof deck do not have places of assembly above the first floor, unless approved by the Commissioner.
Places of assembly are provided with emergency lighting to illuminate exits.
Housekeeping & General Operation
There are no fixed or portable control gates that create dead-end conditions.
Wherever available, new and replacement mercury vapor or metal halide lamps are of fail-safe type that will self-extinguish if shielding is broken, cracked, or removed.
Where new or replacement fail-safe lamps are not available, separate ultraviolet radiation-absorbing shielding is provided.
Space under stairs and landings is not used for storage unless separated by two-hour fire rated construction.
Attic space in buildings of combustible construction is not used for storage.
Storage in storerooms and classroom areas is orderly and restricted to items of obvious value and usefulness.
Wood floors are not finished or treated with oil and floors so treated were cleaned and refinished.
Direct-fired fuel-burning heating units shall not be used in any space of student occupancy.
Fire Alarms
School buildings of seven or more classrooms are equipped with a manually operated electric fire alarm system that will continue to sound the alarm until the tripped station has been restored to normal operation or has completed a cycle of not less than 30 seconds. School buildings of one to six classrooms are equipped with either a manual, hand or electric, fire alarm capable of being sounded for such period of time as to insure evacuation of the building, or with an electric fire alarm system as described above.
Fire alarm stations are located on every floor.
The building has a telephone that can be used in an emergency.
Electrically Operated Partitions
Partitions are operated by two (2) key operated, tamperproof, constant pressure, switches wired in series, remotely located at opposite ends and opposite sides of, and in view of, the partition.
The partition is capable of being reversed at any point in the extend or stack travel cycle.
Device(s) are provided for all partitions that will stop the forward or backward motion of the partition and stop the stacking motion of the partition when a body or object passes between the leading panel of such partition and a wall or other termination point, or when a body or object is in the stacking area of such partition.
Appropriate and conspicuous notice regarding the safe and proper operation of the electrically operated partition, required training, and supervision of students is posted in all partition operator locations.
Records of inspection, testing, and maintenance of electrically operated partitions are maintained on premises and are available for inspection.
General Precautions Against Fire
Combustible waste and vegetation shall not create a hazard.
Open flames are prohibited except supervised science and technology labs.
Storage in buildings is orderly.
Storage ceiling clearance of 24 inches is maintained in non sprinklered areas of buildings or 18 inches below sprinkler head deflectors in sprinkled areas of the building.
Combustibles are not stored in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, or electrical equipment rooms.
Fueled equipment shall not be stored, operated, or repaired within a building.
Emergency Planning and Preparedness
Fire safety and evacuation plans are prepared, maintained and available for review.
MSDS sheets are complete and available on premises.
Hazardous material containers and rooms are properly identified.
Records of hazardous material inventory statements are provided.
Fire Service Features
Fire apparatus access roads are maintained and unobstructed. (NOTE: gates are permitted.)
Flat roofs, less than 30 degrees (6/12 pitch), are free from obstruction.
Private fire service hydrants, mains, and tanks are properly maintained and tested.
Fire hydrants are maintained free from obstruction.
Fire protection equipment and locations are identified and maintained.
Building Services and Systems
Equipment access is maintained.
Portable unvented heaters are prohibited.
Above-ground gas meters are protected from damage.
Records of inspection, testing, and maintenance of emergency and standby power systems are maintained on premises and are available for inspection.
No electrical system hazards observed or reported.
No electrical system hazards observed or reported.
Service equipment areas are adequately illuminated.
Electrical service and branch equipment working space is unobstructed.
Electrical room doors and all disconnects are identified.
Unapproved multi-plug adapters are not used.
Extension cords are properly used and are not a substitute for permanent wiring.
Outlet, switch, junction boxes, and wire splices are covered.
Refrigeration systems are accessible, properly labeled, and records of periodic testing are available on premises.
Approved elevator emergency signs are provided.
Emergency elevator keys are properly located in an approved location for immediate use by the fire department.
Heating equipment, chimneys and vents are maintained and are in proper working order.
Commercial Kitchen Hoods
Kitchen hood is provided and maintained at commercially used equipment capable of producing grease vapors or smoke.
Hood fire extinguishing system, where provided, is maintained and serviced in accordance with Section F904 of the Fire Code of New York State.
Fire Resistance Rated Construction
Fire resistance rating of rated construction is maintained.
Opening protectives are properly maintained and are not blocked or made inoperable.
Doors requiring closers are not rendered inoperable by removal of the closer or the installation of any non-automatic hold open device.
Records of annual inspections of sliding and rolling fire doors are available.
Decorative Material and Furnishings
Furnishings do not obstruct or obscure exits.
Storage of clothing and personal belongings in corridors and lobbies is compliant.
Artwork and teaching materials are limited to not more than 20% of the corridor wall area.
Curtains, drapes, hangings and other decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall be fire resistant or non-combustible.
Fire Protection Systems
Fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing systems are operative and inspection, testing and maintenance records are maintained and available for review on premises.
Portable fire extinguishers are located in a conspicuous location, are readily accessible, are not obstructed or obscured, and are maintained in accordance with this section and NFPA.
Fire pumps are inspected, tested, maintained, in accordance with this section and NFPA 25 and records are available on premises for review.
Means of Egress
The required capacity of means of egress is free of obstructions.
Exterior exits are free from obstruction, including ice and snow.
Curtains, drapes, or decorations shall not be placed to obstruct exits or visibility thereof.
Exit signs are provided in rooms or areas which require two or more exits.
Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor is more than 100 feet from the nearest visible exit sign.
Doors shall be readily operable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. Electromagnetic locking devices are not allowed. Rev. 4/2/07
Occupant load is conspicuously posted in all assembly spaces where occupant load exceeds 50 persons.
Means of egress are provided with emergency lighting.
Tactile signs stating EXIT and adjacent to each door to an egress stairway.
Aisles are provided in all occupied spaces containing seats, tables, furnishings, displays, and similar fixtures or equipment and are unobstructed at all times.
Stairways that travel below the level of exit discharge are clearly defined.
Required exit signs are provided with emergency illumination.
Flammable Finishes
Electrical wiring and equipment in spray areas shall be explosion proof.
“No Welding” signs shall be posted in the vicinity of the paint spraying areas and paint storage rooms.
Portable fire extinguishers rated for high hazard shall be provided in paint spraying areas.
Spraying areas, exhaust fan blades and exhaust ducts shall be kept free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues.
Service Station and Repair Garages
An approved, clearly identified and readily accessible emergency disconnect switch shall be provided for fuel dispensers and distinctly labeled “Emergency Fuel Shutoff”.
Approved fire extinguishers, with a minimum rating of 2-A: 20-B:C, shall be located within 75 feet of pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks.
Approved warning signs shall be posted in the fuel dispensing area.
Daily inventory records are maintained for underground fuel storage tanks.
Above-ground tanks are protected from impact by motor vehicles.
Sources of ignition shall not be located within 18 inches of the floor in repair garages.
Appropriately rated fire extinguishers are provided in repair garages.
A non-coin operated telephone or other means to notify the fire department is provided on-site.
Welding And Other Hot Work
Hot work is conducted in areas designed or authorized for that work.
Combustible materials are protected to prevent ignition.
Fire extinguishers with a minimum 2-A:20-B:C ratings are located within 30 feet of hot work area.
Hazardous Materials
The storage, use, and handling of all hazardous materials are kept accordingly.
Compressed Gasses
Compressed gas containers are marked
Compressed gas containers are secured and protected.
Protective caps, plugs or devices are in place.
Completion
Full Name and Signature of Inspector
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Frequently asked questions

How can you use this checklist to prepare for an official fire marshal inspection?

Use this checklist for a pre-inspection walkthrough to identify and address issues before the official visit. Document all findings with photos, create a prioritized correction plan for any non-compliance items, and maintain records of previous inspections and corrections. This proactive approach demonstrates your commitment to fire safety and helps avoid potential citations or penalties during the official inspection.

Who should be involved in completing the school fire safety checklist

Your inspection team should include facilities management staff who understand building systems, a safety coordinator familiar with regulations, and representatives from areas being inspected like kitchen staff or science teachers. Including multiple perspectives ensures thorough evaluations while building a culture of shared responsibility for fire safety throughout your school community.

What follow-up actions should you take after identifying issues with your school fire safety checklist?

After identifying issues, immediately address critical safety hazards that pose imminent danger and create a prioritized action plan for remaining items. Through Lumiform, you can assign tasks to responsible parties with clear deadlines, and schedule follow-up inspections. Document all corrective actions taken and maintain these records alongside your original inspection findings to demonstrate your commitment to continuous safety improvement

What sections of the school fire safety checklist are most critical during different seasons?

Analyze patterns from multiple inspections to identify recurring issues or problem areas, prioritize improvements based on risk levels and regulatory requirements, and develop both short-term fixes and long-term solutions. Use the checklist data to justify budget requests for safety upgrades and to track progress over time, demonstrating continuous improvement in your school’s fire safety program.

This template, developed by Lumiform employees, serves as a starting point for businesses using the Lumiform platform and is intended as a hypothetical example only. It does not replace professional advice. Companies should consult qualified professionals to assess the suitability and legality of using this template in their specific workplace or jurisdiction. Lumiform is not liable for any errors or omissions in this template or for any actions taken based on its content.