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Verify Egress in Fire Inspections

This document discusses the importance of inspecting the exterior of buildings during fire inspections. A photograph shows trash receptacles blocking an emergency exit at the back of a five-story office building, which had gone unnoticed. It emphasizes that all means of egress must lead safely to a public area. The fire inspector should work with the building owner and waste firm to relocate the trash containers so they do not obstruct essential exits or create other hazards.

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Ivonn Ochoa
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82 views1 page

Verify Egress in Fire Inspections

This document discusses the importance of inspecting the exterior of buildings during fire inspections. A photograph shows trash receptacles blocking an emergency exit at the back of a five-story office building, which had gone unnoticed. It emphasizes that all means of egress must lead safely to a public area. The fire inspector should work with the building owner and waste firm to relocate the trash containers so they do not obstruct essential exits or create other hazards.

Uploaded by

Ivonn Ochoa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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No.

2006-10 March 7, 2006

U.S. Fire Administration / National Fire Academy

Coffee Break Training


Topic: Verifying Means of Egress
Learning objective: The student shall be able to explain the importance of
conducting fire inspections that include the building’s exterior.

This photograph illustrates the age-old maxim, “Out of sight, out


of mind.” These rolling trash receptacles were emptied by the local
waste-hauling firm, and left in the alley behind a five-story office
building. Evidently the truck driver did not realize he had placed
the receptacles across one of the building’s emergency exits.

Since the building owner or occupants


seldom used the alley adjacent to the
building, who knows how long this
condition existed? It is important that the
fire inspector survey the outside of the
building to identify potential problems
and have them corrected.

All means of egress must lead without


interruption to a public way. These trash
receptacles must be moved so that they will not block essential
means of egress.

Trash containers like these are a common fire problem through


carelessness or vandalism. The containers’ location near the natural
gas meter also create a potential hazard in the event of a fire.

The fire inspector should work with the building owner and waste-
hauling firm to find a suitable location for these receptacles.

Inspection Techniques For archived downloads, go to: www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/coffee-break/

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