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# Community Development

Four Key Reasons Why You Need a Fire and Life Safety Inspection Solution

Today's modern tools make the fire and life safety inspection documentation and information-sharing process easier for field workers and office staff.

Authored by Civic Plus Logo

CivicPlus

November 2, 2023
6 min

Every year, fires damage 358,000 homes in the U.S., and the third most common cause of home fires is faulty wiring, according to the National Fire Protection Association. That’s 358,000 families potentially displaced, personal belongings and mementos lost, and lives at risk.

Our fire and life safety inspectors do critical, often underappreciated work to help residents and businesses mitigate their chances of a devastating fire event. The hard-working inspectors and code enforcement teams who aim to protect our communities and properties deserve more sophisticated and advanced tools to do their work than paper forms, spreadsheets, and archaic software. Modern tools exist today to make the fire and life safety inspection documentation and information-sharing process easier for field workers and office staff. While protecting life and property remains at the forefront of every operational decision public safety and code enforcement teams make, what follows are four supporting reasons why every community needs fire and life safety inspection software.

What is Fire and Life Safety Inspection Software?

The primary goal of fire and life safety regulations is to protect people through codes and standards that reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by fire and other hazards. These inspections are vital for ensuring the safety of your residents and other occupants in and around the buildings and establishments in your community. Building fire and safety codes set the minimum requirements. Hence, facilities are structurally safe and have the equipment and protocols to protect the structure and its occupants from various threats and exposures.

Organization and productivity are essential in identifying potential hazards, ensuring code and regulation compliance, and maintaining the safety of publicly owned buildings. Fire and life safety inspection solutions allow administrations to operate more efficiently by making it easy to schedule and conduct inspections, manage properties and facilities, and assign and collect fees, leading to increased revenue while generating goodwill with your residents.

Here are the four key reasons why you need a fire and life safety inspection solution

  • Improved compliance with regulations and standards within the community
  • Increased prevention and Early Detection of fire incidents at public buildings and other properties
  • Reduced liability and insurance costs for area businesses
  • Improved safety and peace of mind throughout the community

Let’s go more in-depth on these topics. 

1. Improved Compliance With Regulations and Standards Within The Community

Commercial buildings must receive inspections and testing in their facilities yearly to confirm they meet fire and life safety codes and standards defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These safety audits aim to ensure the safety of a building’s occupants in the event of a fire or other emergency by looking at the structure’s fire protection system, along with its construction, operational features, and evacuation plans. The building passes its inspection when meeting all code requirements according to NFPA 101, which is the life safety code that addresses minimum building design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements necessary to protect building occupants from danger caused by fire, smoke, and toxic fumes.

Adhering to fire and life safety regulations saves lives. Prompt compliance gives residents peace of mind and trust in their local government and businesses, knowing their leaders and merchants are willing to put in the necessary time and resources to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in the community.

Additionally, following fire and life safety protocols prevents property damage, which is vital to the success of the community and business owners. Communities that take care of local businesses through a successful fire and life safety process gain a reputation of being a good place for businesses to open up shop, which influences establishments to move there. Local businesses foster growth by creating more jobs and tax revenue for the area. The enforcement of these specifications also generates revenue for your community through application and inspection fees, which help provide essential services to residents.

2. Increased Prevention and Early Detection of Fire Incidents at Public Buildings and Other Properties

Timely fire and life safety inspections ensure businesses and homeowners meet safety standards and regulations. These reviews include fire alarms, carbon monoxide, sprinkler system inspections, accessible fire alarm pull stations, functioning fire extinguishers, inspections of appliances that heat and cool, and properly storing combustible materials. Being proactive is the key to fire prevention, and the above examinations help identify potential hazards and give building occupants the tools necessary to eliminate an incident before it becomes a problem. Additionally, fire and life safety audits confirm that systems work correctly to assure early detection in the event of an incident, which saves lives and limits property damage; this also ensures that building occupants have the fire and safety equipment necessary to prevent an incident from becoming increasingly dangerous to visitors and surrounding structures.

3. Reduced Liability and Insurance Costs for Area Businesses

Insurance premiums are determined by property value, the contents of the structure, and overall risk assessment related to these factors. Insurance companies offer lower premiums and discounts to businesses that perform thorough inspections, maintain proper fire and safety compliance, and have professionally installed and monitored fire protection systems since the risk of hazard is much lower. High-risk properties have higher property insurance rates, while lower-risk properties cost less to insure. When businesses miss inspections, they run the risk of penalties and closure. Penalties for non-compliance with fire and life safety codes include fines, building occupancy denial, and legal consequences. If any of these violations occur, residents’ trust in the local government and business weakens, taking dollars out of your zip code and into neighboring areas. The reputation of your municipality declines, and potential incoming companies might think twice before opening a location in your area. Remember, trained fire and life safety technicians should complete all inspections and tests to guarantee proper completion and documentation.

4. Improved Safety and Peace of Mind Throughout the Community

Business owners, residents, and patrons have complete confidence in their companies and the local economy when regularly conducting fire and life safety inspections. For proprietors, they can focus on running a successful business with proper inventory and amenities for their customers. Suppose certified officials don’t get a chance to review local properties and structures. In that case, companies may run into difficulties, fines, and closures that affect their ability to serve the community and run a successful store, which can hurt the community. Residents and visitors from surrounding areas may lose faith and interest in the local economy. And as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and when one business hurts the community, it can negatively affect other establishments. But when one entrepreneur brings economic success to the area, revenue will increase for all surrounding merchants.

5. Take Care of Your Community With the Help of Modern, Innovative Software

Digital fire and life safety inspection solutions help you organize, prioritize, and enforce standards and regulations to keep your residents and visitors safe while helping ensure the success of your local economy. Maintaining secure fire and safety protocols without the productivity and efficiency of a structured and logical solution increases the chance of human error and risks your community’s well-being. Fire and life safety software is essential for practical, optimal, and safe economic growth.

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Authored by Civic Plus Logo

CivicPlus

Four Key Reasons Why You Need a Fire and Life Safety Inspection Solution