Fire safety equipment weekly checklist for

community service organisations

August 2015
Fire safety equipment
Weekly checklist
This checklist must be used weekly to verify that the fire safety equipment does not have any
obvious damage that may prevent it from functioning appropriately in an emergency.

Any ‘Action Required’ must be reported to maintenance or fire equipment maintenance contractor as required by
regional process.

File completed checklist for reference.

Tick or mark the appropriate box as you check each item. Should the item being checked appear to be damaged or you are
unsure that its condition appears normal, mark the “action required” box and report the item to the maintenance company on the
designated emergency call number.

Fire Extinguishers
For the extinguisher to be classified as being in the “ready to use” condition:
 each fire extinguisher should be fitted with a safety pin and security tie
 the indicator needle should be in the green section

Sprinkler Heads
A damaged sprinkler head may not operate correctly by:
 Not operating immediately if it is damaged
 Not resisting water pressure fluctuations

Over a period of time, or when there is a sudden increase in water pressure, the sprinkler head seal may fail and
begin to slowly leak or fully operate spraying water into the room. Therefore it is important that any obvious
damage is reported so a technician can check the sprinkler head.

Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms with obvious damage will not function or work correctly, which means they may not detect smoke or
alert occupants

External Sprinkler Control Cabinet

The external sprinkler control cabinet is a switchboard type metal cabinet located either at the front or side of the
building. Reading and recording the water pressure on the gauge on the checklist will assist with monitoring water
supply pressure to the sprinkler system. Should the pressure vary beyond predetermined limits, action can then be
taken to upgrade the water supply. These measurements are taken over an extended period of time.

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Visual inspection Site Address       Date       Checked by      
(print name)
1. Smoke Alarms 2. Fire Indicator Panel
Checked Action required Checked Action required
 All smoke alarms appear to be mounted correctly  No fault lights on, on the alarm panel
 No obvious damage or missing smoke alarms  Testing the Smoke Alarms, -
 Green indicator light is on all smoke alarms staff should randomly test at least 4 smoke alarms
individually by depressing the smoke alarm test button
once. This test is done to ensure that they work correctly.
 Test the alarm Interlink -by holding down the test button on
any smoke alarm for more than 3 seconds (this is to check
if all other smoke alarms operate simultaneously when
any one smoke alarm has been activated).

3. Sprinkler Heads 4. External Sprinkler Control Cabinet

Checked Action required Top Gauge = Bottom gauge =
Water pressure
 Sprinkler heads have at least 500mm clearance around
them Checked Action required
 Sprinkler heads free of unrelated attachments or Open the cabinet using the “003” coded key
decorations
 No obvious damage to the sprinkler heads or exposed
pipe work  No loose or disconnected wires
 No sign of water leaking from any sprinkler heads  No obvious damage or water leaking
 Flat or conical disk concealing a sprinkler head has not  Record the water pressure indicated on the pressure
been damaged or dislodged gauge in the designated record book or on this checklist.
Note: If there are two pressure gauges, they should both

indicate the same pressure, if either gauge is indicating more

than the other, report the pressures to Maintenance or fire

equipment contractor.

5. Exits and Exit Paths 6. Evacuation Packs

Checked Action required Checked Action required
 Evacuation pack located in designated location
Internal  Contents and information on people is current
 Contents checklist signed
 All paths to exits are clear, not obstructed or restricted
 Exit doors are easy to open. (i.e. doors do not jam )
 Current evacuation floor plans and fire orders notices
displayed. Plans and notices either to be checked weekly
 Designated primary and secondary exit doors are
openable from inside without a key (not applicable if door or complete date last checked here
strikes fitted to these doors). Door hardware to be
checked weekly OR complete date last checked here:

(to be not more than 3 months prior)

External
 There are no obstructions or hazards along the path which
may hinder or injure persons evacuating
 Paths to the designated assembly areas are clear and
easy to follow

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 7. Fire Prevention – Housekeeping 8. Fire Extinguisher
Checked Action required Checked Action required
 Fire extinguisher/s located in their designated location and
Internal securely mounted
 Fire extinguisher/s easily obtainable in an emergency
 Rubbish is stored and disposed of in appropriate  Fire extinguisher has the safety pin and security tie intact.
containers until removed  Indicator needle on the gauge in the green sector
 Paper or clothing is not allowed to accumulate inside (eg
newspaper allowed to stack up, piles of clothing stored in
rooms, etc)
 Designated walkways and passages are clear
 Smoking items stored appropriately and ashtrays emptied
and cleaned regularly
 Combustible materials are kept away from hot elements
(eg tea towels kept away from the stove)
 Lint filters on dryers clean

External
 Garden is maintained so it is not overgrown
9. Fire Blanket
Checked Action required
 Fire blanket is securely mounted in its designated position
 Fire blanket easily obtainable in an emergency
 No obvious damage to the fire blanket
 The fire blanket has not been used
 Note Fire Blanket and bag should only be checked externally and blanket should not be removed from the bag

To receive this publication in an accessible format, email fireriskmanagement@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, August 2015.
Available at http://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/our-organisation/organisational-structure/our-
groups/fire-risk-management-unit

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