Appendix B: Walkthrough Checklist

Occupancy, Alarms, Fire Suppression, Exits, Housekeeping, Hazardous Materials, Building Systems

Facility Location: _______________ 
Date: _________________________

(Check the box if the answer is YES to the following questions.)

Occupancy, Evacuation Routes, Building Diagrams

•  Are the floor plans available and dated? 
  
  
•  Are any changes in the location of cubicles, offices and equipment reflected in the floor plans? 
  
  
•  Has the number of occupants stayed about the same since the latest floor plan was drawn? 
  
  
•  Have operations remained about the same since the latest floor plan was drawn? 
  
  
•  Are evacuation routes shown on the floor plans or workplace maps? 
  
  
•  Are the locations of exits, alarms and fire extinguishers noted on the floor plans? 
  
  
•  Are all building drawings available? 
  
  
•  Is smoking restricted? 
  
  
•  Is the Building Inspector’s/Fire Marshall’s report available and on file? 
  
  
•  Are the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) drawings available? 

Alarms and Detection Systems

•  Type of System:______________________ 
  
  
•  Can the alarm system be seen and heard? (Complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.) 
  
  
•  Has the alarm system been tested in the last year? 
   Date of test:________________________ 
  
  
•  Does the alarm system automatically notify the fire department? 
  
  • If not, ________________________notifies fire department? (name of person) 
    
    
•  Does the alarm system differentiate between different types of emergencies? 
  
  
•  Do workers know what the alarm(s) means? 
  
  
•  Are the trouble lights on fire alarm panels (if applicable) working? 
  
  
•  Does the facility have a detection system for heat, smoke, carbon monoxide or other hazards? 
  
  
•  Has the detection system been tested in the last year?
   Date of test:________________________ 
  
  
•  Is the detection system linked to the alarm and suppression systems?

Fire Suppression Systems

•  Does the facility have a suppression system(s) 
  
  
•  The type of suppression system is: _________________________ 
  
  
•  Is the system adequate for the hazards in the workplace? 
  
  
•  Is the system available throughout facility? 
  
  
•  If not, what are the areas that are not served by the system?____________________ 
  
  
•  Has the system been tested in the last year? 
   Date of test:_________________________________ 
  
  
•  Are valves kept in the open position? 
  
  
•  Are gauges properly set and maintained? 
  
  
•  Are fire extinguishers appropriate for type of hazards? 3 
  
  
•  Are fire extinguishers available on all floors? 
  
  
•  Are fire extinguishers easy to get to? 
  
  
•  Are fire extinguishers inspected and charged? 
   Date of inspection:_______________ 
  
  
•  Are inspection/testing tags on fire extinguishers? 
  
  
•  Have personnel been trained to use fire extinguishers?

Exits 4

•  Are exit doors unlocked? 
  
  
•  Are exit doors not blocked? 
  
  
•  Are there enough exits for the number of occupants? 
  
  
•  Do exits lead to a public way? 
  
  
•  Are exit signs placed where they can be seen? 
  
  
•  Are exit signs properly illuminated? 
  
  
•  Do doors open in the direction of travel? 
  
  
•  Are fire doors kept closed? 
  
  
•  Are aisles and passageways clear? 
  
  
•  Are stairways wide enough for the number of occupants? 
  
  
•  Do stairs have non-slip tread? 
  
  
•  Do the stairways have handrails? 
  
  
•  Are there maps or diagrams on each floor or section showing the location of exits?

Housekeeping

•  Is trash put in sealed containers and collected on a regular basis? 
  
  
•  Are cleaning materials sealed and stored properly? 
  
  
•  Are spills quickly and properly cleaned up? 
  
  
•  Are housekeeping and maintenance procedures up to date and in writing?

Hazardous Materials

•  Are materials that can easily burn, explode and/or give off poisonous fumes used or stored in the workplace? 
  
  
•  Is there an up-to-date list of all hazardous chemicals? 
  
  
•  Are material safety data sheets for all hazardous chemicals available? 
  
  
•  Are flammable and other high hazard materials stored separately? 
  
  
•  Are chemicals properly marked and labeled? 
  
  
•  Is there a laboratory on the premises? 
  
  
•  If yes, is there a chemical hygiene plan on file? 
  
  
•  Are compressed gases properly capped and chained?

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems

•  Are air intakes located and designed to prevent entry of outside pollutants or recirculated air?  
  
  
•  Are dampers and detectors in ducts properly arranged and maintained? 
  
  
•  Do automatic controls work properly? 
  
  
•  Is the system balanced and properly maintained? 
  
  
•  Are temperature controls tamper-resistant? 
  
  
•  Are supply air and return diffusers not blocked?

Electrical

•  Is the circuit protection and wiring adequate? 
   Is the use of temporary wiring and extension cords limited? 
  
  
•  Are frayed or damaged wires taken out of service? 
  
  
•  Are the circuits and machinery grounded? 
  
  
•  Are electrical panel boxes closed? 
  
  
•  Are the circuits capable of handling coffee pots, portable heaters, etc.? 
  
  
•  Are coffee pots, portable heaters and other items unplugged when not in use? 
  
  
•  Are open flames and heaters kept away from materials that could burn?
  
  

3 National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 10, Standards for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 1998 Edition

4 National Fire Protection Association, Means of Egress, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2000 Edition, Chapter 7, Pages 43-68