Free inspection template
OSHA Fire Safety Audit & Egress Compliance
Walk your building through exit routes, fire extinguishers, fire alarm, electrical hazards, and flammable storage. A conditional section for written emergency plans appears for sites with more than 10 employees. Finish on your phone with a branded PDF for your safety files.
Overview
What is an OSHA fire safety audit for a small business?
OSHA's fire-safety requirements for general-industry employers are found in two subparts of 29 CFR 1910: Subpart E (Exit Routes and Emergency Planning) covers the means of egress that workers use to leave the building in a fire, and Subpart L (Fire Protection) covers portable fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems, and fire brigades. Blocked or locked exits, missing exit signs, and improperly maintained fire extinguishers are among OSHA's most frequently cited life-safety violations. A periodic fire safety walkthrough is the most direct way to catch those issues before they become citations or tragedies.
This audit covers the fire safety areas that apply to most small and mid-size businesses: exit routes and egress, portable fire extinguishers, fire alarm and detection, electrical fire hazards (the most common ignition source in small-business fires), flammable and combustible storage, and housekeeping. An emergency action and fire prevention plan section appears only for sites with more than 10 employees, where written plans are required by OSHA. The template closes with a findings and sign-off section that captures the key hazards observed and the corrective actions planned.
The checklist
Every checkpoint, in full
A read-only preview of the live template. Clone it to run the inspection on mobile, where each item records Pass, Fail or N·A with optional photos and notes.
Walkthrough Information
6 checksNOTENote on Usage
This audit is based on OSHA general-industry fire-safety standards (29 CFR 1910 Subpart E — Exit Routes & Emergency Planning, and Subpart L — Fire Protection). Completing it does not guarantee OSHA compliance, fire-code compliance, or a fire-safe building; the employer remains responsible for identifying and correcting all fire hazards and for meeting all applicable federal, state, and local fire codes.
Date of audit
Business name or site address
Area or building audited
e.g., main retail floor, back-of-house, warehouse, second floor.
Reviewer name
Number of employees at this site
Used to flag the written-plan requirement; OSHA requires a written emergency action plan and fire prevention plan only for employers with more than 10 employees.
Automatic sprinkler system present?
Answer Yes if any part of this site has overhead fire sprinklers. Gates the sprinkler-clearance check in Housekeeping.
Exit Routes & Egress
8 checksAt least two separate exit routes provided where required
Most workplaces need two or more exits, located far enough apart that one fire cannot block both. One exit may suffice only for very small occupancies that can evacuate safely.
Exit routes unobstructed and clear of materialsCritical
No stored stock, equipment, furniture, or snow/ice blocking any part of an exit route, including outside the exit door.
Exit doors unlocked from the inside and openable without keys or special knowledgeCritical
Doors along an exit route must open from the egress side without a key, tool, special knowledge, or effort. Test each one.
Exit doors operate freely and swing in the direction of travel where required
Doors are side-hinged, not blocked, sticking, or wedged shut. High-occupancy rooms require doors that swing out in the direction of egress.
Exit signs present, legible, and illuminated
Each exit is marked by a lit 'EXIT' sign readable from the path of approach; line-of-direction signs mark the route where the exit is not obvious.
Aisles and egress paths clear and at adequate width
Walkways leading to exits are kept clear and wide enough for the number of occupants to pass without congestion.
No dead-end corridors or doors that mislead toward a dead end
Doors that could be mistaken for an exit but are not (closets, mechanical rooms) are marked 'Not an Exit' or by their use.
Photo of a primary exit door and its signage
Portable Fire Extinguishers
8 checksExtinguishers present and correct class for the hazards in the areaCritical
Class A for ordinary combustibles, B for flammable liquids, C for energized electrical, K for cooking grease. Kitchens need a Class K unit; most general areas use a multipurpose ABC unit.
Extinguishers mounted, visible, and access unobstructedCritical
Each unit is on its bracket or in its cabinet, signage marks its location, and nothing is stacked or parked in front of it.
Pressure gauge reads in the operable (green) rangeCritical
A needle in the red (over- or under-charged) zone means the unit may not discharge. Mark Fail for any unit out of range.
Monthly visual inspection performed and recorded
Tag or log shows the unit was visually checked within the last month (location, access, gauge, seal, obvious damage).
Annual maintenance tag current
A dated service tag shows a qualified person performed the annual maintenance within the last 12 months.
Travel distance to an extinguisher adequate
An employee should not have to travel more than about 75 ft to reach a Class A extinguisher (shorter for flammable-liquid areas).
Employees trained on extinguisher use where they are expected to use them
If the plan expects employees to fight incipient fires, they must be trained on use and hazards at hire and annually.
Photo of an extinguisher showing its gauge and service tag
Fire Alarm & Detection
3 checksAlarm functional and audible throughout the buildingCritical
An employee alarm can be heard or seen above ambient noise everywhere occupants may be. A non-working alarm is a life-safety failure.
Smoke or heat detectors present and tested
Detectors are installed where required, powered, and test records are current. Mark N/A if the occupancy is not required to have detection.
Means provided to report a fire and alert the fire department
A clear way to notify occupants and summon emergency services — monitored alarm, manual pull station, or a posted call procedure.
Electrical Fire Hazards
5 checksNo power strips or extension cords used as permanent wiring
Extension cords and power strips are for temporary use only — not daisy-chained, not run through walls/ceilings/floors, not used in place of fixed wiring.
Outlets and circuits not overloaded
No signs of overload — warm cover plates, scorch marks, frequently tripped breakers, or many high-draw devices on one outlet.
Cords undamaged
No frayed insulation, missing ground prongs, exposed conductors, or crushed/pinched jackets. Remove damaged cords from service.
Electrical panels have clear working space (about 36 in)
Roughly 36 in of clear depth and the full panel width in front of each panel; nothing stored against it.
Cover plates and knockouts in place on outlets, switches, and panels
No open junction boxes, missing cover plates, or unfilled knockout holes that expose live wiring or let fire spread.
Flammable & Combustible Storage
4 checksFlammable liquids in approved containers or storage cabinets
Gasoline, solvents, paints, and aerosols are kept in approved safety containers; larger quantities are in a listed flammable-storage cabinet.
Oily or solvent-soaked rags stored in a self-closing metal can
Oily rags can self-heat and ignite. Store them in a covered, self-closing metal container and empty it regularly.
Combustibles kept clear of heaters, furnaces, and other ignition sources
Boxes, paper, packaging, and stock are kept well away from space heaters, water heaters, furnaces, cooking equipment, and electrical panels.
Flammable and hazardous containers properly labeled
Containers show their contents and hazard so employees and responders know what is present.
Emergency Action & Fire Prevention Plans
5 checksWritten emergency action plan available
Required in writing for more than 10 employees. Covers reporting, evacuation, and assembly procedures.
Written fire prevention plan available
Lists major fire hazards, their handling and storage, ignition-source controls, and who maintains fire-control equipment.
Evacuation map posted with exits and routes marked
Posted where employees can see it; shows current exit routes and the assembly point.
Employees trained on the plan and their evacuation roles
Training given when the plan is established, when roles change, and when the plan changes.
Outside assembly point designated and known to staff
A safe gathering location away from the building where employees can be accounted for after evacuation.
Housekeeping
3 checksNo accumulation of combustible waste or clutter
Paper, cardboard, packaging, and trash are removed regularly and not allowed to pile up.
Heating, cooking, and mechanical areas kept clean and clear
Lint, grease, and dust are cleaned from heat-producing equipment and surrounding areas.
At least 18 in clearance maintained below sprinkler heads
Stored materials must stay at least 18 in below sprinkler deflectors so spray is not blocked. Appears only when a sprinkler system is present.
Findings & Sign-off
5 checksKey fire hazards observed
Corrective actions and target completion dates
Any item requires immediate action before the building is reoccupied or work resumes?
Blocked or locked exits, a discharged extinguisher with no backup, or a dead fire alarm are imminent hazards — flag here and act now.
Describe the immediate-action item and the action taken
Reviewer signature
Type your full legal name to confirm this fire safety audit was performed and the findings recorded honestly.
Yours to edit
Every building has its own fire risk profile.
Clone the template and open it in the builder. Add a section for your sprinkler system, commercial kitchen, or hazardous-material storage if they apply. Increase the weight on the items most critical for your occupancy type. No code, no spreadsheets.
Field procedure
How to run this inspection
Walk the building area by area, starting at the exits and working inward. Capture a photo of at least one extinguisher and one exit door. Mark each check PASS, FAIL, or N/A as you go.
STEP 01
Exit routes and egress
Walk every exit path from work area to outside. Verify that at least two separate exit routes are provided where required and that they are free of obstructions: no stored stock, equipment, or furniture blocking any exit route including outside the exit door. Test each exit door: it should open from the inside without a key, tool, or special knowledge. Check that exit signs are illuminated and visible from all working areas.
STEP 02
Portable fire extinguishers
Check every extinguisher in the building. Confirm it is the correct class for the hazards in the area (ABC for most general areas; Class K for commercial kitchens), that it is mounted visibly with access unobstructed, and that the pressure gauge needle is in the green range. Verify the annual maintenance tag is current and the monthly visual-inspection log is up to date.
STEP 03
Fire alarm and detection
Confirm the employee alarm is functional and audible throughout the building. Verify smoke or heat detectors are present, powered, and that test records are current. Check that there is a clear way to report a fire and summon the fire department: a monitored alarm, manual pull station, or posted call procedure.
STEP 04
Electrical fire hazards
Look for extension cords or power strips used as permanent wiring (the single most common electrical fire cause in small businesses). Check that outlets and circuits show no signs of overload (warm cover plates, scorch marks, tripped breakers). Inspect cords for frayed insulation, missing ground prongs, or pinched jackets. Confirm that at least 36 inches of clear working space exists in front of each electrical panel.
STEP 05
Flammable storage and housekeeping
Verify that flammable liquids are in approved containers or listed flammable-storage cabinets and that oily rags are stored in a self-closing metal can. Confirm that combustibles are kept clear of heaters, furnaces, and other ignition sources. If a sprinkler system is present, check that stored materials maintain at least 18 inches of clearance below sprinkler heads.
FAQ
Common questions
Is this fire safety audit template free?+
Does completing this audit mean my business meets the fire code?+
How often should I run a fire safety audit?+
What triggers the Emergency Action Plan section?+
Does this work offline?+
What does this audit not cover?+
Run your next fire safety audit from your phone
Walk the building, check every exit and extinguisher, and mark each item as you go. When you finish, you'll have a branded PDF audit record (with photos) ready for your safety files and your insurer.