Whether you're preparing for a Fire NOC renewal, an insurance inspection, or just want an honest read on where your building stands, walking the floor with this checklist first will tell you most of what a professional audit would flag — and where it's worth calling one in before it becomes a problem.

Detection & alarm

  • Does every floor have working smoke or heat detectors, with no obvious gaps in coverage?
  • Is the alarm panel showing any fault indicators right now?
  • Are manual call points visible, unobstructed, and clearly marked?
  • Has the alarm system been tested in the last year?

Suppression: extinguishers, hydrants & sprinklers

  • Is there an extinguisher within reasonable reach of every area, matched to that area's fire risk (CO2 near electrical panels, foam near flammable liquids)?
  • Are extinguisher pressure gauges in the green, with intact pins and seals?
  • If the building has hydrants or hose reels, are they accessible, and is there visible water pressure available?
  • If the building has sprinklers, has the pump house (main, jockey, and standby pump) been tested recently?

Egress & signage

  • Are all exit routes clear of stored material, furniture, or locked gates?
  • Do exit and directional signs work, including under emergency lighting?
  • Are stairwells free of obstructions and properly lit?
  • Is there a clearly marked assembly point outside the building?

Documentation

  • Is your current Fire NOC valid, or approaching its renewal date?
  • Do you have service records for extinguishers, alarm panels, and pump systems?
  • Is there a record of the last evacuation drill and who attended?
  • Do installed systems match what's shown on the approved building plan?

Training & drills

  • Is there a designated fire warden for each floor or department?
  • Has staff had hands-on extinguisher training, or only a verbal briefing?
  • Has an evacuation drill been run in the last six to twelve months?

When to call in a professional audit

This checklist will surface the obvious gaps — a blocked exit, an overdue extinguisher, a missing drill record. What it won't do is confirm whether your system design actually meets National Building Code requirements for your specific occupancy and fire load, or catch documentation mismatches that only show up when a Fire Department inspector compares your site to your approved plans. That's the point where a formal fire safety audit is worth the half-day it takes — especially ahead of a Fire NOC application or renewal.