State Fire Marshal’s Hazard List
Life Safety Code, National Electrical Code and other NFPA Standards

The Florida Legislature has adopted the Life Safety Code, National Electrical Code and the National Fire Protection Association’s Standards for application in the state of Florida. The State Fire Marshal in the Department of Financial Services is responsible for enforcing the
standards in applicable public buildings. The Fire Safety Inspector conducts yearly assessments of building conditions on our campuses. The following items are some of the hazards often identified by the Fire Safety Inspectors in university buildings throughout the state:

Life Safety Code Violations:

Conditions which endanger occupants by restricting egress from rooms or buildings in case of a fire or emergency condition.
· Room or building over-occupied.
· Egress doors blocked or difficult to open (max. 15 lb. Force).
· Halls or passageways not maintained at least 44 in. wide.
· Egress doors locked, requiring more than one motion to open. (Knob plus deadbolt, pushbuttons plus thumb latch, etc.) This is the reason for the use of “panic bars” on exit doors. Some building have signs posted: THIS DOOR MUST REMAINED UNLOCKED DURING BUSINESS HOURS.
· Inappropriately identified exits or exits not identified as a result of renovation.

Fire Protection Violations:
Conditions which restrict or prevent the use of fire suppression or extinguishing devices.
· Fire Extinguishers blocked (boxes, brooms, mops, buckets)
· Materials stored within 18 in. of fire sprinkler pendant.
· Fire extinguishers not regularly inspected (monthly).
· Materials improperly stored in electrical, mechanical, or elevator equipment rooms.
· Building’s designed fire ratings not maintained because use of alterations, sprinklers covered,
fire rated doors removed, or fire walls penetrated.

Electrical Code Violations:
· Breaker boxes or electrical panels blocked or obstructed (boxes, brooms, mops, buckets, etc.)
· Extension cords used as permanent wiring (attached to building or fixtures by tape, staples, twist ties, wrapping, etc.) Note: electrical outlets should be within 6 feet of any point on room walls. Additional outlets may be required with the proliferation of modern office electrical devices. Use of heavy duty, fused, surge protected multi-outlet strips are almost a necessity.
· Extension cords attached to another extension cord (daisy chained). This usually involves the use of “zip cord” - inexpensive 2-conductor white or brown extension cords with multiple outlets. These are especially inappropriate for coffee makers, microwaves, heaters, refrigerators or any other high-wattage appliance.
· Small, personal electrical resistance heaters not equipped with an automatic “turnover” switch. Switch must disable the heat source if the device falls over on the heat output side. Open front devices with exposed elements are prohibited.
· Electrical circuit breaker boxes with open “spaces” – Plastic blanks not installed to cover space where breakers have been removed.
· Missing outlet or switch cover plates. (usually removed for painting).

Updated 3/6/08 by freplogle