Fire Safety Compliance Checklist for Facilities Managers

Written by Peter Thompson

Introduction

Fire safety compliance is one of the most important responsibilities for Facilities Managers. In busy buildings, it’s all too easy for essential checks to slip through the cracks – especially when you’re juggling maintenance, contractors, and day-to-day operations.

Yet, the consequences of missed inspections can be severe. A faulty fire door, an untested alarm, or a damaged exit sign could put lives at risk and leave you legally exposed. The good news is that staying compliant doesn’t have to be complicated. With a clear, practical checklist, you can keep on top of your obligations and prove compliance with confidence.

That’s why we’ve created a Fire Safety Compliance Checklist for Facilities Managers – a simple, visual guide that covers all the essentials.

Why a Fire Safety Checklist Matters:

  • Life Safety: Your number one priority is ensuring that occupants can evacuate safely if a fire occurs. Regular checks help guarantee that all safety systems perform as intended. 
  • Legal Compliance: Building regulations and fire safety legislation (such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)) requires regular testing, inspections, and record-keeping.  This is the main piece of legislation governing fire safety in buildings in England and Wales.
  • Building Regulation 38: states that the person doing any building work must give the building’s responsible person clear fire-safety information before the building is finished or used. This helps the responsible person understand the fire-safety plan and look after all fire-safety systems correctly.
  • Reduced Liability: Demonstrating proactive fire safety management can protect your organisation from fines, enforcement notices, or reputational damage.

What the Gunfire Checklist Covers
Our checklist focuses on the key fire safety systems that facilities teams are most often responsible for:

🔥 Fire Doors

  • Inspect the condition of doors, seals, and closers every six months.
  • Ensure all fire doors close fully, latch securely, and are not wedged open (check monthly).
  • Look for damaged intumescent strips, missing signage, or gaps around the frame.

💨 Fire Dampers

  • Test all fire dampers for correct operation annually.
  • Inspect access panels at least every six months to ensure they remain secure and accessible.
  • Record results in your fire safety logbook, noting any remedial work required.

🚨 Fire Alarms

  • Conduct a weekly test, using a different call point each time.
  • Have the entire system serviced by a competent contractor every six months.
  • Keep certificates of service as evidence of compliance.

🚪 Fire Safety Signage

  • Confirm all fire exit signs are illuminated, visible, and unobstructed (monthly).
  • Check that directional signage clearly leads to safe exit routes (quarterly).
  • Replace damaged, faded, or missing signs immediately.

📋 General Fire Safety Duties

  • Review and update the fire risk assessment annually, or sooner if building layout or use changes.
  • Train staff in fire safety awareness and evacuation procedures every year, keeping attendance records.
  • Maintain your fire logbook with up-to-date records of all tests, inspections, and remedial actions.

Visual Checklist at a Glance

Here’s a simple infographic version of the checklist you can display in your facilities office or share with your maintenance team by downloading here

Download the Free PDF Checklist
For convenience, we’ve also created a printable PDF version of the checklist that you can keep in your fire logbook or distribute to your team. 

Key Takeaway


Fire safety compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. By using a structured checklist, you can:

• Ensure no inspections are missed
• Keep accurate, auditable records
• Improve staff awareness and accountability
• Demonstrate proactive fire safety management

With lives, property, and legal compliance on the line, a clear system for checks is essential. Start today by downloading and using our free checklist – and take one more step towards total fire safety confidence.

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