Fire Exit Check: How to Complete This Weekly Safety Inspection

Why fire exit checks matter

In a fire emergency, people need to escape quickly. Smoke fills spaces within minutes. Panic affects decision-making. The escape route that seemed obvious yesterday becomes confusing and dangerous in darkness, smoke, and alarm noise.

Your escape routes are designed to get everyone out safely. But they only work if:

• Routes are clear — No obstructions blocking corridors or stairways
• Doors open freely — Exit doors that cannot be opened trap people inside
• Signs guide the way — Clear signage shows the route even when visibility is poor
• External areas are safe — The escape continues to a place of safety outside

Problems with escape routes are among the most common fire safety failures in hospitality premises:

• Deliveries blocking corridors — Stock left in passageways during busy periods
• Furniture creep — Tables, chairs, and equipment gradually encroaching on routes
• Locked exits — Doors secured against intruders but trapping occupants
• Failed signage — Exit signs not illuminated or pointing wrong directions
• External hazards — Assembly points blocked or external routes obstructed

Weekly checks catch these problems before an emergency reveals them fatally.

Legal requirements

Fire safety legislation everywhere requires that escape routes be maintained clear and usable. This is a fundamental principle of fire safety.

In the UK, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to ensure that escape routes and exits can be used as quickly and safely as possible, with emergency routes and exits kept clear at all times.

In the US, NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) and local fire codes require that means of egress remain unobstructed, properly illuminated, and marked. Similar requirements exist in every developed jurisdiction.

The principle is universal: people must be able to escape. Any obstruction to escape routes is a serious fire safety failure.

The evacuation timeline

Understanding why clear routes matter requires understanding evacuation timelines:

• 0-30 seconds — Alarm recognition, decision to evacuate
• 30 seconds - 2 minutes — Movement to escape routes begins
• 2-5 minutes — Main evacuation flow through corridors and stairs
• 5+ minutes — Building should be cleared; anyone still inside is in serious danger

Obstructions do not just delay evacuation — they can cause fatal bottlenecks when hundreds of people try to escape simultaneously. Locked doors cause panic and crushing. Missing signage causes confusion and people moving the wrong direction.

Daily vigilance vs weekly checks

While weekly formal checks verify escape routes, escape route clearance needs daily attention:

• Daily awareness — Staff should report obstructions whenever they see them
• After deliveries — Check corridors immediately after receiving stock
• Opening checks — Verify exits are unlocked when the building opens
• Weekly formal inspection — Systematic walk-through of all routes

The weekly check is the formal record; daily vigilance is the practice.

Frequency and timing

Standard frequency

Fire exits and escape routes should be formally inspected at least weekly. This is the minimum frequency for a structured check.

However, escape route clearance should be monitored continuously:

• Every opening — Fire exits must be unlocked before occupants arrive
• During operation — Staff should maintain awareness throughout the day
• After deliveries — Immediate check that corridors remain clear
• Before events — Additional check before busy periods

Best timing

Many businesses conduct fire exit checks at the start of the week, often combining with fire alarm tests (which are also typically weekly).

Choose a time when:

• You can walk all escape routes without rushing
• Staff who manage deliveries and storage are available to address any issues found
• Any problems can be corrected before the busy part of the week

What the check covers

A fire exit check is a walk-through of all escape routes, from every occupied area to the ultimate place of safety (usually outside at the assembly point). This includes:

• Internal corridors and circulation spaces
• Stairways and stairs
• Fire exit doors and emergency doors
• External escape routes (paths, gates, yards)
• Assembly point accessibility

How to complete the check

1. Escape route inspection

Walk through all escape routes systematically, checking each element of the evacuation system.

Why it matters:

Escape routes are systems with multiple components. A blocked corridor, a locked door, or a failed exit sign — any single failure can compromise evacuation. This checklist ensures you examine every critical element.

What good answers look like:

Every item should be checked and ticked if satisfactory. An item you cannot tick identifies a problem requiring immediate attention.

How to answer this for yourself:

Walk the routes and check each item:

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All escape routes clear of obstructions

Walk every corridor, passageway, and stairway that forms part of an escape route. Nothing should obstruct the full width of the route.

Why this matters: Obstructions cause delays during normal evacuation and can create fatal bottlenecks under panic conditions. Even partial obstruction (half the corridor blocked) significantly reduces flow capacity.

What to look for:

• Corridors clear for their full width
• Stairways clear with no items on landings or steps
• No deliveries or stock stored in escape routes
• No furniture blocking passageways
• Doors to escape routes not blocked from opening

Common issues: Delivery boxes left in corridors. Cleaning equipment stored on landings. Furniture moved into corridors for events. Rubbish bags waiting for collection. Contractor materials left in passageways.

Critical rule: Escape routes should never be used for storage, even temporarily. "Just for five minutes" can become "forgot about it" — and a fire does not check your schedule.

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All fire exit doors open freely

Test every fire exit door. It must open easily from the inside with a single motion, without keys or special knowledge.

Why this matters: In an emergency, people must be able to open fire exit doors immediately. Any delay — fumbling with locks, searching for keys, figuring out mechanisms — costs time and can cause crushing behind the door.

What to look for:

• Push bars (panic hardware) operate smoothly
• Doors swing open fully without sticking
• No chains, padlocks, or additional locks on fire exits
• Door closers do not prevent opening
• Weather seals do not make doors stick

Common issues: Chains or locks added for "security." Door swollen and sticking. Panic bar mechanism stiff or failed. Additional bolt fitted above panic bar. Door blocked from outside preventing full opening.

The key test: Could a stranger, in darkness, in panic, open this door and escape? If not, it is not acceptable.

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Push bars/panic hardware working correctly

Fire exit doors typically have push bars (panic hardware) that open the door when pushed horizontally. These must work reliably.

Why this matters: Push bars are designed for emergency use — someone running towards the door pushes it and escapes. If the mechanism is stiff, stuck, or requires special knowledge, it fails its purpose.

What to look for:

• Push bar moves smoothly when pushed
• Latch retracts fully when bar is operated
• Door opens easily once latch is released
• Bar returns to position when released
• No damage, corrosion, or wear preventing operation

Common issues: Mechanism seized from lack of use. Bar bent from impact. Latch not aligned with keep. Internal mechanism damaged. Lubricant dried out causing stiffness.

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Fire exit signage visible and illuminated

Exit signs must clearly mark all fire exits and guide people along escape routes. Where required, signs must be illuminated.

Why this matters: In smoke, darkness, and panic, people follow signs. Missing, obscured, or unlit signs mean people cannot find exits or may move in the wrong direction.

What to look for:

• Exit signs present at every fire exit
• Direction signs present along escape routes
• Signs illuminated (if required — check if bulbs are working)
• Signs not obscured by decorations, notices, or furniture
• Signs pointing the correct direction (check arrows)

Common issues: Bulbs failed in illuminated signs. Signs obscured by temporary notices or decorations. Arrow signs pointing wrong direction after layout changes. Signs missing entirely after refurbishment.

Note: Many exit signs are continuously illuminated; others only illuminate when the fire alarm activates or power fails. Know which type you have and test accordingly.

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External escape areas clear

Escape does not end when people get outside. External routes must lead to a safe place away from the building.

Why this matters: People exiting into an obstructed area can block those behind them. External hazards can cause injuries. Assembly points must be accessible to collect and account for evacuees.

What to look for:

• Area immediately outside fire exits clear
• External paths and routes unobstructed
• Gates in escape routes unlocked during occupied hours
• No deliveries or bins blocking external exits
• Access from exit door to assembly point clear

Common issues: Bins placed outside fire exits. Delivery vehicles parked blocking exit. External gates locked. Building materials from contractors blocking routes. Overgrown vegetation encroaching on paths.

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Assembly point signage visible

The assembly point is where evacuees gather for roll call. It must be clearly signed and known to all occupants.

Why this matters: Assembly points allow managers to account for everyone and provide information to fire services. If people do not know where to go, they scatter — making it impossible to confirm everyone is safe.

What to look for:

• Assembly point clearly signed
• Sign visible from the routes people will use
• Sign not obscured
• Location appropriate (far enough from building, not blocking emergency access)

Common issues: Sign fallen or removed. Sign obscured by parked vehicles or equipment. Assembly point location impractical and staff actually gather elsewhere. Multiple assembly points causing confusion.

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No locked fire exits (during occupied hours)

Fire exits must be unlocked and usable whenever the building is occupied. This is non-negotiable.

Why this matters: A locked fire exit traps people inside a burning building. People die against locked fire exits in fires every year, usually because someone prioritised security over life safety.

What to look for:

• No padlocks or chains on fire exits
• No key-operated locks that are locked
• Push-from-inside locks only (these are acceptable)
• Electronic locks release when fire alarm activates or power fails
• Break-glass key boxes only where absolutely necessary and staff trained

Common issues: Chains added after hours and not removed in the morning. Padlocks used to prevent theft. Key-operated locks with keys removed. Electronic locks not linked to fire alarm. Staff unaware of how to unlock from inside.

The principle: Always secure to prevent entry, never to prevent escape.

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Corridors and stairways adequately lit

Escape routes must be lit well enough for safe movement, including when mains power fails.

Why this matters: People need to see where they are going. Tripping and falling on stairs during evacuation can cause serious injury and block the route for others. Emergency lighting should cover escape routes when normal lighting fails.

What to look for:

• Normal lighting working throughout escape routes
• No dark spots or failed bulbs
• Emergency lighting present along escape routes (separate check covers testing)
• Light levels adequate to navigate safely
• Exit signs illuminated

Common issues: Failed bulbs not replaced. Emergency lighting insufficient or failed. Dark corners where main lighting does not reach. Stairwell lighting on timer that switches off.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them):

• Only checking the route you use — Check all routes, not just your usual path
• Not physically testing doors — Open every door; do not assume it works
• Ignoring external areas — The escape continues outside the building
• Accepting "temporary" obstructions — There is no safe time to block escape routes

Best practices to follow:

• Walk the routes as an evacuee would, from occupied spaces to assembly points
• Test every door physically — push the bar, open the door
• Check from both sides of fire exit doors
• Note any changes since the last check
• Think about the route in darkness and smoke

2. Check result

Based on your inspection, record whether all escape routes pass or whether issues were found.

Why it matters:

This creates a clear record of escape route status. A pass confirms routes are ready for evacuation. A fail triggers immediate action to restore protection.

What good answers look like:

• Pass - all clear — All routes clear, all doors working, all signs visible, all external areas accessible.
• Fail - issue found — One or more problems identified that need attention.

How to answer this for yourself:

Escape routes are the last line of defence. If people cannot escape, everything else fails. Be rigorous:

• Any obstruction that would impede evacuation flow → Fail
• Any door that does not open immediately and easily → Fail
• Any missing or failed signage on main routes → Fail
• Any locked fire exit during occupied hours → Fail (and escalate immediately)

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them):

• Passing with "minor" obstructions — Minor to you may be critical in an emergency
• Accepting locked doors that "staff know how to open" — Strangers and visitors do not
• Ignoring failed exit signs — They are there for emergencies, not normal times

Best practices to follow:

• A fail is appropriate whenever escape could be delayed or obstructed
• Record the specific issue in notes
• Do not clear an obstruction and then record a pass — the fail documents that the problem occurred
• Escalate locked fire exits immediately as a serious safety failure

3. Notes

Record details of any obstructions, faulty doors, signage issues, and actions taken.

Why it matters:

Notes provide the detail needed to resolve issues and prevent recurrence. They also create a record showing what was found and how it was addressed.

What good answers look like:

For passing checks:

• "All routes clear, all exits operational" or blank is fine

For issues found:

• "Delivery boxes blocking corridor outside storeroom — moved immediately. Spoke with team about not leaving deliveries in escape routes."
• "Fire exit door at rear sticking badly, had to push hard to open. Reported to maintenance for urgent attention."
• "Exit sign above kitchen door not illuminated — bulb may have failed. Reported to electrician."
• "External gate at back of building was locked. Unlocked immediately and spoke with manager about ensuring it remains unlocked during opening hours. Check will be added to opening procedure."

How to answer this for yourself:

Record:

• What exactly was the problem (location, nature, severity)
• What you did immediately (cleared obstruction, unlocked door, etc.)
• What follow-up is needed (maintenance, training, procedure change)
• Who you reported it to

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them):

• "Corridor blocked" — Which corridor? What was blocking it?
• Only recording the problem — Record the solution too
• Not following up on recurring issues — Note patterns; the same problem every week needs a systemic fix

Best practices to follow:

• Be specific about locations
• Record immediate actions you took
• Note any conversations with staff about the issue
• Flag patterns if the same issues recur
• Include names of people you reported to

What to do when issues are found

Immediate actions

Clear obstructions immediately. Do not wait to report them — move them now, then document what happened.

Unlock locked exits immediately. This is the most serious fire safety failure. A locked fire exit during occupied hours should never occur.

Report door problems urgently. A fire exit door that does not open properly needs immediate maintenance attention.

Escalate systemic issues. If escape routes are repeatedly blocked or exits repeatedly locked, this indicates a serious management failure requiring escalation beyond routine maintenance.

Prevention over cure

Finding and fixing problems is important, but preventing them is better:

Delivery management — Establish clear rules that deliveries never block escape routes, not even temporarily

Storage discipline — Escape routes are not storage space; enforce this consistently

Lock procedures — Fire exits are unlocked at opening, checked, and only locked after the building is cleared

Staff training — Everyone needs to understand why escape routes matter and their role in maintaining them

Documentation

Every issue found should be:

1. Cleared immediately if possible
2. Documented in the check
3. Reported to the responsible person
4. Tracked to resolution
5. Reviewed for patterns

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing security with safety

Security prevents unauthorised entry. Safety enables escape. These are not in conflict:

• Doors can be locked from outside while opening freely from inside
• Alarm contacts can monitor exits without preventing escape
• Break-glass releases provide emergency opening while deterring casual use

Never sacrifice escape capability for security.

Accepting "everyone knows"

"Everyone knows to use the other exit" or "everyone knows where the key is" is not acceptable. Consider:

• New staff who do not know
• Visitors and customers who do not know
• Panic situations where people forget what they know
• Smoke and darkness where familiar routes become unfamiliar

Design for the worst case, not the average case.

Clearing and passing

If you find an obstruction, clear it immediately — but still record the check as a fail with details. The fail documents that the problem occurred. Passing because you fixed it hides the pattern.

Weekly tunnel vision

A weekly check does not mean escape routes are ignored the rest of the week. Escape route clearance requires continuous awareness.

Outdoor complacency

People who have exited the building are not yet safe. External routes, assembly points, and access for emergency services all matter.

Building a culture of clear routes

Make it non-negotiable

Escape routes are never storage. Fire exits are never locked during occupied hours. Exit signs are never obscured. These are not guidelines — they are rules.

Give obstruction a cost

If deliveries blocking corridors becomes someone else's problem to fix, it will continue. Ensure the team creating obstructions feels the consequence of creating them.

Train everyone

Every staff member should understand:

• Which routes are escape routes
• Why they must stay clear
• Their responsibility to maintain clearance
• How to report problems

Address root causes

If corridors are blocked because there is nowhere else to put deliveries, solve the storage problem. If doors are locked because of security concerns, install push-bar locks. If signs fail repeatedly, fix the electrical issue.

Summary

Fire exit and escape route checks verify that people can evacuate safely in an emergency. Weekly inspections ensure that:

• All escape routes are completely clear
• All fire exit doors open freely and immediately
• All exit signage is visible and illuminated
• External areas and assembly points are accessible
• No fire exits are locked during occupied hours

Remember:

• Walk all routes, test all doors, check all signs
• Clear obstructions immediately
• Report and follow up on every problem
• A locked fire exit is a serious safety failure
• Escape routes are for escaping, never for storage

When the fire alarm sounds, escape routes are all that stand between your team and a safe evacuation. Weekly checking ensures they will work when they are needed.