Laboratory Fire Safety Compliance Checklist

Building: Room Number:

Yes No N/A
General Fire Safety
1 Exit signs lit and emergency lights operational.
New or surplus equipment, trash, and empty containers not discarded
2
in the corridor.
3 Laboratory doors remain closed at all time.
Warning signs are listed on the door of the lab (ex. flammable
4
solvents, biohazard, etc.)
5 Emergency evacuation routes posted.
6 Emergency procedures are written and available.
7 Equipment maintenance plans are written.
8 Aisles free of clutter (no tripping hazards) and exit doors not blocked.
A current inventory and MSDS sheets of all chemicals used in the lab
9
is available.
10 Laboratory fume hoods have current inspection/certification labels.
Quantity of flammable/combustible liquids does not exceed storage
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limits.
Refrigerators for flammable are explosion proof type and are properly
12
marked.
Mechanical rooms and spaces kept clear of trash and combustible
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storage.
Gas Cylinders
Number of compressed gas cylinders does not exceed the maximum
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number allowed.
15 All cylinders not in use are stored in an appropriate location.
16 All cylinders are properly secured.
17 All cylinders without regulators are capped.
Chemical Storage
Chemicals are stored properly (ex. according to compatibility, not
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stored in fume hood).
Flammable liquids are stored away from ignition sources (burners,
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hotplates, electrical units, etc.).
Electrical Safety
20 All electrical wiring is free of fraying and cuts.
21 All electrical devices are grounded.
22 Extension cords are not used for permanent wiring.
23 Controls that turn equipment on and off are labeled.
Electrical receptacles, switches, and controls are located so as not to
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be subject to liquid spills.
Circuit breaker panels and electrical transformers are free of storage
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within 30 inches of the panel in laboratories and mechanical spaces.

Signed: Date:
 Laboratory Fire Safety Compliance Corrective Actions
Note the number of the item that is not in compliance, what steps are being taken to achieve
compliance, and the anticipated corrective date.

Building: Room Number:

Signed: Date:
 Laboratory Fire Safety Compliance Checklist Item Description

Emergency signs help direct individual out of a building and emergency lighting provides
1 minimal lighting levels in case of a power failure. Report any fixture that is not working
to the Work Management Center at (404) 651-0700.
Corridors are intended to provide a safe and efficient means of exiting a building in
2 emergencies and during normal daily activities. They should not be used as a storage area
at any time.
Building ventilation systems and fume hood designs depend on laboratory doors to remain
3 closed at all time. Doors left open can render a fume hood useless, exposing building
occupants to hazardous chemicals.
Warning about any unusual chemical, biological, or physical hazard are required to be
4
prominently posted at or near all laboratory entrance doors.
5 Evacuation routes from each laboratory to the two closest exits must be posted.
Alarm activation, evacuation and building re-entry procedures, clothing fires, and
6 equipment shutdown procedures or applicable emergency operation must be written and
readily available to all laboratory occupants.
7 Maintenance plans for all equipment used in a laboratory must be written and available.
Generally, all aisles leading to fire exits must be at least 44 inches wide in undergraduate
teaching labs and 36 inches wide in all other laboratories. Equipment and furniture must
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be placed to prevent any obstruction to the fire exits. Any space over 1,000 square feet
must have two fire exits.
All hazardous materials must be listed on an inventory associated with the MSDS
collection. The chemical supplier, manufacturer, or distributor should accompany the
chemical name. DOT hazard class and NFPA ratings for all hazardous chemicals should
9
also be included in the inventory. This information is generally available on the MSDS
and chemical container label, or on the shipping container in which the chemical was
received.
All fume hoods must be inspected and certified annually and have a current inspection
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sticker posted on the facing of the hood.
See the Flammable Liquids and Compressed Gas Storage Requirements Information
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Sheet.
12 Residential type refrigerators can not be used to store flammable liquids
As with exit corridors, mechanical rooms and mechanical corridors are not intended to
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serve as storage rooms. They must remain clear of all storage.
See the Flammable Liquids and Compressed Gas Storage Requirements Information
14
Sheet.
15 Cylinders, empty or full, may not be stored in a corridor.
16 Gas cylinders must be anchored by chains, clamps, or stands unless they are being moved.
17 Cylinders not in current use should have the regulator removed and the cap secured.
Very generally… Flammable chemicals should be stored away from oxidizing chemicals.
Acids must be separated from caustic chemicals. Either distance or a barrier can be used
for separation. Poisonous materials usually must be kept separate from acids. All
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chemicals must be stored and used away from any area used for eating, drinking, or
smoking. Chemicals with unusual properties should be stored separately from other
chemicals. Storage areas should be labeled with DOT and NFPA labels.
If a container of flammable liquid failed, would the leaking liquid contact any item that
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could cause ignition?
20 Electrical cords should not show signs of wear or breakage.
21 Three prong plugs should be used for all electrical items, except double insulated tools.
22 Any fixed or permanent equipment should be hard wired into the power system. If the
 unit must be unpluggable, the outlet should be within reach without an extension cord.
Computer systems may use a surge suppressing power strip to provide surge protection.
Both On and Off positions are identified. The equipment that is controlled by the switch
23
is obvious, or the label includes the identification of the controlled equipment.
24 Self-explanatory.
Circuit breakers and other electrical disconnecting devices must have at least 30 inches of
25 clearance, to ensure immediate access if needed and to ensure electrician safety during
maintenance.