Originally published by CHI at https://sigmachi.org/chi_articles/fire-safety-checklist/

No matter where you live—whether it’s in a chapter house, an apartment or a dormitory take a look around. How safe is your living environment? Are you putting yourself at risk for a fire? Are you preventing your brothers and your friends from quickly and safely evacuating your home in the event of a fire?

Use this checklist to assess the dangers that may already exist in your home-away-from-home that might put you at risk for an on-site fire. How many of the following fire hazards do you find in your college home? Click here to download!

Entrances & Exits

•   Obstructed exit doors
•   No crash bars
•   Poor/no lighting
•   Broken steps
•   Unlit exit signs
•   Broken door locks

Stairs

•   Uneven/loose/broken steps
•   Low ceiling/overhang
•   No self-closing door
•   Worn/loose/missing step tread
•   Broken/loose/missing hand rails
•   Inadequate lighting

Sleeping Rooms

•   Lack of smoke alarms and detectors
•   Inoperative smoke alarms and detectors
•   Obstructed exit doors
•   Blocked heating panels/registers/vents
•   No self-closing door
•   Walking/tripping hazards
•   Overloaded outlets (especially around electronic equipment)
•   Presence of combustibles (e.g. candles, incense)
•   Presence of hot plates
•   Missing/loose door knobs
•   Unstable/hazardous bunk beds

Kitchen

•   No GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets
•   Unsanitary conditions
•   Missing/greasy exhaust hood
•   Greasy/slippery floor
•   Overloaded outlets
•   Overdue/expired inspection certificate
•   Unsecured shelving
•   Inadequate wiring/electrical cords
•   Bare/unprotected bulb in exhaust hood
•   Missing/discharged/expired fire extinguishers
•   Ungrounded kitchen appliances

Hallways & Corridors

•   Inoperable/missing fire alarms
•   Missing/discharged/expired fire extinguishers
•   Missing/inoperable smoke detectors/alarms (battery or hard-wired)
•   No posted evacuation map/emergency numbers/emergency procedures
•   Unmarked/unlit exits
•   Damaged, blocked and/or propped-open fire doors
•   Obstructed fire alarms
•   Uneven/loose floorboards/tiles
•   Unsanitary conditions

Bathrooms

•   No GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets
•   Boiler Room
•   Cluttered storage
•   Damaged pipe insulation
•   Presence of combustibles/flammables
•   Poor ventilation
•   Overdue/expired boiler inspection
•   No self-closing door
•   No fire walls/doors

Utility Room

•   Blocked electrical circuit panel
•   Electrical hazards/overloaded outlets
•   Ungrounded appliances
•   Cluttered storage
•   Missing circuit panel cover
•   Unsecured shelves
•   Defective/broken ladder
•   Unlabeled circuit breakers
•   Open flammable liquids

Exterior

•   Loose siding/shingles
•   Ungrounded outlets
•   Overgrown vegetation
•   Uncontrolled roof access
•   Broken window glass
•   Inoperable windows
•   Damaged fire escapes
•   Uneven sidewalks/driveway
•   Poor exterior lighting