• Fire extinguishers should be inspected regularly.fire extinguisher image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  The state fire marshal is responsible for ensuring that fire safety regulations are followed when constructing new buildings and when operating any publicly accessed business or institution. Although the exact regulations vary from state to state, the general guidelines can be broken down into four categories, which include fire protection, electrical hazards, general fire safety, and exits.
  
  

Fire Protection

• Fire protection refers to all things in place to manage a fire once it has already ignited. The fire marshal will confirm that fire extinguishers are readily available and that they are inspected to ensure they are in working order. If the establishment has a sprinkler system or a hood fire suppression system, this too should be inspected regularly. (For the specific frequency of inspection, please request guidelines from your state's fire marshal.)
  
  

Electrical Hazards

• Violation of electrical codes can result in a fire, thus the fire marshal will also be looking for any exposed wires or uninsulated wires. Extension cords attached to other extension cords will result in a violation as well. The breakers in the breaker box must also be labeled appropriately so that, should an electrical fire ignite, the source can be shut down quickly.
  
  

General Fire Safety

• General fire safety includes storage of combustible material and general housekeeping. Many businesses use combustible products to a greater or lesser degree. These products should be stored in a cabinet specifically labeled "hazardous material," and any hazardous waste should be removed daily. Furthermore, failure to maintain a clean working environment can also result in fire if there is an accumulation of grease, lint or dust.
  
  

Exits

• If a fire does ignite, the most import thing is to make sure employees and customers can quickly and safely exit the building. Therefore, every fire inspection includes an inspection of exits to make sure they are clearly marked with illuminated exit signs, and to make sure the paths to those exits are free of debris.