How to Prepare for an AHJ Fire Inspection: Exit Paths, Emergency Lighting and Signage

Published 2026-10-07

Most failed fire inspections come from small, fixable items: a blocked door, a dead exit sign battery, a storage pile too close to a sprinkler. A short walk-through a week before the inspector arrives catches most of them.

Start with the exit path

Walk the route a person would use to leave, from the farthest room to the outside. Look for items stored in corridors, doors that do not open freely, locks or latches that need a key or special knowledge from the egress side, and changed room layouts that no longer match the posted evacuation plan.

• Corridors and stairs clear of storage, carts and equipment.
• Exit doors open in the direction of travel without tools or keys, unless your AHJ has approved a specific locking arrangement.
• Exit discharge leads to a clear, safe area outside.

Check emergency lighting

Emergency lights must come on when normal power fails. NFPA 101 commonly calls for a monthly functional test of at least 30 seconds and an annual test of 90 minutes, with written records. Press the test button on each unit, note any that fail, and keep the log where the inspector can see it.

Check exit signs and signage

Exit signs should be visible, lit or otherwise legible, and point the correct way. Replace burnt-out lamps and weak batteries before inspection day. Remove decorations or furniture that hide a sign from view.

Look at extinguishers and sprinklers

• Extinguishers mounted, accessible, charged, and carrying a current inspection tag.
• Storage kept clear of sprinkler heads. Many codes require roughly 18 inches of clearance below the deflector, but confirm the figure in the edition your AHJ enforces.
• No painted, damaged or missing sprinkler heads.

Gather your paperwork

Have service reports for the fire alarm, sprinkler and extinguisher systems, your emergency lighting log, and any previous inspection notes in one folder. Missing paperwork is a common and avoidable finding.

Keep a record as you go

Take a photo of each deficiency before and after you correct it, with the location and date. That record shows the inspector what you found and fixed, and it makes next year's walk-through faster.

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