Apartment buildings and condominiums You work hard to maintain your properties. That s why it s important to ensure you re protected from all potential losses especially when they re avoidable. Apartment buildings and condominiums should have a comprehensive safety program in place to protect them from damage or losses due to fire, vandalism, flooding and other potential situations. As with most situations, it s easier to fix problems when they re minor inconveniences, rather than when they grow into larger issues which can impact the use of your building. Making your safety program successful To help ensure your safety program is successful, it's important to walk through the building routinely, to assess the condition of your premises both inside and out. A routine assessment provides an opportunity for you notice, record and correct any deterioration or faults before they become expensive problems, for example: Fixing damage to the roof or unplugging roof drains can prevent a catastrophic leak which could lead to interior damage Placing winter mats and keeping floors dry can reduce the risk of a slip and fall involving a resident or visitor Plowing out parking lots, salting and sanding walkways in winter can also help minimize slips and falls Fixing a flickering light or breaker which keeps tripping can prevent a fire Keeping birds and other wildlife out can prevent damage and potential disease exposure Reviewing security precautions can prevent a break-in Your safety checklist The safety checklist included with this information can help guide you during your routine inspections. Please note: this list may not cover all aspects related to your building(s) specifically, so be sure to review it in advance of your inspection and customize it to suit your needs. 1 /10
Safety checklist for Building Address: MAIN ENTRANCE/LOBBY Exterior steps and access clear, handrails in good condition Exit signs illuminated Main (and inner) doors swing freely, lock securely Winter mats in place Floor dry STAIRWELLS Steps and access clear, handrails in good condition Exit signs illuminated Emergency exit doors open / close and latch freely, stairwell kept pressurized Fire doors not wedged open, swing freely Uneven steps are marked with yellow paint Emergency lighting tested and operational No items stored on or under landings No combustible materials on walls WASHROOMS Electrical cords, switch and receptacle covers, appliances, conduit all in good condition 2 /10
WASHROOMS cont. Floors in good condition (no slip or trip hazards, no water leakage, protruding nails, loose flooring, curled mats, etc) Water leaks or spills observed Mould present (visible or odour) Cubicles in good repair (doors not loose or rusted) Routine cleaning program in place/log posted Infestation (insects, animals) Ground fault receptacles (GFCI) installed in outlets located within 1 m of sinks HALLWAYS/COMMON AREA/MEETING ROOMS Electrical cords, switch and receptacle covers, appliances, conduit all in good condition Floors in good condition (no slip or trip hazards, no water leakage, protruding nails, loose flooring, curled mats, etc) Proper storage of materials (off floor, on shelves, especially in basements) Emergency exit routes are marked and clear Infestation (insects, animals) No evidence of hazardous materials present Fire alarm pull stations are accessible and emergency instructions posted at each pull station Fire extinguisher properly hung, pressurized and maintained No accumulation of combustible materials on floors Exit signs illuminated 3 /10
HALLWAYS/COMMON AREA/MEETING ROOMS cont. Wet floor signs on site and placed when cleaning or if floors wet Emergency lighting tested and operational Unit entry doors in good condition SWIMMING POOL/FITNESS CENTRE Pool chemicals properly stored, MSDS available for all chemicals Pool and fitness centre cleaned and disinfected regularly Pool and fitness centre maintenance program in place (health and safety, mechanical) Pool lifeguard on duty (if required) MANAGEMENT OFFICE Electrical cords, switch and receptacle covers, appliances, computers, photocopiers, conduit all in good condition Floors in good condition (no slip or trip hazards, no water leakage, protruding nails, loose flooring, curled mats, etc) Proper storage of materials (off floor, on shelves) Emergency exit routes are marked and clear of obstructions No evidence of infestation (animals or insects) No hazardous materials Wireless routers have security enabled and firewalled Data backups done regularly and copies stored off site/cloud Security system working properly and procedures for arming and disarming system posted All keys stored in secure storage and accounted for 4 /10
MANAGEMENT OFFICE cont. Office furniture ergonomically suitable and in good repair Air quality good and ventilation/heating to standards Petty cash/valuables locked up and secure out of sight MECHANICAL ROOMS/BOILER/FURNACE/ELEVATOR/HVAC Electrical cords, switch and receptacle covers, appliances, conduit all in good condition Floors in good condition (no slip or trip hazards, no water leakage, protruding nails, loose flooring, curled mats, etc) No leaks or spills evident Fire extinguisher properly hung and pressurized (arrow in the green zone) No combustibles in room (e.g. cardboard, plastics) Minimum 1 metre area around equipment clear of all materials/ obstructions or tripping hazards Presence of asbestos insulation pipe work marked as containing asbestos Current equipment licenses and inspection certificates posted Regular HVAC inspections and service completed Cooling tower/hot water tanks/boiler serviced regularly (disinfection, biocide, water treatment) Electrical panels clear of items within 1 metre of panels Carbon monoxide detectors mounted and working No storage in elevator machine room Propane gas detectors installed and working as needed Emergency generator tested regularly Sump pumps operational/alarmed/connected to a battery backup system 5 /10
MECHANICAL ROOMS/BOILER/FURNACE/ELEVATOR/HVAC cont. Ground fault receptacles (GFCI) or breakers installed for outlets in damp areas Residents storage lockers clean and in good repair All cable penetrations sealed with intumescent caulk PARKING LOT UNDERGROUND/OUTDOOR of lot, walkways, elevator area, stairways, at night Lot is level and graded (no potholes or trip hazards) Ice, snow, debris & water removed winter maintenance logbook maintained Underground parking automatic doors operating safely LAUNDRY ROOM Floor drains clear Washing machines in good repair hoses less than 5 years old Dryers operating properly regular maintenance program in place Dryers and duct work checked weekly, cleaned at least monthly (remove lint) Room is clean and tidy ROOF Roofing in good repair no evidence of water damage, drains & scuppers open No evidence of infestation (insects, animals) TV towers, radio masts and cellular masts secure, grounded and in good repair Roof access restricted to property staff only Doors, ladders locked No overhanging trees 6 /10
EXTERIOR AND GROUNDS Walkways clear and in good condition (no heaving or trip hazards) Security lights working properly Fences, walls and gates in good condition No ice, icicles or snow on walkways or overhangs No accumulation of refuse, garbage, leaves, branches Trees and shrubs trimmed and away from buildings Outdoor tables and benches clean and in good condition Proper storage of waste and recycling (at least 3 metres from building or interior room) Outdoor storage containers are fire resistant Shed/out buildings in good condition and secured (if in place) Snow clearing/salting/sanding of walkways and stairways (logbook up to date) Smoking area designated and all butts in proper containers (not on ground) No evidence of unauthorized people loitering on the grounds Weatherproof protective covers present on all exterior outlets Exterior electrical outlets GFCI protected HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Proper labelling of containers Hazardous material (WHIMS) inventory complete Proper storage and disposal of materials Current material safety data sheets for all hazardous materials present & complete Personal protective equipment is present and usage instructions clear Flammable and combustible materials are stored in sealed containers in a ULC approved cabinet 7 /10
FIRE SAFETY AND SECURITY Locations of fire extinguishers catalogued and marked in fire plan Fire extinguisher properly hung, pressurized (green), inspected monthly Extinguisher types correct for hazards and locations Fire extinguishers/hose reels/risers/connections inspected and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once per year Concierge/security guard on duty, video monitors & recorders working properly Staff trained in the use of fire extinguishers Carbon monoxide detectors and gas detectors near furnace/boiler/water heater all working (if more than 5 years old, replace) Security system arms and disarms properly and is serviced annually (Check motion detectors and door contacts/sounder/remote monitoring) Video surveillance system operational/recordings stored (if installed) Fire sprinkler system operational, inspected and maintained annually Balconies clear of combustible storage Fire plan in secure lockbox at main entrance Emergency lights operational/batteries checked monthly FIRST AID Adequate and complete first aid kits on premises Kits are accessible and clearly labelled Kits are inspected and refilled annually Emergency contact list posted and up to date Automatic defibrillator on premises Accident reporting procedure and forms available and used Staff trained/retrained in emergency response, defibrillator use and first aid 8 /10
SAFETY GENERAL Health and safety bulletin board present and up to date A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is posted Fire and evacuation drill completed annually Residents all have copies of the emergency response/evacuation plan ADDITIONAL ITEMS SPECIFIC TO YOUR LOCATION Date of inspection: Name of inspector (printed): Inspector signature: 9 /10