FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION
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We check the documentation and send you a quote
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We carry out the inspection and send you the results
What is a fire safety inspection?
A fire safety inspection is a fire safety service provided by private companies, and it is mandatory for buildings with certain uses.
Under the law, a fire safety inspection means checking that the site, the building, its fire safety installations and the activities in the building comply with fire safety requirements.
The inspection steps, special cases, the content of the inspection report and the procedure for exchanging information are set out in the regulation “Fire safety inspection procedures, special cases of fire safety inspection, content of the fire safety inspection report and procedure for exchanging information”, established under § 42(7) of the Fire Safety Act.
§ 2. Fire safety inspection procedures
(1) During the fire safety inspection: 1) the compliance of the site, the building and the activities in the building with fire safety requirements is checked visually; 2) it is checked whether the required fire safety installations are present in the building, in working order and maintained in line with the fire safety requirements; 3) the fire safety documentation is checked; 4) it is assessed whether the activities in the building match the building's main use – in a mixed-use building, all parts of the building are checked; 5) the fire safety of the building and the readiness of people to act in case of fire are checked; no evacuation drill is carried out.
(2) The results of the fire safety inspection are recorded in an inspection report.
Reporting deadlines
A fire safety inspection is carried out every 3 years
If the fire safety inspector (fire safety expert, level 5 or 6) finds the building and the activities in it to be fire safe with no deficiencies, the owner or occupier must arrange the next inspection within 6 years at the latest.
If the building's use permit was issued after 1 March 2021 and the building meets the criteria in § 42(1) of the Fire Safety Act, its owner or occupier must arrange a fire safety inspection no later than 6 years after the date the use permit was issued.
Deadlines for submitting fire safety inspection reports:
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For office buildings with a floor area of more than 750 m2, the report had to be submitted to the Rescue Board by 1 January 2023.
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For industrial and warehouse buildings with a floor area of more than 1,000 m2, the report had to be submitted to the Rescue Board by 1 January 2024.
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For garages with a floor area of more than 1,000 m2, the report had to be submitted to the Rescue Board by 1 January 2025.
What happens if deficiencies are found?
If deficiencies are found during the fire safety inspection, deadlines for remedying them are agreed and entered in the draft report.
The fire safety inspector submits the report to the rescue information system within 30 days of the inspection.
The fire safety inspector checks that the deficiencies listed in the report have been remedied within 60 days of the remedy deadline.
If there is a hazard that could lead to a rescue event with extensive consequences, or a requirement to stop using the building or its site or to stop operating equipment, the fire safety inspector submits the report to the rescue information system within 3 working days of the inspection.
If a deficiency is not remedied by the deadline, or in the case described in the previous point, the Rescue Board has the right to start state supervision proceedings.
The fire safety inspector may not be changed during the inspection without good reason.
FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION - FAQ
Which buildings require a fire safety inspection?
A fire safety inspection must be carried out every 3 years:
1) in office buildings with a floor area of more than 750 m2;
2) in industrial and production buildings with a floor area of more than 1,000 m2;
3) in garages with a floor area of more than 1,000 m2.
Who is responsible for arranging the fire safety inspection?
The fire safety inspection is arranged by the occupier of the building. If the building has several occupiers, the inspection is arranged by the owner of the building.
Which buildings do not require a fire safety inspection?
A fire safety inspection is not mandatory: 1) in buildings more than 28 metres high; 2) in hazardous establishments within the meaning of § 21(3) of the Chemicals Act; 3) in establishments with a major accident hazard within the meaning of § 21(4) of the Chemicals Act.
If the fire safety inspector informs the Rescue Board that a fire safety inspection of the building is impractical because of its use or other special features, the Rescue Board may exempt the owner or occupier of the building from the inspection.
If the deadline for the fire safety inspection has been extended, or the Rescue Board has exempted the owner or occupier from the inspection under subsection 2 of this section, but the use of the building, the activities in it or other special features have changed since then, the occupier or owner must notify the Rescue Board.
What should I do before the inspection?
- log in to the portal https://ylevaatus.paasteamet.ee and check that your representative can see the building's data
Which documents should be prepared for the inspection?
- building design / as-built survey
- automatic fire alarm system documentation / contract / maintenance report for the last quarter / maintenance report for the last year
- emergency lighting maintenance contract / maintenance report / layout plans
- electrical installation certificate of compliance / lightning protection maintenance
- fire extinguisher inspection report
- fire hose cabinet inspection report
- fire action plan / evacuation plans / summary of the last drill
- fire suppression system design / maintenance report / maintenance contract (if the system is installed and required)
- smoke control design / layout plans / maintenance report / maintenance contract
- solid fuel heating appliance maintenance report / chimney sweeping report
The occupier or owner of the building must let the fire safety inspector access the property, the building and all premises in their possession, and provide the inspector with all relevant data and documents.
How much does the inspection cost?
The exact price depends on the size of the site and the scope of work. Send us an inquiry and we will prepare a quote.
Read more:
FIRE SAFETY AUDIT – what is it and why is it needed?
HEATING SYSTEM EXPERTISE – what is it and why is it needed?
We are your reliable partner in fire safety
Tulipunane OÜ is a privately owned company that has been providing fire safety services since 2012. Our core business is developing fire safety solutions for the design and construction stages.
Our strength is our experienced fire safety specialists, who find a sensible solution even in the most difficult situations.