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Regular fire and life safety inspections in K-12 school systems keep schools safer and in compliance. Minnesota's Legislature enacted the current inspection program and protocol in 1990. This program requires inspections for all public and charter schools in the state every three years.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division currently conducts fire safety inspections in roughly 1,750 public and charter school buildings across Minnesota, including primary, middle, secondary, and alternative schools.
Inspections ensure fire and life safety systems will operate properly and minimize the risk of life and property loss.
To help K-12 districts stay prepared, we’ve created this fire safety checklist. It serves as a model for school administrators and personnel on fire safety set-ups and procedures. Always consult a fire safety contractor for full-service inspections.
Operations (plans, training, drills)
- Every school must have an emergency action plan approved by the local authority having jurisdiction.
- The State of Minnesota requires a minimum of five random fire drills for each regular school year. The first emergency evacuation drill must be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes.
- Staff should be trained on emergency procedures.
Maintenance of Means of Egress
- Exit passageways should be inspected daily to ensure they're in proper operating condition and are kept free of snow, ice, or debris that could impede egress.
- An annual inspection of fire and egress doors must be conducted and documented.
Fire Alarms and Emergency Lights
- Test emergency lighting systems for proper operations for a minimum of 30 seconds every month, and an hour and a half annually.
- Fire alarms must be inspected for proper function on a quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis.
Fire Extinguishers
- All portable fire extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly and documented for obvious damage and broken seals.
- A thorough inspection following maintenance procedures in NFPA 10 is required annually.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
A designated staff member who knows NFPA 25 Standards may perform weekly and monthly fire sprinkler inspections.
- An institution's weekly inspections should involve checking for defined air and/or water pressure on the fire sprinkler gauges and visually inspecting the valves to be sure they’re sealed and open.
- Monthly inspections must check for signs of physical damage and confirm normal water pressure on wet pipe system gauges.
- As required by Minnesota Code, an annual fire protection inspection performed by a licensed fire contractor must be done as well as other semi-annual, and/or quarterly inspections, maintenance, and testing. Check with your insurance provider to see if they require more frequent inspections other than annually.
Fire Suppression Systems
- Ensure kitchen hoods and ductwork are cleaned quarterly, semi-annually, and annually, depending on their level of operations.
- Visually inspect kitchen fire suppression systems to verify operating conditions and ensure they’re free from damage at least twice a year.
Decorations and Artwork
- Ensure student-prepared artwork and teaching materials don’t exceed 20 percent of wall areas.
- All draperies, curtains, and similar furnishings must be classified as flame-resistant according to NFPA 701.
Security Systems
Security systems benefit from the same scheduled attention as fire systems. Summer is a good time to work through both.
Two areas to address before the school year starts:
Security Cameras
- Review coverage of all entry and exit points, including any doors that were added or changed during the year.
- Check that cameras in stairwells, parking areas, and restricted zones are still positioned well and capturing useful footage.
- Make sure lighting in monitored areas is adequate. Low-light conditions are one of the most common reasons footage ends up unusable.
- Replace or reposition any cameras that have been damaged, vandalized, or moved.
Access Control
- Audit active credentials and remove access for staff who've left.
- Update door schedules for the new school year, including changes for events, sports programs, or evening use.
- Test exterior door alarms to make sure they trigger when a door is propped or forced open.
- Review vendor access and deactivate any temporary credentials issued during the year.
Use Summer Break to Get Ahead on Inspections
Most inspections can technically happen at any time of year, but scheduling them during the school year means working around classes, events, and a building full of people. Some systems, like fire alarms, need brief shutdowns or test activations that are just harder to do when school is in session.
Summer removes most of those hurdles. The building is quieter, access is easier to arrange, and if anything comes up, there's time to fix it before students arrive.
For facilities teams managing more than one building, summer also makes it easier to coordinate across locations. Group fire alarms, sprinklers, and security work in the same window rather than spreading it across the year.
Fire Systems Inspections
Fire system inspections help school districts stay current with industry and insurance codes. The State Fire Marshal Division must inspect K-12 schools once every three years to ensure school buildings are safe and up to code.
However, a qualified contractor must inspect critical life safety systems, such as fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems, every year. Make sure to obtain a copy of the field report prepared and retain this for school records after the inspection.
Keeping Your School's Systems Ready
Following this checklist helps protect your school's fire and security systems. When it comes to school safety, there's no room for shortcuts. In addition to our regular on-site inspections, we also offer walk-in fire extinguisher service at our Elk River location Monday–Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or by appointment at our Waite Park location Monday–Wednesday.
