Business Licence Fire Inspections

The Township of Langley Fire Department is dedicated to improving the overall safety of businesses within our community. Every business in our community is required to operate with a valid business licence in accordance with Township of Langley bylaws, the BC Fire Code, and the Fire Service Act.

Fire inspections ensure your business meets life safety standards that protect your customers, employees and yourself from the harmful effects of fire. Compliance also protects your property and equipment investment.

The Fire Department will contact you to schedule an inspection once your business licence application has been received. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks from initial business licence application.

General Inspection Checklist

The following is a checklist of some basic items that we will be inspecting. Your cooperation in dealing with these items prior to our inspection will assist in processing your business licence application.

Address

Address numbers are the required size and are clearly visible and legible from the street or road fronting the property as per Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 (page 15/Section 2.26.00 – Civic Addresses).

Unit numbers

Unit numbers are posted on the front and rear doors in such a manner as to be easily visible from a distance.

Access for firefighting and emergency access routes

Fire lanes are clearly marked, unobstructed and maintained.

Fire hydrants and fire department connections

Access to fire hydrants, fire department connections and other fire protection equipment is not obstructed.
1 m (3 ft) clear space is maintained around the hydrants and fire department connections.

Fire extinguishers

A minimum of one 2A 10BC fire extinguisher mounted on the wall and available within 15 m (50 ft) of walking distance from any location within the occupancy, and on each level. This may vary depending on your occupancy.
All fire extinguishers are in operable condition and have been serviced and tagged within the last year.
One K-class fire extinguisher is provided within 10 m (30 ft) of commercial cooking equipment if there is a kitchen suppression system.

Smoking

Designated safe smoking areas are to be provided.

Exits and exit doors

Access to exits, aisles and corridors are not obstructed in any way.
Emergency lights are installed, functioning properly and have been serviced and tagged in the last year.
Exit doors are operable from inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge (must not be locked, chained, bolted, barred or otherwise rendered unusable when the building is occupied).
Exit signs and exit lighting shall be illuminated when the building is occupied.

Extension cords

Only utilized for temporary occasions and must not be used in series.
Except for approved multi-plugged cords, extension cords must only serve one portable appliance/device at a time.
Must not:
- be affixed to structures
- extend through walls, ceilings, floors or under doors or floor coverings
- be subject to environmental or physical damage

Fire protection systems

All fire protection systems and appliances are in on operative condition.
Access to, and clearance around, the fire sprinkler riser is maintained.
The automatic fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems have been serviced within the last year, and a tag documenting that service is affixed to the riser.
The kitchen hood fire extinguishing system has been serviced and cleaned in the last six months, and a tag documenting that service has been attached to the manual activation handle.

Housekeeping and storage

Garbage disposal bins are 3 m (10 ft) from combustible buildings and openings.
For oily rags and similar materials subject to spontaneous combustion, must have an approved metal container with metal cover that is close-fitting and self-closing.
In unsprinklered buildings, a clearance of not less than 1 m (3 ft) between the top of storage and the underside of the floor or roof deck must be maintained.
Boiler, mechanical, electrical rooms are free of storage.
Combustible waste materials in and around the building shall not be permitted to accumulate in quantities or locations that will constitute a fire hazard.
All compressed gas cylinders are to be secured in an upright position to keep them from falling over.

High-rack storage

Commodities stored on rack shelving must comply with height regulations in the current BC Fire Code. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure sprinkler coverage complies with the base building fire sprinkler design; consultation with a fire protection engineer may be required.
Owners Information Certificate may be required for the intended commodities storage.

Checklist Specific to Residential Daycare Businesses

If you operate a residential daycare, the following items apply:

Address must be clearly visible.
One serviced and tagged 5lb ABC type fire extinguisher must be wall mounted and readily available. The placement should allow for the choice to use the extinguisher or to exit.
Heating, electrical, storage and laundry rooms are to be inaccessible to children.
Two means of exit on each floor that is being used by the children.
Interconnected, hard-wired (110 volts), ULC-listed or CSA-approved smoke alarms are required and must be installed in all rooms where children nap or sleep.
Heating appliances such as wood, electrical or gas fired fireplaces must be protected by a permanently mounted screen.
Kitchen stoves to be isolated such that children cannot make contact or stoves must be disconnected from power or control knobs must be removed during business hours.
A fire drill procedure must be developed, and escape plans posted.
A fire drill involving the children is required monthly and recorded in a logbook.
Combustible materials such as artwork attached to walls will not exceed 20% of the area of the walls.
Garbage cans are made of non-combustible materials.
Flammable and combustible liquids are stored in areas inaccessible to children.
Safety plugs or protective covers for electrical outlets are required.

View our Business Licence Fire Inspections brochure.