7 Common Compliance Planning Mistakes
Updated 2026-11-12 · Reviewed by the Fire Solutions NW service team (28+ years in commercial fire protection)
These mistakes are common because they are easy to make.
1. Treating the annual inspection as the whole program
Quarterly, semiannual, and multi-year work is easy to miss.
2. Not tracking deficiencies to closure
Reports are filed, but items are never fixed.
3. Ignoring tenant changes
New uses and layouts can change fire protection needs.
4. No single owner
Responsibility split between tenants, managers, and vendors.
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Fixing items only after an AHJ cites them.
6. Using different formats per building
Making portfolio-wide oversight difficult.
7. No budget for corrections
Inspections find deficiencies; plan for them.
A simple plan with one owner, one calendar, and one deficiency list avoids most of these.
References
- NFPA 25 — Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
- NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
- NFPA 10 — Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
- International Fire Code (IFC), Chapter 9 — as adopted by your state or city
General information only. Your adopted code edition and Authority Having Jurisdiction govern what applies to your building.
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