A fire safety logbook is more than a binder collecting dust on a shelf—it’s your frontline defense during audits, inspections, and emergency readiness reviews. When kept properly, it proves that your business follows fire safety protocols, performs required tests, and documents everything regulators want to see.
Yet, many businesses fall short. Missing records, incomplete entries, or outdated formats can lead to inspection failures, fines, or worse—noncompliance that puts lives and property at risk.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what your fire safety logbook should contain, who should maintain it, and how to keep it inspection-ready year-round.
A fire safety logbook is a centralized document—physical or digital—that records all fire prevention and protection activities on your property. It serves two critical roles:
Logbooks are typically reviewed during scheduled inspections, surprise audits, and post-incident investigations.
An effective fire safety logbook should contain the following sections:
Pro tip: Create a table of contents and use dividers or tags to make navigation easy during inspections.
Your fire safety logbook isn’t a once-a-year task—it requires consistent updates. Here’s a general frequency breakdown:
Consistency matters. Inspectors look for regularity, not gaps.
If your fire safety logbook is missing information or outdated, the consequences can be significant:
A well-maintained logbook protects your business—not just your building.
Designate a responsible party—ideally someone trained in fire safety or building maintenance. This person could be:
This person should know how to conduct basic inspections, document findings accurately, and know when to escalate issues.
If you work with a fire protection company, they should also be providing service reports you can add to your logbook.
You can keep your fire safety logbook in a:
Whichever format you use, it must be:
1. Is a fire safety logbook required by law?
While not always mandated explicitly, most fire codes (including NFPA) expect documentation of fire safety activities. Many local authorities require it during inspections.
2. Can I create my own logbook format?
Yes, but it must contain all required records. Templates from your local fire department or fire safety consultants are a good place to start.
3. Should the logbook be physical or digital?
Either is acceptable. Just ensure it’s accessible, secure, and organized.
4. What happens if I lose my logbook?
You may face inspection penalties and lose historical compliance records. Always keep a backup—physical or digital.
5. How long should I keep logbook records?
At least 2–3 years, but some jurisdictions may require longer retention, especially after an incident.
We recommend scheduling an annual inspection at minimum. However, high-occupancy buildings or industries with stricter regulations may require quarterly or semi-annual inspections to stay compliant.
Yes. Every inspection includes detailed reports, code citations, and corrective recommendations — all formatted for AHJs, insurance providers, and internal audits.
We offer multi-location service coordination, centralized scheduling, and standardized reporting to keep everything organized and consistent across your properties.
Absolutely. If we identify any violations, our team provides clear next steps, correction plans, and priority timelines to get you back in compliance quickly.
Yes. All of our inspectors are certified, trained to current NFPA standards, and stay up to date with local, state, and federal fire codes.
Most inspections take between 1–3 hours depending on the size and complexity of your facility. Larger or multi-building sites may require more time or follow-up.
