At Confirmed Life Safety, we work with property managers across the country to evaluate, document, and mitigate risks that threaten building safety and regulatory compliance. While many teams stay on top of basic maintenance and fire safety requirements, we consistently observe five critical life safety risks that are often overlooked—until it’s too late.
These gaps can expose HOAs, REITs, and property management firms to significant legal, financial, and reputational risk. Here’s what to watch for:
1. Expired or Missing Inspection Reports
It’s not uncommon to find critical reports—such as annual fire alarm inspections or five-year standpipe tests—either missing entirely or stored in a format that’s inaccessible during audits. This not only increases liability but can also lead to failed inspections and fines.
What We Recommend: Use a centralized digital system that alerts you before any inspection interval lapses. Our platform provides automatic tracking and document uploads, making this risk fully manageable.
2. Neglected Fire Doors and Egress Pathways
Fire doors are often propped open or modified in ways that violate code, and exit pathways are sometimes blocked by storage, landscaping equipment, or furniture. These violations are easy to overlook during routine checks but can be life-threatening in an emergency.
What We Recommend: Train staff to perform visual egress checks weekly and incorporate them into broader inspection protocols. Our on-site audit process includes egress verification as a standard element.
3. Outdated Emergency Signage and Lighting
Photoluminescent signage and emergency lighting are crucial during power outages or fire events, yet many properties fail to regularly test or replace these components. This is especially common in older buildings where signage hasn’t been modernized to meet current codes.
What We Recommend: Conduct semi-annual lighting and signage testing, particularly in stairwells, corridors, and basements. Confirmed Life Safety provides reporting tools to log and monitor these evaluations.
4. Vendor Non-Compliance
Hiring a vendor doesn’t guarantee compliance. We frequently encounter inspection reports that are incomplete, formatted incorrectly, or missing critical findings—especially when low-cost vendors are used.
What We Recommend: Vet your life safety vendors carefully. Our clients benefit from a standardized vendor reporting framework and quality review protocols that flag inconsistencies before they become liabilities.
5. Failure to Communicate Safety Protocols to Residents
Many managers assume that residents will “know what to do” in the event of a fire, flood, or emergency, but the reality is that few communities conduct routine safety education. This leads to confusion, increased risk of injury, and potential legal exposure.
What We Recommend: Establish a resident communication strategy that includes annual safety workshops, printed guides, and digital alerts. We offer guidance on creating communication plans that are easy to implement and customize by property type.
Final Thoughts
Effective risk management means being proactive, not reactive. At Confirmed Life Safety, we help property managers move beyond box-checking and into a system of perpetual compliance. Our platform not only helps identify these commonly overlooked risks—it helps you solve them before they escalate.
Need a life safety audit or risk assessment?
Reach out to our team to schedule a consultation and discover how we help safeguard the properties people call home.