Does FireLog work offline?

Yes. Mechanical rooms, basements, and rural properties often have no signal. FireLog works offline and syncs your inspections when you reconnect.

Can I customize the NFPA checklists?

Yes. We include pre-built templates for NFPA 10, 25, 72, and 80. You can modify them or create completely custom checklists for any inspection type.

How do branded PDF reports work?

Add your company logo and info in Settings. Every inspection report is automatically generated as a professional PDF with your branding. Email it to the building owner in one tap.

No. Month-to-month, cancel anytime. We also offer an annual plan at $59/mo (save $240/year).

How many inspectors can I add?

Unlimited. $79/mo covers your entire team — 1 inspector or 50. No per-user fees.

Can building owners access their reports?

Yes. You can email reports directly from the app or share a link. Building owners see a professional branded report with your company info.

What about deficiency tracking?

Every failed checklist item automatically creates a trackable deficiency. Assign it to a tech, set a priority and due date, track resolution. Nothing gets lost.

Do you integrate with other software?

QuickBooks integration is available for invoicing. Additional integrations (ServiceTitan, scheduling tools) are on the roadmap.

Fire Protection for Schools & Educational Facilities: Inspection Requirements Guide

Schools and educational facilities are among the most heavily regulated occupancies for fire protection. Lives of children are at stake, public funding demands accountability, and AHJs enforce school fire safety aggressively. For fire protection contractors, the education vertical offers large, recurring contracts with stable funding.

Why Schools Are Different

Higher Scrutiny

Schools are classified as Educational Occupancy (E) under the International Building Code and Chapter 14/15 of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code). This classification triggers some of the most stringent fire protection requirements of any building type:

Fire drills are mandated monthly in most states (vs. annually for office buildings)

AHJ inspections of schools are typically annual or more frequent

Public reporting — fire inspection results for schools are often public record

Zero tolerance — AHJs are far less lenient with school violations than commercial properties

Operational Constraints

Summer is your window. Many inspections must be completed during summer break when students are absent

No disruptions during school hours. Fire alarm testing that triggers evacuation must be coordinated with school administration

Lockdown considerations. Post-Columbine/Sandy Hook, school security has evolved significantly. Fire protection systems must work alongside lockdown procedures

Budget cycles. School funding is annual (July 1 fiscal year for most districts). Proposals must align with budget planning (submit in January-March for the next fiscal year)

Code Requirements for Educational Facilities

NFPA 101 — Life Safety Code (Chapter 14/15)

Complete automatic sprinkler protection required in new educational occupancies (most jurisdictions)

Fire alarm system with manual pull stations at exits and automatic detection

Emergency lighting in corridors, stairwells, and assembly areas

Exit signage per NFPA 101 Section 7.10

Fire drills conducted monthly during the school year (NFPA 101 Section 14.7.2)

NFPA 10, 25, 72, 80

All standard fire protection inspection codes apply:

NFPA 10: Fire extinguishers — annual inspection, properly located and accessible

NFPA 25: Sprinkler systems — quarterly, annual, 5-year inspection cycles

NFPA 72: Fire alarm systems — annual testing of all devices

NFPA 80: Fire doors — annual inspection of all rated door assemblies

State-Specific Requirements

Many states impose additional requirements beyond NFPA:

State fire marshal inspections — annual or biennial in most states

State education department — may have separate fire safety requirements tied to school accreditation

Health department — kitchen hood suppression compliance for school cafeterias

ADA compliance — fire alarm notification appliances must comply with accessibility requirements

School-Specific Inspection Considerations

Fire Drill Documentation

While fire drill observation isn't typically the fire inspection contractor's responsibility, your inspection report should verify:

Fire drill records are maintained (dates, times, evacuation times)

Drill frequency meets state requirements (typically monthly during school year)

Evacuation routes are posted in every classroom

Assembly points are designated and signed

Kitchen and Cafeteria Systems

Every school with a cafeteria needs:

Kitchen hood suppression system (NFPA 96) — semi-annual inspection

Grease duct cleaning — quarterly to semi-annually based on cooking volume

Fire extinguisher — Class K in kitchen, Class ABC in serving area

Gas shut-off verification during suppression system testing

School cafeterias are unique because they often have high-volume cooking during a concentrated period (lunch service for 500-2,000 students in 2-3 hours). Hood systems must be sized for this peak demand.

Science Labs and Maker Spaces

Modern schools include labs and maker spaces with unique fire risks:

Chemical storage — flammable cabinet requirements, secondary containment

Emergency shower and eyewash stations — annual inspection

Exhaust ventilation for fume hoods

Fire extinguisher selection — Class D for metal fires in chemistry labs, Class B for flammable liquids

Gymnasiums and Assembly Areas

School gyms, auditoriums, and multi-purpose rooms are often classified as Assembly Occupancy when capacity exceeds 50-100 persons:

Additional fire alarm requirements (occupant notification)

Stage suppression systems (if theater-style with fly space)

Higher exit capacity requirements

Portable bleacher clearance from sprinkler heads

Portable Classrooms / Modular Buildings

Many school districts use portable or modular classrooms:

Standalone fire alarm or connection to the main building system

Smoke detectors in each portable

Fire extinguishers — typically 1-2 per portable

Exit lighting and emergency egress

Sprinkler protection — required in some jurisdictions for portables

Portables are frequently overlooked during inspections because they feel temporary. They're not — some "temporary" portables have been in use for 20+ years.

The School District Opportunity

Contract Scale

A single school district contract can be enormous:

Small district (5-10 schools): $10,000-30,000/year

Mid-size district (20-40 schools): $40,000-120,000/year

Large urban district (100+ schools): $200,000-500,000+/year

Each school typically needs:

Sprinkler inspection (NFPA 25): $500-2,000/school

Fire alarm inspection (NFPA 72): $500-3,000/school

Fire extinguisher inspection (NFPA 10): $100-500/school

Fire door inspection (NFPA 80): $500-3,000/school

Kitchen hood inspection (NFPA 96): $200-400/school

How to Win School District Contracts

1. RFP/RFQ Process

Most school districts are public entities that require competitive bidding:

Monitor district procurement websites for RFPs

Subscribe to state/local bid notification services

2. Cooperative Purchasing

Many districts participate in cooperative purchasing agreements (TIPS/TAPS, Sourcewell, OMNIA, BuyBoard in Texas). Getting on a cooperative contract gives you access to hundreds of districts without individual RFPs.

3. Summer Scheduling Guarantee

The #1 thing school districts want: a commitment that all inspections will be completed during summer break (June-August). Guarantee this in your proposal and you'll beat competitors who can't.

4. Compliance Reporting Package

School administrators need clear compliance documentation for:

State fire marshal reports

School board presentations

Insurance reviews

Accreditation surveys

Offer a district compliance dashboard — a summary report showing every school's inspection status, deficiency counts, correction completion rates, and upcoming due dates. Administrators love this because it answers their boss's question: "Are we compliant?"

5. Multi-Year Pricing

School district budgets are planned annually but awarded in multi-year contracts (typically 3-5 years with annual renewal options). Offer stable pricing with a predictable annual increase (3-5% max).

Working with School Maintenance Staff

School maintenance directors are your primary contact. Tips:

Respect their expertise — they know their buildings better than anyone

Coordinate fire alarm testing — alarm tests must be scheduled around school hours or during breaks

Provide advance notice — schools need to notify teachers, students, and parents about fire alarm testing days

Train their staff on monthly fire extinguisher checks and fire drill procedures (adds value, builds relationship)

Be flexible on access — some schools can't provide escort during testing periods; work with their schedules

Digital Inspection for School Districts

Managing inspections across 20-100+ school buildings requires systematic organization. FireLog organizes inspections by district → school → system, so you can track compliance at every level:

District-wide compliance dashboard

School-by-school inspection status

System-by-system deficiency tracking

Summer scheduling calendar

Branded PDF reports for each school

District summary report for administrators

Win school district contracts with FireLog →