NFPA 101 Life Safety Code: Basics of Life-Safety Codes for Workplaces
Overview
NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, establishes minimum requirements for building design, construction, operation, and maintenance to protect people from fire and related hazards. It covers means of egress, fire protection systems, emergency lighting, occupancy limits, and other features critical to life safety.
Why This Is Important
Life Safety Code requirements exist because people have died in fires where exits were blocked, locked, or inadequate. Compliance ensures you can evacuate quickly during emergencies. Understanding these basics helps you recognize hazards like obstructed exits, malfunctioning alarms, or exceeded occupancy limits that put everyone at risk.
Best Practices & Safety Tips
- Know that exits must remain unobstructed, unlocked, and clearly marked at all times during occupancy
- Never block exit doors, corridors, or stairwells with equipment, materials, or storage—even temporarily
- Understand that exit access must be at least 36 inches wide and free of obstructions along the entire path
- Recognize that exit signs must be illuminated and visible from all points along the exit access
- Know your facility’s occupancy limit and ensure it’s never exceeded, especially during events or peak periods
- Report any exit doors that are locked, blocked, or require keys, tools, or special knowledge to open
- Verify that emergency lighting activates during power failures and provides adequate illumination along exit paths
- Do not disable, cover, or tamper with fire alarm systems, sprinklers, or smoke detectors
- Participate in fire drills and evacuations to practice using exits and identify code violations
- Understand that “means of egress” includes three parts: exit access, exit, and exit discharge to a safe public way
Discussion Questions
- Can you identify the exit access, exit, and exit discharge in your work area?
- What makes an exit “obstructed,” and why is it dangerous?
- Why must exit doors swing in the direction of egress and remain unlocked during occupancy?
- How does your facility ensure emergency lighting will work during power failures?
- What should you do if you discover a life safety code violation?
Takeaway
Life Safety Code requirements are written in the blood of fire victims who couldn’t escape because exits were blocked, locked, or inadequate. When you keep exits clear and report violations, you’re not just following rules—you’re ensuring everyone can get out alive when disaster strikes.