Whether through fire or flood, earthquake or tornado or hurricane, natural disasters occur every- where. And everywhere they occur, they do unnecessary damage as a result of hazards that could have been eliminated. This checklist identifies the common nonstructural hazards for Homes & Businesses. Use the list to prepare a work order for your property.
EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS Are appliances, cabinets and shelves attached to the wall or braced by being anchored together?
Are heavy or sharp items stored on shelves with ledge barriers? Are blocks and heavy objects stored on the lowest shelves? Are television sets, fish bowls and similar items restrained so they won't slide off? Are pictures and other wall hangings attached to the wall with wire and closed screw-eyes? Are chemicals such as bleach, paint thinner and cleaners securely stored so they won't spill? Are cribs located away from the tops of stairs and other places where rolling could endanger them or where heavy objects could fall on them?
Are tall cribs anchored against tipping over? Are heavy furnishings or pieces of equipment latched or tethered to the wall when not in use? Are fire extinguishers secured so they won't fall from wall brackets? Are tall refrigerators attached to the wall or otherwise secured from tipping? OVERHEAD ELEMENTS Are suspended ceilings secured to structural framing? Are suspended light fixtures attached to structural framing with safety cables? Do fluorescent lights have transparent sleeves to keep broken glass pieces from scattering? Are battery-powered emergency lights secured to walls with shelves or brackets? Are blackboards or projection screens securely mounted to the wall or hung safely from the ceiling?
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT Is the water heater secured to wall studs (not just gypsum board) at the top and bottom? Does the water heater have flexible connectors, rather than rigid connectors?
Do large sheet-metal heating-ventilating-air conditioning ducts have diagonal bracing above or enough vertical support straps to keep any section from falling if the ductwork separates into sections? PARTITIONS Are lightweight panels, rather than shelving units or other tall furnishings, used to divide rooms?
Are heavy or tall room dividers braced by interconnecting them in L-shapes or zigzags? Are partitions, which extend only to the suspended ceiling, supported by the structure above, especially if they are used to anchor heavy objects in the room? WINDOWS Are large windowpanes safety-glazed?
Are transoms safety-glazed? Do partitions have plastic or safety glass panels, rather than ordinary glass? In hurricane-prone areas, have impact-resistant windows and doors been installed; or are storm shutters, made out of plywood or metal, on hand to cover large windows and doors? EXTERIORS Are any trees leaning or in poor health?
In regions that are at risk from wildfires, is the landscape suitably protected? Is the street number of the property clearly and legibly visible from the roadway so that emergency vehicles will be able to locate you easily? Are there fuel breaks like driveways, lawns and gravel walkways? Is there a "defensible space" of at least 100 feet around the building? Are the trees pruned six to ten feet from the ground to eliminate fuel ladders? Is there vegetation which might serve as a link between grass and treetops? Are trees spaced at least ten feet apart? Are native, fire-resistant vegetation and trees planted around the facility? Do you have a well-maintained irrigation system? Is leaf clutter removed and the lawn mowed regularly? Is firewood stored away from the structure? Are pine needles and leaves cleaned regularly from the roof and gutters? Are the undersides of aboveground decks enclosed with noncombustible material to prevent the buildup of leaves and debris?
..........
