Before a fire safety audit, a garment factory should check five areas: escape routes, fire detection and alarm, firefighting systems, fire separation and electrical safety, and have dated maintenance records for all of them. Auditors check what is installed, whether it works on the day, and whether you can prove it has been maintained.
Ready-made garments earn around four-fifths of Bangladesh's export income, and buyers expect safe factories. Programmes such as the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) inspect fire, electrical and structural safety and follow up with corrective action plans. Use this checklist before any audit.
1. Escape routes
- Every floor has at least the required number of protected exits.
- Stairs are enclosed and separated from production floors by fire-rated walls and doors.
- Exit doors open outward and are never locked, chained or blocked during working hours.
- Corridors and aisles are clear of stock, trolleys and cartons.
- Exit signs and emergency lighting work, including on battery.
2. Fire detection and alarm
- Detectors cover every area, including stores and above-ceiling spaces where required.
- Manual call points are on every escape route.
- The alarm can be heard on noisy production floors.
- The panel shows no unresolved faults.
- An addressable system helps on large floors.
3. Firefighting systems
- Hydrant and hose reel coverage reaches every part of each floor.
- Sprinklers are installed where the risk and the code require them.
- Fire pumps start automatically and are run on schedule. See the fire pump guide.
- The water reserve is full and protected.
- Extinguishers are the right type, in date and accessible.
4. Fire separation
- Fire doors close and latch on their own, with no wedges.
- Openings for cables and pipes through fire walls are properly firestopped.
- Shafts and stairwells are enclosed.
5. Electrical safety
- Panels are closed, labelled and free of storage around them.
- Earthing and insulation resistance have been tested recently.
- A thermographic scan has checked panels for hot spots.
- Single-line diagrams match what is installed.
6. Records and people
- Dated maintenance and test reports for every system.
- Fire drills recorded, with evacuation times.
- Trained fire wardens on every floor and every shift.
- Open corrective actions tracked with owners and due dates.
What auditors find most often
Locked or blocked exits, fire doors held open, firestopping missing around new cable runs, alarm faults left unresolved, and maintenance records with gaps. None of these needs major investment; they need a routine.
Staying ready between audits
A maintenance contract with monthly visits and written reports keeps the evidence ready. A digital compliance tracker keeps findings and corrective actions visible to management.
Book a pre-audit survey and we'll walk your factory with this checklist.