Fire Inspections

A fire recently destroyed West Village shop Village Paper Party Store. The fire broke out at 7 a.m. According to the report it was caused by an explosion.

This raises a question. How many times are businesses checked for fire or smoke detectors that actually work? How many times are businesses inspected for safety and other violations? Many fires that break out in stores could be prevented if certain precautions and inspects are taken. Don't you agree?
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
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uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I have been reading through the FDNY site and it does mention a fire code which lists requirements for commercial establishments like having of fire extinguishers, proper disposal of combustible waste etc though I can't seem to figure out how regularly commercial establishments are inspected but seem to remember a fire inspection certificate on our apartment building's notice board. I do think apartments are expected to have smoke detectors according to FDNY rules and I do know our apartment's smoke detector is inspected by the super periodically.
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uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted also according to FDNY rules I believe I also have to maintain a duplicate key to my apartment with the building doorman just in case there is a fire and nobody is home and the fire department needs access to the apartment. I think these are all preventative measures for fire fighting in NYC at least for residential organizations. In addition to this I also seem to recall maps on every floor that point out fire exits.
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Uraniumfish 2yrs+
The people running my building are incredibly lax with checking, or even installing, fire alarms...I'm looking at my uninstaled fire alarm now. It's been sitting on the window sill for months.
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hhusted 2yrs+
I understand that apartment complexes are lax when it comes to fire or smoke alarms. My landlord told me it was my responsibility to keep the smoke and fire alarms working. But yet, when I lived in a previous building, the owner provided the new alarms. So I don't know what gives between one apartment complex and another.

As for businesses, they can have inspection notices placed on their premises, but that doesn't always mean anything. What if the inspector was paid off to look the other way, or took a bride. You may think this is shocking. But I read somewhere that such a situation does take place.

On the other hand, if the inspection was done and nothing was found, that doesn't mean something will still happen after the inspection. Pipes do get rusty and break. Gas leaks to occur when people least expect it.
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uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I hear you.. do you remember the incident of the crane which went into a building on 51st street a couple of years ago .. well in that case too the inspector who was supposed to inspect the crane had not done so few days before the crash and had instead just filed a fake report. I remember this distinctly as I friend of mine lived on that street and she had witnessed the whole horrific accident. So I guess inspections are sometimes not carried out when they have to be done and then unfortunately there are terrible consequences.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/nyregion/21crane.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1265921997-kojUqYAfBrscPYolSpetsw
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