Commercial properties must follow building codes to ensure employees and customers are safe on the property. A building inspection can identify issues such as improper handrails or exterior concrete spalling, which could cause safety hazards or injuries. To help you identify any issues with your space, here are some of the most common commercial building code violations and how to avoid them.

How to Avoid 3 Common Building Code Violations

1. Handrails

In the past, it was acceptable for handrails along staircases to end bluntly, which can snag parts of clothing and purse straps and cause falls. Code now calls for handrails with returns, where the end of the rail curves towards the wall to prevent snagging. During a building inspection, inspectors also verify that the handrails meet the building code, which specifies that the railing must extend 12 inches at the top and slope down at a rate of one step before extending horizontally by 12 inches plus the length of one step at the bottom.

2. Exterior 

When it comes to the building exterior, deteriorating or peeling paint, cracks/spalling in concrete, or excessively overgrown plants could also be a code violation. Repair any broken doors and windows, roof damage, faulty siding, and problems with fencing, which cause structural issues and allow pests and the elements to enter a building, making it unsafe

3. Smoke Alarms

All buildings, whether residential or commercial structures, must be outfitted with smoke alarms. An inspection of some recent house fires have discovered that some homes did not have any smoke alarms. Inspectors recommend that all alarms be connected so the entire system is triggered when one alarm goes off.

If you’re finding it difficult to stay on top of ever-changing codes, call Construction Management Inspection, LLC in Honolulu, HI. Servicing all of Oahu, their team of skilled building experts can conduct building inspections to assess your structure from top to bottom, and help you take the appropriate steps to ensure your commercial or residential space is safe. Visit their website to learn more about their building inspections, or call (808) 422-2132 to schedule one.