A monthly walkthrough of exits, extinguishers, lights, surfaces and doors catches small repairs early. What to check, how often, and what to refer out.
A good preventive walkthrough takes under an hour. Once a month, walk every room and check exits, fire extinguishers, emergency lights, floors, walls, doors and fixtures. Fix small items right away. Send plumbing, electrical, roofing, fire-system and equipment problems to licensed trades. Keep a dated list of what you found.
Why a written walkthrough helps
Most small repairs are cheap to fix and expensive to ignore. A loose door closer, a cracked wall panel or a blocked exit gets worse, and some of them are safety items. A short checklist, done on the same schedule, means nobody has to remember what to look at.
Use one sheet per visit. Write the date, the room, what you saw and who will fix it. Take a photo of anything you cannot fix that day.
Monthly checks for every business
Exits and exit routes
OSHA's rule on exit routes, 29 CFR 1910.37, says exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed in an exit route, even temporarily. Walk each exit route and check that boxes, carts and stored supplies are clear.
The same rule says safeguards such as sprinklers, alarms, fire doors and exit lighting must be kept in working order. Look for exit signs that are dark, doors that stick or do not latch, and fire doors propped open.
Fire extinguishers
OSHA's portable fire extinguisher standard, 29 CFR 1910.157, calls for a monthly visual inspection and an annual maintenance check. The monthly look is simple: the extinguisher is in its place, nothing blocks it, and it looks ready for use. The annual service is done by a fire protection company, not by a handyman.
Emergency and exit lighting
Battery emergency lights and exit signs need periodic testing, and the schedule depends on the fire code your local fire authority enforces. Ask your fire department or fire protection company what applies to your building. In the meantime, check by eye each month that exit signs are lit and fixtures are not damaged.
Monthly checks by type of business
Offices
- Doors: closers, latches, strike plates and hinges. Tighten loose screws and note any door that does not close fully.
- Ceiling tiles: stained or sagging tiles can point to a roof or plumbing leak. Photograph them and refer the cause out.
- Walls and trim: scuffs, dents and small holes in drywall, loose base trim, peeling paint.
- Carpet and floor transitions: loose edges and trip hazards.
- Signs, shelving and wall mounts: check that anchors are tight.
Restaurants
- Floors, walls and ceilings in prep and dish areas: check for cracks, lifted coving, missing tiles and damaged wall panels. Your local health department sets the physical-facility rules for food service, so ask it what your inspector looks for.
- Doors and hardware: kitchen swing doors, back door sweeps and latches. Gaps under doors are worth sealing.
- Caulk at sinks and counters: look for gaps and mildew.
- Shelving, hooks and wall-mounted items: tighten or replace loose fasteners.
- Dining room: chair and booth repairs, wobbly tables, loose handrails.
Hood systems, grease traps, refrigeration, gas lines and any plumbing or electrical fault go to licensed trades or the equipment service company.
Medical and dental offices
The CDC's dental infection prevention guidance separates clinical contact surfaces, which need barriers or disinfection between patients, from housekeeping surfaces such as floors, walls and sinks. That is a cleaning protocol, and your clinical staff own it.
What a handyman can help with is the condition of the room itself:
- Cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hinges that no longer close.
- Chipped or damaged laminate and countertop edges that are hard to clean.
- Wall damage from carts and chairs, and worn corner guards.
- Door hardware, closers and ADA-related fit issues you have already identified.
- Mounting of monitors, signs and wall-hung equipment.
Anything touching clinical equipment, medical gas, sterilizers, X-ray rooms or air handling goes to the manufacturer or a licensed specialist.
Quarterly and yearly items
- Quarterly: check exterior doors and weatherstripping, caulk around windows, gutters and downspouts, and exterior handrails.
- Each fall: have heating equipment serviced by a heating professional. See our fall and winter maintenance checklist for the weatherization items that also apply to small commercial buildings.
- Yearly: schedule the extinguisher service, any alarm and sprinkler inspections your fire authority requires, and a full touch-up pass for paint and trim.
What to refer to licensed trades
- Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors. Illinois licenses plumbers and roofers at the state level, and electrical rules are set locally. See Handyman vs. licensed contractor in Illinois.
- Fire alarm, sprinkler and kitchen hood systems go to a fire protection company.
- Heating, cooling and refrigeration go to a mechanical contractor.
- Roof leaks go to a licensed roofer. A handyman can patch the drywall or ceiling afterward.
FAQ
How often should I do a maintenance walkthrough?
Monthly for exits, extinguishers, doors and surfaces. OSHA's extinguisher rule calls for a monthly visual check, so a monthly walkthrough covers it.
Who services fire extinguishers?
A fire protection company does the annual maintenance check. Staff can do the monthly visual check.
Can a handyman fix a ceiling stain?
A handyman can patch and paint the ceiling. The cause, such as a roof or plumbing leak, goes to a licensed roofer or plumber first.
Does Enhaus work in commercial spaces?
Enhaus does general handyman work for offices, retail stores, restaurants, medical and dental offices and property managers. Plumbing, electrical and roofing are referred to licensed independent contractors.
To set up a walkthrough list for your space, call or text (847) 877-1877.
